Mold mostly happens in basements and bathrooms, right? Wrong. Attic mold is a real thing and you need to be ready for it if it turns up – especially if you’re about to put your home on the market. Why? Because home buyers are a nervous lot. In fact, a survey by Homes.com of 2,000 American reports that 44 percent of them felt nervous throughout the home-buying process. So, when attic mold pops up on a home inspection report, they may head for the back door never to be seen or heard from again. That’s not an outcome anyone wants. Be proactive. Check for attic mold first and then list the home. It will give everyone peace of mind as well as a signed contract in hand.
What Causes Attic Mold Growth?
Mold needs three things to grow: moisture, food and warmth. If left unchecked, attic mold can cause problems because mold is often a key indicator that there’s a moisture problem somewhere.
For example, if attics are not well insulated throughout the w?nt?r months, hot and dry furnace heat makes contact with the cold boards of the roof and moisture forms creating the ideal environment for mold to live and thrive. Other culprits include: a leaky roof, inadequate attic ventilation, a water heater or furnace that’s installed in the attic and ice damming which occurs when water can’t drain properly from the roof, freezes and backs up into the home through the attic. The stagnant water causes attic mold growth.
Creating an environment that’s dry and cool is the ultimate goal, but let’s face it – mold happens. You just need to be ready to deal with it when it does.
Is Attic Mold Dangerous?
Generally, mold can lead to a variety of health problems such as:
The best way to determine if the mold in your attic is dangerous is to hire an attic mold removal specialist. There are many different types of mold and each one poses different problems and levels of severity in how it can affect one’s health. If you’re not sure if attic mold is present, be proactive. Hire an attic mold removal specialist. It will help close that real estate deal.
Part-two of this article addresses how to fix attic mold and how to pick an attic mold removal specialist who you can trust.