Do You Have Mold On Drywall? Here’s What To Do
Mold on drywall is any home owner’s worst nightmare. The first sign of it growing in your home is going to send anyone into a panic. If you’ve found mold, there’s no need to worry though.
It can be removed, and you can be free of it. Here’s how to find it and what to do if you do see mold growing in your home.
Why Is Mold Such a Problem?
Firstly, why is mold on drywall seen as such a problem?
- Firstly, there are some variants that are harmful to you. This is especially true if you have allergies, as the spores can aggravate symptoms for you. When that’s in your home, there really is no getting away from it. If you tackle mold as soon as you find it, then you’re going to keep any effects on your health down to a minimum. It’s especially important if you have children in your home, as they can be especially affected by mold.
- Second, if you see mold in your home, then it can be a sign that something else is wrong in your home. Mold often shows up when there’s poor ventilation in your home, especially in areas that can get hot and steamy, such as your bathroom. If you’re seeing it there, it’s a sign that you need to tackle the cause of the mold, or it’s not going to go away for good.
- Finally, mold will also cause all kinds of damage to your drywall if left to its own devices. If it’s growing, it’s eating into the wall and damaging it as it goes. The longer it’s left, the more damage it will do. It can even destabilize the wall if it’s left long enough. The sooner you tackle it, the less damage you’ll have to handle once it’s gone.
How to Find If You Have Mold on Drywall
Not sure if you have mold on your drywall? Here are some telltale signs to look for:
- Follow your nose: The first thing you should do is look for the smell. Mold has a distinctive smell, which is earthy and sometimes smells like rotting vegetation. If you can smell it in a room of your house, there’s mold somewhere in there.
- Move your furniture: Can’t see the mold? It could be hiding. Move furniture away from the walls and see if it’s behind anything in the room. This will soon give you your answer.
- Look for discoloration and stains: The mold in your drywall may not be on it, but rather in it. If you’re seeing discoloration or stains on your walls, then that’s a good sign there’s mold within it. If you’ve had a leak or a flood in that room, the walls are ripe for mold to get in them.
- Check for cracking paint or peeling wallpaper: If there’s mold in the walls, then you may find that it’s affecting the decoration on them. The wallpaper may peel or bubble, and paint will chip and flake off. That’s a sign that there’s mold underneath this layer, so look carefully.
What To Do If You Have Mold
If you do find mold in your home, you’ll need to take action as soon as possible. The longer it’s left to grow, the worse it will get. It’s vital to start working to get rid of it, as soon as you see it.
As a homeowner, it’s tempting to get involved with some DIY to get rid of the mold, if you can easily access it. There are lots of sprays and remedies available for mold, but they may not be effective for the mold in your home. You may clear away the surface layer, but there will still be mold underneath. As well as this, when dealing with mold there is risk to your health. If you don’t have the right equipment, you could aggravate any allergy symptoms you’ve already experienced with the mold.
Firstly, what you should do is look for the cause of the mold. What’s giving it the right conditions to grow?
- For example, is there poor ventilation? Look at bringing in a contractor to improve ventilation in the room.
- Has there been a flood? You’ll need to properly dry out the room before you can start dealing with the mold.
Once you know what’s caused the mold and corrected it, then you can call in the experts to tackle the mold itself. They’ll be able to remove the mold entirely, removing the risk to yourselves and your home. In some cases, this may require the removal and replacement of drywall, if the mold has been growing for some time. Whatever the case, it’s always best to call in the professionals to handle it for you.
Preventing Mold on Drywall
The best way to avoid having to deal with mold is to stop it from getting hold in your home in the first place. As the saying goes, prevention is always better than cure.
It’s vital that you have adequate ventilation throughout your entire home. It’s a good idea to open windows regularly, as they will allow air to flow through the home. In hot or wet areas such as your bathroom, have a ventilation fan installed if you don’t already. This will suck hot, wet air out of the room whenever you use it. If you’re not sure how to improve ventilation, bring in a contractor to help you.
Also, be sure to handle any issues that can cause mold as soon as you discover them. For example, if your roof starts to leak, have the issue handled as soon as possible. If there’s been a flood, dry out the room as much as you can before looking for mold. If you deprive mold of the right conditions, it just can’t thrive in your home.
Common Mold Questions
Yes, mold can be harmful especially if you suffer from allergies. This is true, especially for children. In addition, mold is very harmful to your drywall and may even destabilize the wall.
First look for the smell in the house, and often smells earthy. Move your furniture and look for discoloration or stains. Also check for cracking paint, peeling wallpaper, or bubbling.
Prevention is always better than a cure. Ensure your entire home is adequately ventilated, and utilize your ventilation fan. Make sure you handle all issues immediately to avoid mold (such as a leaky roof, flood, etc.)
Conclusion
Finding mold on drywall, in your bathroom, or anywhere in your home is a worrying proposition, but it doesn’t need to be. If you do find it, speed is key. Call the experts to come and handle it as soon as you find it.
They’ll be able to remove it safely, so you’ll be able to enjoy your home again. If you work to prevent mold in your home, you’ll never have to worry about it again.
Read More:
https://allclimatepainting.com/remove-popcorn-ceiling/