The Affects of Mould

Mould, is it good or bad? What is your wager?

First and foremost, we need to understand what the definition of mould entails. Mould is a microscopic organism, or fungi, found virtually everywhere, indoors and outdoors. (*A Real Estate Guide to Mould, CREA)

The major issue that home owners have with mould is when it starts to grow out of control inside the dwelling. In addition, to growing inside the home, it can also cause serious health problems.

Here are some warning signs of potential mould growth:

• Discoloration on the walls or carpet.
• Check what colour the discoloration is, it varies in colour could be black, white, red, orange, yellow, blue or violet.
• If you’re dwelling starts to have an earthy or musty smell. It could be a sign of a potential mould issue.
• Check areas where there maybe water damage or leaks.

Best practices would be to seek expert advice who deals with mould issues on regular bases. Click here to The Homeowners Guide - Fighting Mould.

In addition, to the warning signs it’s important to know how mould starts to grow. Let's start with the basic methods:

• Air - Mould likes to grow in stagnant areas. As a home owner that is why you may see a lot of mould in closets, attics and or inside walls.

• Humidity - Above 50% relative humidity (RH) is very desirable for the growth of mould. 

• Light - Mould doesn't like light, dark spaces are ideal. That's why again you may see mould in attics, closets, behind wallpaper, basements and even refrigerators. 
• Temperature - Having an ideal temperature in the home is essential for the growth of mould. A temperature between 20-30 Celsius or 68-86 Fahrenheit is idyllic. 
• Water Source Contamination - Common sense dictates that when water is exposed, mould will grow. For example pipe leaks, foundation leaks or pipe condensation.
  

Lastly, is the aspect of remedying the affective areas of concerns. The professional will remove the areas in which mould has grown upon. However, mould and its spores will still remain in the house floating through the air. Since mould can't be completely removed, the professionals call the removal of mould "abatement".

 

A helpful tip to remember is that mould won't grow if there is no moisture present. Control the moisture levels in our home. Again, seeking professional help is of the utmost importance.

Information taken from CREA - A Real Estate Guide To Mould.

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All the best,

MyDaddyHomes