Suffering from mold on walls?
What exactly is mold in the home? How do you recognize mold on the wall and what can you do about it? What are the consequences for your home and your health? Find out everything you need to know about mold on walls.
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Free diagnosis
Are you suffering from mold on your walls and don't know exactly what is causing it? Or do you want to get rid of this problem for good? We would be happy to help you! Our experts are happy to help. Via a free moisture analysis we can determine exactly what problem you are facing. A good moisture diagnosis is essential in order to find an appropriate solution.
What exactly are molds on the walls?
Mold on walls can come in different colors and shapes. Mold itself is not a moisture problem, but often a moisture problem is at the root of that mold on the wall. Each of these moisture problems has its own solutions. We'll go into that in more detail later.
The most common species are the white mold, the green mold and the black mold.
White mold
White mold is often caused by damp conditions, wall salt or saltpeter. It involves various types of white mold, mostly on exterior walls.
Black mold
Black mold, or Stachybotrys Chartarum, is a dark mold that starts as small dots on damp areas such as walls, kitchens or bathrooms and can grow into larger spots.
Green mold
Green fungi such as aspergillus and cladosporium are common. Aspergillus lives on sugar- and starch-rich foods, while cladosporium attacks plants and depends on outdoor air and indoor plants indoors.
How do I recognize mold on walls?
There are several symptoms that can indicate mold on walls. The most obvious is black or green deposits in the recesses and corners of the room. You also have something like white mold, but this kind is less easy to recognize. Usually, it gives a white appearance on the walls.
Besides the visible symptoms on walls, there are some other things that may indicate that you are suffering from mold on your wall.
What are the consequences of moldy walls?
After the cause of the problem has been found and addressed, you can move on to removing the mold from the walls.
Effects of mold on walls on your health
As you might suspect, mold (and specifically black mold) sometimes have major health consequences. This is largely true for children, the elderly, people with existing lung or respiratory problems, and those with weakened immune systems. An example is people with asthma. The spores of black mold can cause a variety of health problems, including:
Consequences of moldy walls on your home
It's not just a detriment to your health. Your house also looks off from mold on walls. The longer mold grows on the wall, the weaker that wall becomes. In the best cases, the paint or wallpaper begins to peel off, but if your house is a wood-frame construction, it can affect that frame as well.
The causes of mold on walls and their solutions
We discuss the most common causes of mold on walls, and their corresponding solutions. We strongly recommend using a moisture expert engage in the process of finding out the cause, as he or she assures you of a correct diagnosis.
1. Penetrating damp
In case of penetrating damp the outer walls of the house are the main culprit. At that point, these can no longer handle the moisture from outside - often a lot of rain - so the wall absorbs that moisture. Penetrating damp causes mould in random places in the house, but only on the outer walls. The best solution to persistent moisture is to apply a waterproof layer to the house's facades. This will stop moisture from getting inside.
2. Rising damp
Also rising damp can cause you to deal with mold on your wall. In this case, the mold spots start at the bottom of the wall, and make their way upward. Rising damp is caused when groundwater pressure is too high and/or the water barrier in the walls is deficient. The most appropriate solution for rising damp is to have your walls injected..
3. Condensation
Condensation occurs when warm air condenses on a cold place in the home. Mold due to condensation often occurs in places like the kitchen or bathroom, in other words places where warm moisture can settle on the cold wall. The solution to a problem like condensation, is to install a good ventilation system. That ventilation system moves the steam away from the room so it has no chance to condense on the walls.
4.Thermal bridges
Also thermal bridges create moisture problems. The insulation does not fit together properly, allowing cold air to enter and mold to gain free rein.
5. Leaks
Finally, leaks or broken pipes can also be the major culprit. This is somewhat less common and often easier to spot. The ideal solution here is to have a leak detection company come by.
Remove mold on walls? Start by addressing the moisture problem
If you are dealing with mold on your walls, it is wise to address (or have addressed) this problem. However, there is no universal method to combat mold on walls, and it is not enough to remove only the visible mold. To get rid of mold in your home permanently, it's best to follow these steps:
After dealing with the moisture problem, also deal with the mold
After the cause of the problem has been found and addressed, you can move on to removing the mold from the walls.
Remove mold on walls yourself or have it removed?
Whether you can remove mold from the wall yourself depends on the severity of that mold. Do you find only some black dots here and there? Then you can certainly do it yourself. Here are the following tips:
Does it involve large spots on the walls? Then it's best to call in a professional such as AquaConsult. Also, removing the mold yourself is not always a definitive solution. Aquaconsult not only tackles the mold, but also ensures that the underlying cause has been addressed.
Preventing mold in the future
You obviously want to avoid mold on the walls then fight it. We give you some tips to avoid mold in your home:
Are you suffering from moldy walls yourself?
Then contact Aquaconsult and our specialists will come by for a free moisture expertise, everywhere in Flanders.
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