Mold On Roof Joists

White mold is commonly found growing on wood surfaces.

Mold on roof joists.

Air dry is fast it doesn t take long for wood to air dry especially once the roof is on and there are high performance vapor barriers in place in crawlspaces and under concrete slabs. Mold growth provided it is not just cosmetic mold which can simply be left alone can be cleaned from wood surfaces by blasting scrubbing or even simple surface wiping depending on the surface accessibility and smoothness. Don t be fooled by a builder that says the wood will dry out on it s own in the wall. Rafters in the attic floor joists in the basement or crawlspace and wooden furniture are all places where you can find white mold.

Don t ignore mold or mildew on the floor joists in your crawl space. Typically this is due to a missing or incomplete vapor barrier. Mold and mildew on your floor joists indicate a moisture problem. Heavy white mold growth on floor joists.

The combination of an organic food source dirt excess moisture and limited airflow creates the perfect conditions for mold growth. Moisture content and distribution is consistent with elevated levels of temperature and humidity for several months. Cleaning mold from irregular or hard to reach wood surfaces media blasting if mold needs to be removed from a roof deck through which roofing nails penetrate hand wiping is not feasible. Generally water leaks and poor ventilation leading to condensation are the main roof defects which give rise to a variety of fungi moulds and insect attacks.

Lowering the moisture in the area where mold or mildew is present is enough to stop the growth. In wet climates exposed soil in a crawlspace will often propagate mold growth. Your best strategy remove mold and mildew and address the moisture problem remove the mold or mildewthere are. Re roofing with lining lining papers sarking roofing felt can cause severe mold growth and rot due to reduced ventilation.

Generally tearing off a roof and roof sheathing and perhaps roof framing to remove mold would not be sensible nor cost justified. Mold growth on joists in crawlspace elevated moisture noted throughout significant portions of the framing and or subflooring. It is necessary to thoroughly dry the framing and subflooring prior to the application of encapsulant. Blue black or grey mould on floor joists may indicate sapstain fungi which are similar to surface mould but go deeper into the wood.

If you find mold on wooden furniture many times you can remove it yourself however more porous materials such as cloth on chairs or sofas will need a professional cleaning. They will not cause the wood to decay when they cover only the surface of the wood. Among other concerns mold and mildew can lead to health problems in humans as well as pets. They will not weaken the floor joists but the presence of this fungus is an indication that the wood has been moist or wet for a long period.

Power cleaning using spray equipment such as media blasting using baking soda or dry ice is very effective for these surfaces.