19 Apr Things To Consider Prior To Painting Moldy Spaces at Home
Mold can cause health problems if it is allowed to grow in a home.
Some people resort to painting over the moldy areas to fix the problem. However, this often masks the problem and doesn’t solve it.
The problem can only get worse if the mold is not controlled before you paint. It is important to determine the cause of mold before you attempt to paint moldy surfaces.
How do I deal mold when painting? This is the topic we are going to be focusing on in this article.
Our Mold Remediation specialists believe that in order to answer this question completely, we must first provide a complete understanding of mold. This includes how mold can grow in your home and what health risks it can cause. We also need to explain how mold can be prevented from becoming a disaster.
What is Mold?
You know what mold looks like if you’ve ever looked in your bread basket to grab a quick slice and noticed the bread has a white or greenish-colored cottony fuzz.
But mold doesn’t just love bread. Mold can also be found in bathrooms, basements and laundry rooms.
WebMD.com, an American online publisher of news and information about human health and well being, describes mold to be “a type of fungus consisting of small organisms almost everywhere.”
Why is Mold Growing in Your House?
You will quickly notice that areas of your home with visible mold are high-moisture. This is why many people have mold problems in their basements and bathrooms.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states mold can grow in areas with a lot moisture. This includes roof leaks, windows or pipes that have been damaged or floodwater.
How does mold get into a home? Mold can travel in the air and get into your home through windows or doors.
Indoor mold can be transmitted via shoes and clothes. Mold spreads indoors through the reproduction of tiny cells called spores.
How do you know if there is a mold problem?
Molds are an integral part of nature and can be seen everywhere. Molds and humans can live together safely. But, too many of any one thing is bad, even molds.
When you begin to see mold, it becomes a problem. Mold problems are when dark spots appear on walls and ceilings.
Mold allergies can also indicate that you have a problem.
Molds Can Cause Health Problems
Moldy places are more than just unsightly. They can also cause illness in your family. According to the CDC , moldy spaces can cause a number of health problems or none at all.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency , health problems often start when mold and bacteria build up and people inhale them.
The same agency also notes that molds can have adverse effects on the health of certain groups, such as infants, children and immune-compromised people, pregnant women, elderly, and those with respiratory problems.
These are some symptoms that can be indicative of mold allergies.
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Itchy, sore throat
- Congestion and a runny nose
- Sinus headaches
- Wheezing and difficulty in breathing
- Watery, itchy eyes
- Itchy, irritated skin
Painting moldy spaces
Some people find that the easiest way to remove visible molds is to go to the hardware store and pick up a pair of gloves, some paint brushes, and some brushes.
While the paint may temporarily hide the mold, it won’t eliminate it. You will need to do much more work before applying a coat of paint.
First, Remove the Mold
You will first need to locate the mold-removal supplies before you can go to the hardware.
While painting over mold can cover up dark spots where mold is growing, it won’t solve the problem.
Wear protective clothing
You will need to wear protective equipment if you plan to remove mold. This includes gloves, a respirator mask, eye protection, and gloves.
EPA.gov suggests that you determine how much mold you need to remove.
If you are cleaning a small area, say less than 10 feet square, gloves, eye protection and an N95 respirator will be necessary.
The EPA recommends full-face or half-face air purifying respirators (APRs) if you have to deal with larger areas of mold (10-100 sq. ft.
A full-face-powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) is required to clean a large area of mold-covered ground, which can be more than 100 square feet.
EPA.gov recommends you wear disposable clothing when working on medium or large-scale remediation projects. “It prevents mold from spreading to clothing and minimizes skin contact with it,”
Mold Treatment Solutions
Mold is not something you want to hide. It is important to get rid of it from its roots. Although bleach can be mixed with water to kill mold, it does not kill the mold from the roots.
Vinegar penetrates more deeply than bleach so it is a more effective way to kill mold. Spraying vinegar on the mold and then saturating it will solve the problem.
Other useful substances include antifungals, household cleaning chemicals and disinfectants.
Paint the Wall
You should not paint the wall until you have removed any mold and it is dry.
When you paint, you will need to use a mold-killing primer. These primers provide a protective coating that kills spores and covers the stains.
Use a primer or paint that is water-resistant to restore wall color after primer has been applied.
These mold-resistant products don’t kill existing mold on the walls, but they do prevent the growth of mold. You will need to remove the mold before you paint.
Permanently Get Rid Of Mold
If you can locate the source of the mold, then removing the mold and repainting the surfaces will be an effective solution.
According to the CDC , mold control is important.
- Maintain humidity levels between 30% and 50%.
- When humidity levels are higher that recommended, dry the air with a humidifier.
- You can open windows and doors to ensure adequate ventilation.
- Leaks in roofs, walls, or plumbing can be fixed.
- Avoid carpets in high-moisture areas.
When to Call a Professional Mold Remediation Company
EPA.gov recommends you consult a professional before you start any mold cleanup if there are health concerns.
If you are unable to explain why mold is growing in a certain area, it is a good idea to contact a Long Beach Mold Remediation specialist.
Sometimes, you may know where the moisture is coming from but not have the necessary skills to fix it. A professional is required in such cases.