Worried about mould growth in your attic? Attics are one of the most susceptible spaces in our homes to mould – but it’s often hard to spot until mould growth becomes extensive. In this article, we’ll take a look at why mould grows in attics, how to spot the warning signs, and what you can do if you suspect attic mould growth in your home. For the best attic mould removal Hamilton has to offer, contact the experts at Good Bye Mould today.
What Causes Mould In Your Attic?
Attics are prone to mould growth for a number of reasons. The first is that homeowners rarely go into their attics, especially if you own a home with an attic that is difficult to access. Some attics in Canadian homes were not designed for everyday use. This means that your attic may not be safe to enter (for example, the floorboards may have been built with weaker building materials, creating a serious fall risk).
There are a number of factors unique to attic spaces that make them particularly susceptible to mould growth. Mould spores are everywhere – both indoors and outdoors. However, mould begins to grow when given the right environment. Mould loves warm, moist environments with high humidity. Attics often have the perfect environment for mould growth and can go unnoticed for weeks, months or even years.
Here are some other factors that can cause mould growth in your attic:
- Poor Ventilation: Attics typically have limited ventilation, especially if they are not properly designed or maintained. With moisture trapped inside and low airflow, mould spores have the right environment to begin to grow and spread.
- High Humidity: Attics can have higher humidity levels compared to the rest of the house. In Hamilton, hot and humid summers can lead to very high moisture in your attic, which can then lead to mould growth.
- Leaks and Water Intrusion: Roof leaks or plumbing issues can introduce water into your attic, providing the ideal breeding ground for mould. If these issues go unnoticed or unaddressed, they can lead to significant mould growth over time.
- Poor Insulation: Improper insulation in your attic can cause temperature fluctuations, leading to condensation when warm air meets cooler surfaces. Both old and newer homes may have inadequate insulation in the attic.
- Organic Material: Attics often contain organic materials like wood, paper, or cardboard in the form of rafters, sheathing, or stored items. These materials provide mould with enough food to grow.
- Lack of Maintenance: Attics are commonly forgotten areas of the home. Most homeowners do not ever or very rarely enter their attics for inspection or maintenance. Because of this, mould growth can go unnoticed for extended periods in attics, allowing it to spread and worsen over time.
Mould growth can begin within 24-48 hours of a leak or excess moisture introduced indoors. If you suspect that your attic may have any of the issues listed above, it’s important to call for professional help as soon as possible. This will help reduce the spread and potential damage caused by mould.
Is There Mould In My Attic? Common Signs Of Mould Growth
Mould growth in your attic can be harder to spot than in other areas of your home. You have probably noticed small spots of mould growing in your shower or tub, or a few spots here and there on your windowsills. These small spots are often noticed immediately and are relatively easy to care for on your own. Because you likely do not go into your attic as often as you do your kitchen or bathroom, you may not notice tiny spots of mould growing on boards or boxes.
However, there are some less obvious signs to look out for that may indicate a mould growth problem. When you have mould growing your home, one of the first things you may notice a “musty” smell. However, with attic mould growth, your attic might be so separated from the rest of your home that you don’t notice any unusual smells. However, while you may not smell anything strange, there are a some visual signs to keep an eye out for, including:
- Stains on or around your ceiling
- Discolouration around your ceiling and top of walls
- Signs of leaks and moisture
- Roof damage
- Frost on roof sheathing
Unfortunately, mould growth can not only damage your home, but also cause uncomfortable symptoms and impact your health. Health Canada considers indoor mould growth a significant health hazard. Some individuals, such as those with asthma or other respiratory conditions, elderly people and the very young may be at higher risk of adverse health effects from mould growth. Common symptoms that people living in mouldy homes may experience include:
- Excessive coughing
- Shortness of breath and wheezing
- Cold or flu-like symptoms that do not go away
- Irritation of the nose, eyes, and throat
- Increase in asthma symptom severity
- Headaches or dizziness
If you or someone in your family has been experiencing unexplained symptoms that are not going away, it may be a good idea to look into a mould assessment. Mould growth can make you feel sick and uncomfortable in your own home, even if it is located in your attic. Mould spores spread easily through ventilation and an attic mould problem can eventually become a whole home problem if it is not properly contained and removed.
