Questions tagged [mold]
Preventing, identifying, or treating mold infestations in the home.
380
questions
2
votes
3answers
113 views
Should I use vapor barrier for a framed floor over a slab?
What to do about the vapor barrier?
I am currently using a formerly unheated basement room as home office. The room is not properly insulated and rather hard to keep warm. I am thinking about ...
0
votes
1answer
20 views
Replace or clean stained carpet after mold issues?
I moved into a new build just over a year ago, and a few months in mold issues occurred in the nearby closet. The main cause of this was an exterior concrete wall which was still drying, and led to ...
1
vote
2answers
82 views
What kind of treatment should I use on bottom wall plates to prevent decay?
I have a bathroom project in my basement. I made the mistake of not using pressure-treated lumber for the bottom plate. Everything is roughed in, and I have access to the framing since I haven't put ...
0
votes
1answer
47 views
Does mold in a loggia means that the loggia must be replaced?
My apartment has a loggia which used to be a balcony (it is now an extension of the living room without any separation between them - the door that was there was removed). This was done by the ...
1
vote
1answer
104 views
Is this mold or just black wood?
Are the black spots on my OSB mold? If so, should I be concerned? We had a problem with vent but has been corrected. Thanks.
Image is of worse area in attic.
0
votes
0answers
23 views
Rescuing mouldy wooden furniture
Most of my furniture has been in an unheated house for 6 months (extension and rewire). Most of it has now developed mould - one of the worst affected pieces is pictured but most of it has patches ...
2
votes
0answers
25 views
Upper Floor Window Condensation Issues - HRV?
We live in a 2 level home with basement in central washington. The winters average 20-36 degrees Fahrenheit with humidity levels of 70-99%. Summers are fairly warm to hot with lower RH.
Our issue is ...
1
vote
1answer
31 views
Possible mould damage from burst pipe
On 15th December 2020 we became aware of a burst pipe on the side of our house. The source of the leak was the cold water pipe leading into the hot water system on the side of the house (brick veneer)...
0
votes
0answers
17 views
How can I mouldproof a conservatory?
We bought a small conservatory a few years ago. Despite following all the available advice (minimising condensation, cleaning regularly, etc...) mould still accumulates in the corners.
What can I do ...
0
votes
0answers
14 views
Mildew around window retrofit inserts
Some of the windows in our house have mildew around the replacement window inserts (~18 years old). Mostly at the bottom. The original frames were aluminum, the inserts of course are PVC.
The ...
0
votes
0answers
29 views
Mold on Bathroom Ceiling
I have a popcorn ceiling in my bathroom that has a tendency to collect mold. I clean it off with bleach but it always comes back. There was no mold prior to remodeling the bathroom a few years ago, ...
3
votes
2answers
644 views
Could these white fluffy spots on the wood in my attic be be mold?
I am currently living in Vancouver area, recently I got a leak in my roof but my roofer already fixed it yesterday.
After the day it was repaired I went up to our attic to check if if everything was ...
1
vote
1answer
41 views
Mold on underside of attic flooring
I found mold on the underside of my plywood attic flooring. The attic has rollout fiberglass insulation with a paper vapor barrier in the attic joists with no rafter insulation. I have installed ...
1
vote
1answer
83 views
Will showering with the fan on and bathroom door open prevent mold?
I have a room mate who loves to just sit in the shower tub with the shower raining over him. He sits in the shower for 2 hours or longer easily (not over exaggerated), just watching youtube videos. He'...
0
votes
1answer
15 views
Replacing drywall on ceiling after a small flood
A laundry washer located upstairs, right above the basement room, had a leak and flooded the basement drywall ceiling. Luckily I was in the house and could stop the leak, however it did damage couple ...
-1
votes
1answer
53 views
Is this black material in my HVAC air duct mold?
I live in an apartment complex in the southeastern United States. The apartment complex is made of brick so is probably fairly old, but my apartment was renovated just before I moved in. It has ...
0
votes
1answer
72 views
Is there mold in my apartment bathroom? What is causing the unpleasant smell there?
I moved into my first apartment in August. The apartment is a 3rd floor 2 bedroom apartment and it’s great except one persistent issue that has gotten worse over the last few months.
