How To Remove Mold From An Attic
Suggestions For How To Find Roof Leaks and Improve Attic Ventilation
If you discover mold in your attic, then you can bet it is caused by either a roof leak or excess moisture caused by insufficient attic ventilation.
Roof leaks. We recommend that you consult with a professional roofing company to identify and repair a leaky roof.
Insufficient attic ventilation. Here are some common causes of poor attic ventilation that traps warm moist air which then condenses on the wood and insulation, creating the perfect moist environment for mold growth.
Not enough soffit vents for air inflow.
When new siding is installed, sometimes the contractor will install panels that look like soffit vents, but they don’t cut a hole in the soffit plywood in order to allow air flow.
Not enough roof (ridge) vents for air outflow.
If in doubt, consult with a certified roofing company.
Bathroom fan vents. Excess attic moisture can come from bathroom fans with exhaust pipes that empty into the attic instead of the pipes extending up and through the roof.
Ice damming. Ice buildup in gutters can expand up and under the eave’s roofing shingles. When the ice under the shingles melts, it can leak through the roof. Repairs usually involve removing shingles and installing an ice dam membrane.
Make sure to find and fix your attic moisture problem before you clean your moldy attic. Don’t delay. Attic mold allergens can get into your home and cause harmful mold allergy symptoms for you and your family.
If your attic mold is covering a large area, we recommend that you hire a certified mold remediation contractor. To safeguard your family, we suggest that you ask them to use non-toxic products with zero VOCs (volatile organic compounds i.e. harmful fumes).
And we suggest that you do not allow your contractor to use an “encapsulating” paint or coating. Unless 100% of the mold on 100% of the surface was 100% killed, mold can grow under the encapsulating coating, thus causing a future problem. Mold can also grow on top of the coating. So encapsulation is very often unsuccessful at preventing future mold growth.
To clean mold, we recommend using our non-toxic Endurance BioBarrier Mold & Grime Cleaner.
To prevent mold regrowth, we recommend using our non-toxic Endurance BioBarrier Mold Prevention Spray. If applied per simple directions, we offer a 25 year guarantee against regrowth in attics. The guarantee is 6 months for high traffic surfaces, 2 years on indoor/outdoor surfaces, and 5 years inside HVAC ducts.
Use our mold remediation company directory to find a certified contractor near you.
Please don’t use bleach. Read our article about why bleach doesn’t kill mold roots.
