Got Ceiling Mold?
Time for a Roof Inspection!

Skywalker Roofing Company
Got Ceiling Mold? <br>Time for a Roof Inspection!
August 27
By Luke Wilson | Roof Inspection

Got Mold? That’s Something You Don’t Want

The air is often pretty warm and humid in the Southeast, and those are conditions which are generally conducive for mold growth. Finding the presence of mold in your home is often an unsettling experience, which can result in feelings of surprise, frustration, and even disgust. Your first inclination may be just to sell the house and move, but there’s no need to do anything rash. You CAN get your house back into a healthy state, but it will also require some prompt action on your part.

What are Mold and Mildew, Anyway?

Mildew is a specific type of mold. While mildew can cause some physical damage to your home, usually the damage is more of a cosmetic nature. It’s typically white, gray, or yellow, and grows on the surface of warm, moist areas. Mold, on the other hand, tends to be green or black, and usually grows underneath the surface of anything that’s gotten wet. Mold can result in some real damage to your home, both structural and cosmetic. And both mildew and mold are fungi which can cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions by breathing in their spores. Mildew is generally easier to treat than mold, but both types of fungi will continue to grow and spread if they aren’t addressed.

Warning Signs of Ceiling Mold or Mildew

Obviously, you care about the people living in your home and don’t want to share your home with any unwanted fungi. And if there is a mold issue that needs addressing, the sooner you take action, the easier (and cheaper) the issue will be to address. But how do you know whether or not you have a mold problem? Here are a few warning signs of which you should take note:

An Odd Odor

Hey, do you smell something? Mold and mildew both tend to give off a signature musty smell that can be rather pungent. The smell is caused by VOCs (volatile organic compounds) contained within the fungus, and in higher quantities they can be pretty hard to miss. If your interior space is starting to smell musty, that’s often an indicator of the presence of mildew or another specific mold.

Look for Telltale Visual Signs

Mold is fairly easy to spot around a shower or bathtub, but sometimes isn’t as visually obvious around an attic, ceiling, or basement. If you are seeing some mold growth on your ceiling though, there’s likely to be more (and sometimes much more) present underneath the surface. Mold can grow anywhere there’s been water damage, which includes ceiling plaster, drywall, insulation, and even ceiling beams.

A Known Source of Moisture

If your house has experienced any recent flooding, your roof has developed a leak, or you know of some other source of water infiltration, then circumstances are ripe for a potential mold problem. Conversely, if you know that you have mold but are unsure of where the moisture is coming from, it’s important for you to identify the moisture source and take care of it. Fixing the moisture source is a key to neutralizing and preventing further mold growth.

Health Symptoms

Sometimes you may not see the mold at first, but can still feel its health impacts. If you start feeling listless or fatigued, or experience watery eyes, congestion, or other allergy symptoms while inside your home and don’t know why, mold could very well be the culprit. It’s not uncommon for those who are more mold-sensitive to basically feel fine when they’re away for the day, but then have symptoms return as soon as you enter your front door. Tracking your symptoms and taking note of when & where you experience them could help you to identify a possible mold trigger in your home.

What to Do About Mold If You Find It?

Let’s say you do notice some clear indications of a mold infestation on or around your ceiling. What can you do about it? Plenty! Here are some steps you can follow to help address the situation:

Investigate and Assess the Damage

Start by looking for any obvious visible presence of mold on or around the ceiling. Also check to see if you can find any damp spots or signs of water infiltration. It’s important to do a thorough inspection of the areas around any observed mold or wet areas as well, since both moisture and mold can easily spread to other areas. And if you see either mold or moisture on the ceiling, you should also take a look around your attic to help identify the underlying moisture and mold growth issues.

Determine What Mold You Can Remove Yourself

If the only mold you find is in a fairly small, concentrated area, then it’s possible that you can remove the mold yourself. The first crucial step is to get the cause of the water leak fixed, of course. Once that’s addressed, you may be able to apply a fungicide and then physically scrape the mold remnants off the surface of your ceiling. Allow the area to dry out thoroughly, and then monitor it over the next few weeks to make sure no mold returns. If it does, then you may need to repeat the above-mentioned steps. 

Call In a Professional

Even if you’re a seasoned DIYer for many projects, removing mold can be very tricky and time-consuming. You may be able to do a good job of killing and scraping off the mold in a visible area, but still be missing the rest of the unseen mold infestation. Professional mold abatement specialists are trained in their craft, and know what it takes to remove your current mold, replace any infected drywall, and help ensure that the mold won’t come back.

Choose Skywalker Roofing to Take Care of That Leaky Roof Once and For All!

If you’ve got mold on your ceiling, that means there must also be a moisture infiltration source enabling the mold to grow and spread in the first place. And if it’s ceiling mold we’re talking about, the most likely source of moisture is from a leak in your roof. How to tell whether or not you have a roof leak or may need some roof repairs? This blog can help you with that. But the best way to assess your roof is to enlist the help of a trained roofing professional. The friendly folks at Skywalker Roofing are more than happy to take care of that if you’re located within their NC or VA service areas!

Finding a local roofing professional you can trust is important, and no one is more trusted across North Carolina and southwest Virginia than Skywalker Roofing! We’re the premier roofing contractor serving the NC Piedmont Triad, Piedmont Triangle, Charlotte Metro/Lake Norman, and Roanoke, VA areas. Our team has all the tools, training, and experience that’s needed to take care of your roof, and to take of you!

Reach out to us today by calling +1 (336) 627-5596, and let one of our friendly experts answer all your questions and schedule your FREE roof inspection and personal consultation. We’d be honored to let you experience the Skywalker Roofing difference for yourself!

Luke Wilson

Luke Wilson

Owner - Skywalker Roofing

Luke Wilson started working on roofs with his dad when he was a teenager, and eventually launched Skywalker Roofing in 2003. Skywalker operates in 5 locations across NC & VA, and now includes windows, siding, and other exterior services. Luke also hosts the popular Roofing Mythbusters series on YouTube.

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