The master ...
0
votes
1answer
24 views
Condensation between chair mat and rug in basement: a concern?
We have a 1960 two story colonial with a finished basement in New England. The basement floor is wall-to-wall rug, on a rug pad, on old vinyl tiles, and then a concrete slab; I assume there's no ...
1
vote
0answers
17 views
Bathroom condensation
My bathroom is mouldy and retains condensation on walls, windows etc. The room is approx 8fx7ft x 8ft high.
I’ve installed a new inline Manrose fan with timer to replace cheap old online fan, the ...
1
vote
2answers
54 views
Mold around doorknob?
Any ideas on why this one outside door may be growing what appears to be mold around the doorknob?
It doesn't happen on any other outside doors (or on the inside of this door) and after painting over ...
0
votes
2answers
36 views
What vinegar acidity is necessary to effectively kill household mold?
I have 30% and 5% and I'm guessing it's somewhere in between.
1
vote
2answers
62 views
How to keep shower caulk clean
We have a tile surround shower that has a fascia covering that is attached between the bottom edge of the tile and the bathtub using tub/shower/tile caulk.
The caulk is marked for use in wet locations,...
-1
votes
1answer
46 views
Help to identify and remove mold on wooden-furniture
A couple of months ago I found a lot of small yellow solid dots on the shelves of the bookcase in my bedroom. As it was an old piece of furniture, so I took the chance to buy a new one. I carefully ...
3
votes
1answer
139 views
How big a problem is wood embedded in a basement concrete floor?
We purchased a home where the previous owner did a lot of home improvement himself. The house has a finished basement and I believe the previous owner mentioned something about him digging out and ...
0
votes
2answers
109 views
What is this row of sandy material in my wall?
I am enclosing an outdoor alcove 120”x 70” and notice brown residue where the studs and drywall meet together- this is on several areas of the room and walls but there does not appear to be any damage ...
1
vote
0answers
16 views
Damp exterior bricks near the roof and windows
I been looking everywhere.
Some say it could be a drainage issue or mold.
Would anyone know what could cause this discoloration?
1
vote
2answers
42 views
Should I put a moisture barrier between a single ply of pressure treated (PT) plywood and a second non-PT ply when constructing a shed?
I am building a shed. The floor consists of 4x4 PT runners, 2x8 PT girders, and 3/4" PT Plywood flooring.
Anytime in the past, when I have laid PT lumber next to non-PT lumber, there is mold/...
7
votes
7answers
5k views
I've moved into a new apartment for a while. Is this mold? Is it safe to continue live here?
I've moved into a new apartment for a while. Lately, I found these molds on my things. Is it safe to continue living here? Do you think a dehumidifier will solve this problem? I don't want all of my ...
0
votes
2answers
51 views
Need to know if this is mold?
I’m being told this is not mold that it is just dirt.
There was a leak as well as a smell to this.
Would like to know if this is mold?
0
votes
1answer
50 views
Can I use dehumidifier to tackle mouldy bathroom
we had a new bathroom built as an extension about 20 years ago. It didn't have any wallpaper or anything on it for a while, just the exposed brown plaster. It was painted using water based paint a few ...
0
votes
0answers
56 views
If a dirty Merv-13 Furnace Filter is still passing air does that mean it is still catching allergens like mold spores?
I built a DIY air filter by fitting a Merv-13 air filter inside a cardboard box. It's held in place by wood strips cut and glued to the box and I cut a hole for a 200mm case fan with a 12v power ...
-1
votes
2answers
56 views
Can I use an unplugged freezer as storage if I leave it open overnight? [closed]
My concern would be moisture buildup/mold. But if I leave it open overnight, maybe that would be enough to prevent mold?
1
vote
2answers
79 views
Vapor barrier on heated entertainment shed
i am building an 8x10 entertainment shed with a loft for kids to hang out and have sleepovers in, i will be heating it. I have tyvek and t1-11 it is on 4x4 skids on top of the Concrete patio and has 3/...
0
votes
1answer
78 views
How to prevent mold in ceiling below upstairs bathroom
TLDR;
Had previous mold issues in kitchen ceiling due to frequent leaks from upstairs bathroom.