Attic Mould Removal Hamilton
All homes in Ontario are prone to mould growth under the right conditions. Our humid summers and damp spring and fall seasons can create the perfect environment for indoor mould growth. Many homes in Hamilton are older builds, especially in downtown Hamilton. It is not uncommon to find homes that were built over 100 years ago in Hamilton.
Older homes are prone to mould growth due to lack of insulation, poor ventilation, damage that has occurred over time, older HVAC systems and aging materials such as wooden beams and flooring.
While older homes are prone to mould growth, that does not mean that newer homes cannot have mould growth. Sometimes, new homes were built quickly and with cheaper construction materials, leading to potential weak areas that can leak or let in excess moisture or humidity.
As well, homeowner behaviour – whether living in an old home or a new home – can contribute to mould growth. For example, if the previous homeowners ignored roof damage, failed to maintain their HVAC system or installed improper vents, you may now be dealing with a mould growth problem and need mould removal services.
What To Expect From Attic Mould Removal
Good Bye Mould offers the best attic mould removal Hamilton has to offer. We have over 10 years of experience helping homeowners remove mould safely and effectively, giving you and your family peace of mind that the mould has been completely taken care of.
We know that finding mould in your home can be overwhelming. We do everything we can to make the process as painless as possible. For starters, we’ll let you know exactly what to expect from the process:
- Before we create a plan to remove your mould, we’ll first send Our IICRC certified technicians to assess the situation in your attic. The best way to address mould is to find the growth source. Our technicians are trained to find the source of the problem and determine how to stop it from happening again.
- We use the best and latest equipment and technology to assess the mould problem, including infrared thermal imaging, moisture meters, and air quality testing to determine the extent of the problem.
- After the assessment, we will completely contain the mould to ensure it does not spread further.
- Finally, it’s time for attic mould removal. Our experienced and certified technicians will expertly remove all of the mould growth in your attic mould.
During the process, you can rest assured that we always maintain safe operations. During the mould removal process, mould spores can go airborne and spread if not properly contained. We always ensure the mould is completely contained before we remove it, ensuring the rest of your home remains mould-free.
We also offer additional services including air quality testing before and after removal, and a full PDF report that details information about the issue that caused the mould growth.
Attic Mould Removal Hamilton – Rely On The Experienced Team at Good Bye Mould!
Planning to renovate your attic or simply concerned about mould growth in your home? Mould growth in your attic can cause a number of issues, from health problems to structural damage in your home. If you are looking for the best attic mould removal Hamilton has to offer, you can rely on Good Bye Mould. At Good Bye Mould, we are committed to 100% customer satisfaction. We have a 5-star rating on Google and countless satisfied customers.
When we come to work in your home, you can rest assured that highly trained professionals will conduct both air quality testing and offer the best mould removal. All of our technicians are IICRC-certified for water damage and mould removal. They are also trained on the Ontario Building Code.
Our technicians are trained to find any source of moisture and mould growth, and they have a great understanding of buildings too. This ensures that we find out how the mould growth started in the first place, and how to stop it from coming back.
“Rick was extremely helpful in resolving the mold issue at my rental property. He was able to quickly come and remove the mold. He’s also very professional and a good listener – after hearing my concerns and situations, he suggested additional air quality tests and future prevention using humidity control. I highly appreciate his efforts and would recommend him to anyone who’s having mold problems at home.”
We always use the best and latest equipment to ensure you get the very best results, every time. We pride ourselves on our customer service and understand that having mould in your home can be stressful. We work to make the mould removal process as quick and simple for you as possible.
If you suspect you have a mould growth issue in your Hamilton home, contact us today for a no-obligation, on-site quote.
