Where Does Mold Come From?

It can be frustrating and disheartening to discover mold patches inside your home. A lot of homeowners are at a loss when dealing with mold growth. More often than not they can’t understand why the indoor environment has become ideal for mold spores. After all; last time you’ve checked, there wasn’t any damp stain on the wall or the ceiling. You’ve also changed all your windows recently, so you know that you’re not letting the humidity in. Could it be that your home is naturally humid, and in this case why did nobody warn you when you bought it?

In reality, every home is humid. As people breathe, they increase the indoor humidity. And that goes without mentioning the significant impact of having a hot shower on your humidity levels. In other words, your home may not be more humid than any other. But it could have difficulties getting rid of the excess humidity in the air.

Humidity builds up when the air can’t circulate

One of the most obvious reason for mold patches to appear is because they find the appropriate level of moisture in the air. The first situation in which this can happen is when you don’t have any inbuilt system to encourage healthy indoor air circulation. For instance, the addition of a laminate underlayment that comes under your flooring boards can promote the air underneath the floor to circulate through the house. As it doesn’t get clogged up, the humidity levels disappear. Additionally, you can also set your A/C system to run at least once a day if you can’t open your windows – that is if you leave in an urban environment. Otherwise, you can easily renew the air inside your home by keeping your windows open for at least one hour once a day.

Natural humid rooms are ill-equipped

There are specific rooms in your home that generate more humidity than anywhere else. Your bathroom is one of them. That’s precisely why it’s so important for your health and for the good maintenance of your home to create a bathroom that can stay clean despite the excess humidity. The addition of tiles on the walls and on the floor can significantly reduce the risk of water infiltration into the structure. While the paint on the wall might be a good solution, you will need to select a paint that is resistant to moisture, and that is easy to clean. If you can’t find the right product, you’ll soon struggle with mold patches above the shower cubicle!

Home improvements gone wrong

Last, but not least, your home may be letting the outdoor humidity infiltrate in areas you can’t check. For instance, you might have decided to get your roof insulation upgraded, and suddenly you’ve been seeing unexpected results. The house became more humid than ever before. More often than not, cheap loft and cavity wall insulation can have a dramatic impact if it’s not done correctly. Unless advised by a certified professional, don’t get new insulation systems installed at home!

Your home is a place for living. Consequently, you need to ensure that it is best equipped to deal with your family, from letting the natural humidity out to protecting your walls and structure from keeping the moisture in. Last, but not least, never proceed to any improvement without receiving professional advice.