Did you know attic mold can quietly destroy your roof and cost you thousands in repairs? Are you afraid that your attic mold could be making your family sick, even if you can’t see it yet?
Due to the wet and rainy conditions in the Greater Seattle area, your attic is likely at risk of growing mold. Unfortunately, mold in your roof and attic can be hard to spot and even more difficult to get rid of (on top of costing you thousands of dollars!).
Unlike a typical roofing contractor, we at RoofSmart offer mold remediation services as part of our standard service package. This means that we have helped hundreds of customers identify and treat mold in their attics, preventing it from ever returning.
In this article, we’ll review the signs and causes of attic mold and address the dangers of attic mold. By the end, you’ll understand how quickly mold can spread and how dangerous it can be for your home and your family’s health so that you can get rid of mold in your home right away.
What causes attic mold?
Mold spores can be present anywhere, they just need the right conditions to take root and grow. They thrive in cool, dark places.
Attic mold is caused by poor attic ventilation and moisture buildup. These are the perfect conditions for mold spores to grow, especially because they are able to feed off the wood all over the attic.
Due to the consistent rainfall and humid conditions of the Greater Seattle area, your attic is at constant risk of growing mold. Leaky roofs and humidity provide more than enough moisture to grow mold.
In addition, many homes have poor attic ventilation because their homes were built before current ventilation codes were established. This means that your attic is probably not properly ventilated and cannot properly dry out or prevent moisture from sticking around.
The bottom line is that if your roof has poor ventilation and is leaky or has moisture accumulating, then you can expect to get mold eventually. It’s a very common issue in Seattle’s damp climate.
What are the signs of attic mold?
Once mold starts growing, it can easily spread throughout the attic. However, if you never go into your attic, you might go months or even years before discovering it.
If you suspect your attic might have mold, look for these signs:
- Fuzzy white or black spots in the attic
- A musty smell in the attic
- Excessive heat and humidity in the attic
- Ghosting (this is when you can see black lines or spots on your ceiling)
Here’s an example of ghosting:
This is a pretty extreme case. The lines might be fainter in your home, but they’ll grow more obvious with time.
If it’s gotten to the point where you notice ghosting (especially if it’s as extreme as in the example), then that’s a sign that your mold problem has gotten really bad. If you haven’t already, this is the time to call in a mold remediation specialist.
Having roof problems AND need mold treatment services? Contact us at RoofSmart—we’re the only roofing contractors in the Greater Seattle area who offer mold remediation!
Will mold spread to the rest of your house from the attic?
Yes, definitely! Mold can spread very easily and fairly quickly. With ghosting, it can build up so much that it starts to seep through the floor of the attic into the ceiling of your living spaces.
It also spreads through openings in the ceiling, like fans, vents, or even light fixtures.
For example, this customer’s bathroom had mold seeping in through the light and the fan in the bathroom:
Once mold is present and starts to spread, it will only continue to get worse. Unfortunately, it can grow for quite a while before it hits your living spaces and you notice it.
What are the health risks of untreated attic mold?
If mold is ignored and allowed to grow, it can potentially cause health issues for you or others living in your home.
One common health issue that you might be able to link back to mold is lung or breathing issues. If the mold issue is extensive enough, it can lead to allergic reactions like coughing or sneezing, or more serious issues such as mold syndrome, which causes lung problems.
Typically, children, the elderly, and immunocompromised groups are most at risk for developing health problems.
Some mold also releases mycotoxins, which are toxins that can linger in the air and cause more serious health issues.
If you suspect your health issues are related to mold, be sure to meet with a doctor as soon as possible.
How can attic mold damage your roof and home?
Not only is mold dangerous for your health, but it can also destroy your home. Mold growth can weaken the structural integrity of your home because it feeds on the wood. Over time, this can lead to deterioration.
Trusses, framing, roof decking—anything made out of wood in the attic is at risk once mold growth starts in your attic.
In addition, mold starts because the wood in your attic is damp. Wood that is wet for long enough in an attic with poor ventilation usually starts to rot. Although mold doesn’t always mean that you have rotting wood, it’s common for them to happen at the same time.
So, if the wood is already rotting, that will only speed up the deterioration process.
This is extremely difficult to treat and get rid of. If the mold and damage are very widespread, you might have to pay $10,000 or more to get rid of the mold properly. The mold needs to be removed, AND every room that had mold needs to be treated.
What should you do if you find mold in your attic?
Now that you understand just how dangerous attic mold can be and how easily it can go unnoticed, it’s time to take action. You’ve learned that mold can threaten your health, your roof, and the structure of your home. And in a wet climate like Seattle, it’s not a matter of if mold shows up in your attic, but when.
So what happens if you go up there and discover mold has already taken hold?
Read our article “What To Do If You Have Mold In Your Attic” so you’ll know exactly what to look for, how to get rid of attic mold, and who can help you get rid of mold.
Don’t wait—mold spreads fast, and the longer you leave it, the more damage it causes.
Topics:
