Fungi

What exactly are mold on the walls?

Mold on the wall can come in different colors and shapes. The most common types are white mold, green mold and black mold. 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.

What are the consequences of mold on the wall?

As you might suspect, mold (and specifically black mold) sometimes have major health consequences. Especially for children, the elderly and people who already have underlying pulmonary or respiratory complaints. An example would be people with asthma. The spores of black mold can cause a variety of health problems, including:

• Respiratory problems
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• In some cases, mold on walls leads to nerve and joint pain.
• Allergic reactions and irritated eyes also result from black mold.

But it's not just a drain on our health. Our house also sees away from mold on the wall. The longer the mold grows on the wall, the weaker that wall becomes. In the best cases, the paint starts 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

If you are struggling with mold on the wall, it is very wise to fight it (or have it fought). However, there is no comprehensive method to fight mold on walls, and removing mold on the wall is not enough. To get rid of mold in your home for good, follow these steps:

1. Identify the cause of the mold
2. Fight the cause of mold on the wall with the best suited moisture control method
3. Next, get to work removing the mold

We discuss the most common causes of mold on the wall, and their corresponding solutions. We highly recommend hiring a moisture expert to help you figure out the cause, as he or she will assure you of a correct diagnosis.

1. Penetrating moisture

In case of penetrating damp, the outer walls of the house are the big culprit. At that point, they can no longer handle the moisture from outside - often a lot of rain - so the wall absorbs that moisture.

Permeable moisture causes mold in random places in the house, but only on the outer walls. The best solution to persistent moisture is to apply awaterproofing layer to the facades of the house. This will prevent moisture from getting inside.

2. Rising damp

Rising damp can also cause you to deal with mold on the 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 water

Condensation moisture occurs when warm air condenses on a cold place in the home. Mold due to condensation moisture often occurs in places such as the kitchen or bathroom, in other words places where warm moisture can settle on the cold wall.

The solution to a problem like condensation moisture, is to install a good ventilation system. That ventilation system moves the steam away from the room so that it has no chance to condense on the walls.

4. Cold bridges

Thermal bridges also cause moisture problems. The insulation does not fit together properly, allowing cold air to enter and mold to get 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 wall

After the cause of the problem has been found and addressed, you can move on to removing the mold from the walls.

Can you remove mold from the wall yourself?

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:

• Scrub the wall with baking soda and water or buy a fungicide at the do-it-yourself store.
• Take care: take good care of yourself. Always wear a mouth mask and gloves so as not to endanger your health.

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 cause has been addressed.

Preventing mold in the future

Are you suffering from mold on the walls yourself? Then contact Aquaconsult and our specialists will come by for a free moisture expertise, anywhere in Flanders.