Attic and Basement Mold

1/4/2021 (Permalink)

Mold problems can spread via spores that float in the air, which is one reason experts recommend immediate mold remediation as soon as possible. Still, it may seem like an odd coincidence if mold shows up in both your attic and your basement.

Whether the two mold problems are simultaneous or consecutive, you should know that they could be related in one of several different ways. Here are four ways that mold in your attic and mold in your basement could be related.

Both Mold Problems Could Result From Gutter Issues
Did you know that problems with your rain gutters can cause erosion, mold, rot, leaks, and even foundation damage? Gutters can cause moisture problems in your basement if they spill water down your walls or allow it to waterfall over the gutter's edge to the ground rather than carrying it away down the downspout.

If the gutter is too small for the amount of rain, it could leak quite a bit of water down towards your foundation with every heavy rain. Other gutter problems that can cause this include a gutter that can't catch the rain because it's misaligned and a gutter that's bent or deformed, allowing water to escape.

But rain gutters can also cause moisture problems in your attic. For instance, if the gutters are clogged with leaves, the wet debris holds moisture in place so the air pulled in by your roof's soffit vents may be very high in humidity, allowing condensation to build up on the roof deck until mold appears.

Basement Air and Humidity Could Rise to the Attic
Another way basement mold problems can relate to attic mold problems is through sharing air. Air, which may carry mold spores and extra moisture, can transfer between the basement and the attic. Stairwells, wall cavities, and other open spots may allow air to travel upwards through your home in a stack effect.

Roof Leaks Could Trickle Down
You'd expect that a roof leak could cause moisture problems in the attic, since that's the first stop for anything that leaks through the roof. However, a leak could potentially affect the basement as well.

Some roof leaks, instead of dripping down into your living space, sneak down along the supporting beams of your home, and gravity pulls the water downwards all the way to the basement. Moisture problems can develop wherever the leak ends up, meaning you could have mold growing not only in the attic and basement but inside your walls as well.

Pests Could Be Involved in Both Areas
Pests can be either a cause or an effect of moisture problems. For example, damp wood termites love to infest wood that's already wet and rotting, so they could show up throughout your home after moisture problems develop. On the other hand, pests such as bats and raccoons can sometimes be the cause of a moisture problem in your home.

One way pests can cause moisture problems is simply by living in your attic or basement. Their waste products could increase humidity and allow mold to develop. But large pests such as raccoons, or pests with powerful teeth such as rats, can also let the elements in while trying to access these areas of your home.

To keep mold problems from deteriorating the structural integrity of your home, you'll need to not only remove the mold but also eliminate the conditions that caused the mold to grow. A professional mold restoration service can help you with both of these objectives.

Call SERVPRO of Eaton County, Clinton and Gratiot Counties, Lansing & Holt today to discuss the mold remediation services we offer. We can help you salvage damaged materials, clean off mold, and remove excess moisture from the air. We can also help you get to the bottom of why the damage occurred in the first place so you can resist the damage next time.