Friday, July 5, 2013

Mold Types and Where They Grow in Your Home


Mold grows in nearly every building, and is a problem that all homeowners must worry about. Mold eats natural materials to break them down back into the earth, but no one wants their home to be broken down by mold. Additionally, mold presents many health risks that can be serious, depending upon the type and amount of mold present. However, the savvy homeowner can avoid these problems by knowing the most common kinds of mold, and where to look for them.

Kinds of Mold

Mold is categorized into three major groups: allergenic, pathogenic, and toxigenic. Allergenic molds are relatively mild, and produce irritating allergy-like symptoms; pathogenic molds only pose a serious risk to those with already weakened immune systems. Toxigenic molds can be a serious threat to anyone, regardless of the strength of their immune system.

Of the five most common indoor molds, four of them are allergenic. Aspergillus is found on dirt and plants, including dead plant matter such as wood and cardboard. Cladosporium and Penicillium are found on wet building materials, and Alternaria is commonly found on window frames, carpets, and fiberglass insulation. Stachybotrys is the biggest concern, as it is toxigenic. It is commonly found in cellulose-rich building materials such as fiber board and gypsum board.

Where it Grows

Certain rooms have the best conditions for mold growth. Kitchens and bathrooms have high moisture levels, so it is not unusual to find mold growing around fixtures and in sinks and tubs. However, the room that mold likes best is the basement. Basements are damp and cold which fosters condensation. Additionally, they are dark and poorly ventilated, which greatly aids the mold-growing process. Basement mold can be alarming, because it often grows on wooden frames, which can spread and weaken the entire structure of the house.

So where, in these rooms, does mold most often grow? One of the most common surfaces is drywall. This can be complicated, because mold can grow in the interior cavities of drywall, and/or under paint. Cracked and peeling paint may be a sign of mold. Ceilings can also mold if the house has had a leaky roof. Window frames are a danger zone for mold because of high condensation, and while mold cannot grow on glass, it can grow on dirt on glass. Floors are also a concern. Moisture and dirt can get trapped in the cracks of tiles, and carpet can hold moisture from spilled liquids. Insulation can be trouble if there has been a moisture issue in the room (or if it's a high-moisture room, like a bathroom or basement). The final common place for mold growth is vents. This can be extremely problematic, because turning on the heating or cooling system can disperse mold spores throughout the entire house.

While most common indoor molds are allergenic, they can still pose a serious health risk if allowed to grow unchecked. In addition to the health risk, mold is a menace to the structure of houses, but expensive repairs can be avoided by performing regular mold checks.

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