Attic mold is dangerous to the structure of your home and the health of your household members. But sadly, many homeowners find black mold during a routine visit to their attic.
Why Does it Form?
When you spot attic mold, your first question is probably, “How did this happen?” The fault could lie with the home’s builder, subcontractors or roofer, but the root of the problem is always water. Even the smallest amount of moisture can lead to mold growth, but it will not appear in a completely dry space — it needs water to grow.
Roof Leaks
One of the most common causes of attic mold is a leak in your roof. If your roof is older, the flashing may have corroded, buckled or cracked, letting in precipitation. The roof’s underlayment may be punctured. Water could be getting into the attic around a vent that does not have the right type of flashing.
Whatever the reason, when water is leaking through your roof, it is providing the spores with a steady stream of fuel for growth. You must address roof leaks right away. There’s no point in removing mold without addressing the reason it is there in the first place. Roof leaks also can lead to rot, and that’s a much more expensive issue to repair.
Poor Ventilation
Your roof may not be leaking, but expect attic mold to appear if you don’t have an adequate ventilation system. Without soffit and ridge vents, rising warm air (which contains moisture) remains in the attic, encouraging the spore growth.
Whether your original roofer did not design a working ventilation system or the vents have become blocked over time, you should get immediate intervention to minimize the mold damage to your attic.
Beware of Health Risks
Mold is a serious threat to your well-being. Some people are more sensitive to it than others, but common ramifications are upper respiratory infections and allergic reactions that include itchy eyes or skin rashes. Recent studies have linked early childhood mold exposure to asthma development.
Consider Remediation
If you have a serious attic mold problem, it might be best to hire a mold remediation contractor to safely extract all spores. If you attempt to undertake the project on your own without the proper training, not only will you probably not be entirely successful, but you could become ill if you are sensitive to mold spores.
Call Your Roofing Contractor
Attic mold is not a problem you can ignore — it will only get worse. You have to get to the source of the issue. If the moisture in your attic that is feeding the mold is from a roof leak or an improper ventilation system, call your roofing contractor right away to remedy the problem.
The Roof Doctor is available for all of your emergency roofing repairs, including eliminating attic mold and the accompanying health risks to you and your family.