is this mold?
#1
01-29-09, 08:44 AM
is this mold?
The other day i was up in my attic and notice blackish,greenish colors on the plywood roof. Is this mold? It is only in one part of the attic. The roof is about 4 years old.
If it was, what do I do? Have it removed and treated? Is this a big problem to deal with?
If it was, what do I do? Have it removed and treated? Is this a big problem to deal with?
#3
01-29-09, 09:06 AM
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If it's mostly or entirely on the North side of the attic, then it's likely a symptom of generally insufficient attic ventilation.
If it's in one particular spot, look for local moisture sources, for example a poorly insulated and leaking access hatch or a bathroom or kitchen fan discharging into the attic below the discolored area:
If it's in one particular spot, look for local moisture sources, for example a poorly insulated and leaking access hatch or a bathroom or kitchen fan discharging into the attic below the discolored area:
#4
01-29-09, 09:27 AM
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Saw your pics after I posted my reply.
That looks to me like a combination of ingredients problem:
1) The discoloration at various areas of the sheathing suggests that there is generally excessive moisture present in the attic. This could be the result of insufficient ventilation, or warm moist air being introduced into the attic by the HVAC system, or some combination of these.
There are soffits baffles present to direct air from the soffit and past the insulation (this is good), the soffit vents could be obstructed or missing at the exterior, there could be insufficient venting higher up, the HVAC system might be leaking enough warm mosit air to overwhelm the ventilation or the HVAC system might be depressurizing and the attic and drawing in warm moist air from below, or some combination of these.
2) The more pronounced discoloration at the eaves
looks to me like it might be the result of liquid water introduced by ice "damming",
is there evidence of this at the exterior?
That looks to me like a combination of ingredients problem:
1) The discoloration at various areas of the sheathing suggests that there is generally excessive moisture present in the attic. This could be the result of insufficient ventilation, or warm moist air being introduced into the attic by the HVAC system, or some combination of these.
There are soffits baffles present to direct air from the soffit and past the insulation (this is good), the soffit vents could be obstructed or missing at the exterior, there could be insufficient venting higher up, the HVAC system might be leaking enough warm mosit air to overwhelm the ventilation or the HVAC system might be depressurizing and the attic and drawing in warm moist air from below, or some combination of these.
2) The more pronounced discoloration at the eaves
looks to me like it might be the result of liquid water introduced by ice "damming",
is there evidence of this at the exterior?
#5
01-29-09, 10:02 AM
i'll take a look today, to see if i have any ice hanging. What does a sofit vent look like in the exterior to see if they are there?
Who should I call to get fixed? Mold removal company, roofer?
Who should I call to get fixed? Mold removal company, roofer?
#6
01-30-09, 08:32 AM
I checked and I do have soffit vents installed by the gutters every few feet. I don't have any icicles hangings or any snow near the gutters, i think. I can get on my roof, don;t have a ladder long enough.
I did noticed that mold is only on one side of the roof and stops at the peak. The mold gets worse as you get get closer to the eaves.
Where should I start? Who can I call? Any help is appreciated.
I did noticed that mold is only on one side of the roof and stops at the peak. The mold gets worse as you get get closer to the eaves.
Where should I start? Who can I call? Any help is appreciated.
#8
02-05-09, 10:21 AM
I had an environmental consultant come in test the mold. I haven't gotten the results back yet, but he said it not going to be toxic and I could clean it myself with bleach. Has anyone tried to this themselves?
He also said that the ventilation in the attic is not working correctly. I have baffles with soffit vents, ridge vent on the peak of the roof and a ventilation fan that has thermostat attached. He says to close-up the roof vent and put a humidifier stat on the ventilation fan. He says if you a ridge vent you should not have a ventilation fan because the air is being from the ridge vent and not the soffits, so only part of the attic is being ventilated.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this assessment? Is this what I should do?
He also said that the ventilation in the attic is not working correctly. I have baffles with soffit vents, ridge vent on the peak of the roof and a ventilation fan that has thermostat attached. He says to close-up the roof vent and put a humidifier stat on the ventilation fan. He says if you a ridge vent you should not have a ventilation fan because the air is being from the ridge vent and not the soffits, so only part of the attic is being ventilated.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this assessment? Is this what I should do?
#9
02-05-09, 12:50 PM
He says if you a ridge vent you should not have a ventilation fan because the air is being from the ridge vent and not the soffits, so only part of the attic is being ventilated.
Roof Ventilation | The Short Circuit Myth
You most likely do not have enough soffit venting if they are spaced every few feet.
YouTube - Ice Dams and Soffit Vents
#10
02-06-09, 01:06 PM
I do have soffit vents about every foot. I would think this is enough. The mold is only on one side of the roof, the side that doesn't get much sun. The mold is darker towards the eaves. I did notice some frost or ice by one of the baffles.
I don't have any Ice on the gutters, so i don't think its an ice dam.
I don't have any Ice on the gutters, so i don't think its an ice dam.
What is this type of roof or top floor called?
The rafters which have plaster or drywall underneath ( the sloped ceiling) had cellulose dense packed into them. I Removed some insulationg so that i could install the rafter vents and at the most got the end of vents about half way down the 3 1/2' covered rafter.
The soffits are currently solid wood, no venting at all. I am planning on installing round soffit vents as it would be easier than attempting to cut the rectangular holes in the soffit from underneath, on a ladder, 2 storys up.
when i cut the holes for the vents, should i stick my hand in and remove the insulation up to the bottom of the rafter vent?
Should there be any insulationg in the rafters period? If this is the case, i wouldnt have been able to remove it all anyways.
Thanks for all the help! This house has proven to be quite a handful! :)