Source of leaks resolved to the best of our ability, but long term permanent fix probably some years out....
0
votes
1answer
54 views
Raised black line in basement drywall
Does anyone know what this is?
My best guesses are either some type of mold or something insect related. This is on drywall in a finished basement connected to an exterior wall. I live in Chicago, in ...
2
votes
2answers
99 views
Do I need to remove tub to fix the subfloor? [closed]
I had hired a flooring company to replace vinyl with new tiles. When they removed the underlayment, it turned out there was some mold on the subfloor near the tub (see pics). The flooring guy said ...
0
votes
2answers
98 views
When removing siding with a mildew smell, and then replacing it, should I wrap the house in something airtight first?
I have a home built in the late 1960s in Massachusetts. The prior owner covered the house with vinyl, which was not done with care. Water gets behind the vinyl. The cedar wood clapboard and trim is ...
1
vote
2answers
48 views
Is this black mold/wall damage fixable without professional help?
Renting an apartment, had a bad flood last year, restoration company came and left (and forgot about) an industrial fan for 6 weeks, afterwards they said everything should be fine. Bookcase was not ...
0
votes
1answer
17 views
Prevent *minor* leak from kitchen faucet base
I noticed a small amount of mold (or mildew) on the dry wall under my kitchen sink. I don't know how long it's been there, or how long it's taken it to get there, but I cleaned it up with some ...
1
vote
1answer
67 views
Safe & chemical free way to clean AC coils?
My ac system last had regular maintenance/inspection 9 months ago. Normally I have it done every 6 months but due to coronavirus the company I have a warranty with isn't honoring their warranty. And ...
1
vote
2answers
447 views
Why is my new pine fence turning black? Can I stain right over it without creating a bigger future headache?
We put in a new pine fence about 2-3 months ago.
(Southern Yellow Pine, from Lowes. They called it “Severe Weather Pressure Treated Pine”)
I have been trying to stain/seal it for the past month and a ...
2
votes
1answer
42 views
Shower grout moisture prevention coating
I am wondering if there is a coating, seal, paint or whatever product that I can apply to the grout between shower tiles to prevent mold?
The junction between the shower tiles of my shower pit has ...
-1
votes
3answers
60 views
Mold growth in home
My home is a mold catastrophe. My fiancé was sick for a year and we got an air quality test and it tested the highest level. I started ripping the house apart and found that there was mold in three ...
-1
votes
1answer
106 views
How to paint a small bathroom with very poor ventilation?
Amateur here, just trying to do his best.
How to paint a small bathroom with very poor ventilation?
I imagine I'd want a paint that seals the paint behind it (which has been prone to a little mold), ...
0
votes
1answer
133 views
White mold or fungus on PT lumber
I'm building a wooden fence and have a number of 4x4 pressure treated lumber stacked neatly in my garage. I've been pulling posts from the stack as I work on the fence over the last 4 weeks. When I ...
0
votes
0answers
55 views
Condensation on HVAC, mold on joists/subfloor in basement
I have heavy condensation on the plenum and supply line near an exterior wall/window in my unfinished basement. I have mold and moisture on my subfloor and joists just in this 3 sections. I sealed up ...
0
votes
2answers
68 views
Does the mold on this bathroom panel look like it can be washed off?
I previously asked this question
Is this mold or some other substance?
Anybody know what material the bathrooom side panel is and does it look like the moldor whatever substances can simply be washed ...
-1
votes
1answer
42 views
How should I contain mold contaminated items?
I previously asked this question
Is this mold or some other substance?
where I discovered some mold behind a bathroom panel. The sensible thing to do would be to just throw the mold contaminated ...
0
votes
3answers
74 views
Is this mold or some other substance?
My bath tub side panel was not sealed and it seems water has been splashing in causing some damage.
I always thought mold would have to smell musky however the damage doesnt smell musky. I previously ...
0
votes
0answers
51 views
Rot or mold on the underside of deck
Anyone know what this stuff is?
Had boards similar looking to these on our deck two months back, ripped the bad boards out, but the neighboring boards acquired the same ailment since then. Ripped ...
