The photo at page top shows white attic mold on the roof sheathing and rafters and some brown or black mold on the attic side of ceiling drywall where we pulled back insulation.
White mold in attic roof.
Check for areas of dark discoloration staining of wood e g.
White mold is lesser known but still an incredibly dangerous species of mold to deal with.
Rafters sheathing joists attic side of fascia boards etc.
With that said we ve learned quite a bit about white mold in our many years of mold inspection and removal.
Mold growth on attic roof sheathing is a common issue in cool climates such as the pacific northwest.
In the vast majority of cases the mold growth is caused by condensation.
Faulty roof insulation or construction can lead to leaks and a lack of proper ventilation can cause humidity to accumulate.
This is why it s less common to see mold growth on base trim after a flooding event.
Attic sheathing and framing.
Below are a few ways to check for possible roof leaks.
Is it dangerous how to remove it.
White mold tends to grow in high humidity environments rather than areas suffering from total saturation.
Because the majority of attic mold cases are caused by condensation it means you ll rarely find a smoking gun.
There are two main factors that cause condensation.
If one encapsulates attic mold with a clear sealant like many mold remediation companies do future home inspectors and homeowners won t have any idea if the visible black white mold staining in the attic is current or historic.
Even in this case in our opinion the reasons to remove and replace roof sheathing and framing would normally be based on the condition of the roof framing and sheathing not on the.
This occurs when the temperature of the sheathing drops below the dew point creating a thin layer of moisture on the substrate.
The vast majority of attic mold is caused by humidity which is why white mold growth is common here.
In our roof interior attic photo at left you can see antique roof framing along with black stains and probably some mold growth from a long history of roof leaks.
Typically the condensation is caused by several compounding factors.
If there is a leak in the roof plumbing or windows the mold will reappear if the water is.
In short you ll need to address the issue again and again which is a great frustration.
Identifying the roof cause of attic mold.
To prevent future mold growth remove the source of moisture causing it.
In the attic photograph at left we show a mix of green gray and white attic mold.
Roof leaks will often lead to a small localized area of attic mold near where the leak is occurring.
Prevent future mold growth.
