Attic mold can grow slowly and without notice. Once it has captured its hold in a large enough area, it can cause your family and pets to fall sick. It can also grow and reach other areas of your house, causing considerable damage.

Here are the basic signs of mold that you should look out for in your Des Plaines attic:

Colored Spots

You should make it a habit to check out your attic regularly, even if you do not need to store or retrieve anything from there. While in the attic, look out for any colored spots that appear to be out of place. For example, the colors that could indicate mold include orange, brown, white, or green. If you notice any dark gray or black spots, it’s recommended that you take immediate action, as this kind of mold can grow very fast and is extremely toxic in nature.

Patterns

Some mold tends to form a pattern on the furniture or fabric as it grows. For example, black attic mold is one of the more notorious types of mold, and it thrives due to the dark ambiance of the attic. Once it has taken hold, it forms a crescent or near-perfect circle shape as it thrives.

Source

Mold will only grow where it can find its source of food easily. For this reason, mold will typically grow faster on materials where it can feed off of, like newspaper, fabric, or wood.

Scents

While in the attic, you should see if you notice any musty smells. The smell of a wet newspaper left outside for a day, or the hint of urine is what might catch your nose. If you come across any of these kind of smells in the attic, it is more than likely being caused by mold.

Next, we’ll take a look at how to get rid of mold. Eliminating mold from your attic is a 4-step process:

Step 1: Identify the Moisture Problem

This is the first step and quite a tough one. Mold growth is primarily due to the presence of water that is touching the food source of the mold (wood, fabric, newspaper, etc.). Therefore, your first step should be to identify the source of water or humidity in the attic.

Step 2: Eliminate Leaks from the Roof

There is a possibility that there could be minor leaks from the outside of your roof, or from a skylight leaking water in the form of condensation. Another possibility is that hot water vapor after a shower could creep up to the attic, particularly if the exhaust fan is not working or if the seals are not able to hold the air.

Step 3: Stop Air Infiltration

It is important to stop all air movement from the house that goes up to the ceiling.

Step 4: Dry out Rafters and Sheathing

Drying out the attic sheathing is necessary in cases where the mold remediation occurs during the winter months. This can be accomplished through the use of heaters, dehumidifiers, etc. Alternatively, it can also be achieved by natural moisture loss due to increased ventilation. It is best to let an attic dry out naturally, and this is also a good way to ascertain that natural ventilation will be sufficient to prevent moisture in the future.

Get Professional Mold Testing and Mold Removal Help in Des Plaines

Is your home’s attic infested with mold? Are you looking for professional mold testing and mold removal in Des Plaines? If so, then the team at Axis Response Group has the solution for you. Our team of seasoned mold removal specialists is ready to take on the task of making your space mold-free.

Contact us today for a free consultation!