The Impact of Attic Mold on Your Home’s Structural Integrity

Houses are built to withstand wind, weather, and daily use for decades, but many fall prey to a tiny enemy: mold. At MoldTech, we’ve worked on thousands of homes and buildings whose structural integrity has been impacted by mold growth, especially when it grows in the attic. During attic mold removal in Toronto, we’ve seen how seriously mold can affect the entire home, even when the infestation is present only in the attic. The sad part is that mold is an easily preventable problem — annual mold testing is a straightforward and non-invasive way to catch issues before they become irreversible damage. 

How Mold Causes Damage

Mold is a type of fungus, and, like its mushroom cousins, it feeds on organic materials such as wood, paper, and textiles. In your yard, there are dozens of moulds breaking down leaves, wood,  spent flowers and other organic materials — it’s an integral part of the circle of life. Have you ever stepped on an old log that looks firm, only to have it crumble under your feet? This is an example of mold at work, and it’s not hard to imagine how this would have disastrous effects if that’s what was happening in your home. 

What Mold Damages

Mold will cause damage to any organic materials that it can grow on or consume. Some of the common materials we discover mold growth on include:

• Wood sheathing, joists, flooring, and other construction materials
• Wallpaper and drywall
• Cardboard boxes
• Textiles like carpets, drapes, and sheets
• Wooden furniture
• Insulation

It’s heartbreaking to tell clients their family heirlooms or irreplaceable items have been damaged or destroyed through mold, let alone that their home is unsafe or dangerous to be in. Our goal is to help you avoid this damage and the adverse health effects of mold through prophylactic mold testing or prompt mold remediation — mold cannot wait to be addressed. 

The Health Effects of Attic Mold Damage

Mold will ruin wood, construction elements and other materials, which can cost both time and money to replace and repair. But, in our opinion, that’s not the worst part of mold growth — it’s the danger it poses to human health that’s MoldTech’s true concern.

Mold reproduces using tiny spores that get stuck in the respiratory tract, affecting breathing and overall health. Many of our clients complain about symptoms such as: 

• Coughing or wheezing. 
• Itchy or dry eyes. 
• Running or congested nose. 
• Headache. 
• Dry skin. 
• Fatigue

The tricky part about these symptoms is that they mimic the common cold, flu, or allergies — if your mold infestation is hidden in the attic, you may just think you’re suffering from a nasty virus. The critical sign it’s mold, not the flu, is that your symptoms never seem to improve, or that they lessen once you’re away from home. If this sounds familiar, it might be time to have a complete home mold inspection. 

The Benefits of Mold Testing

Attics are notoriously hard for homeowners to assess — they’re complicated and uncomfortable to reach, they’re dark, and insulation, gables, and other features can obscure problems. At MoldTech, we have a safe and reliable testing method for attic mold that is flexible enough to deal with these issues and sensitive enough to locate even the most minor infestations. 

Mold testing is your best weapon against damaging and costly mold infestations. It can help alert you to problems that lead to mold growth, like high humidity, or alert you to new and emerging colonies that may be invisible or hidden. Mold testing is non-invasive and clean, with minimal disruption to your day. It can provide answers about general indoor air quality health and help direct remediation efforts in the event you need attic mold removal. 

Safe Attic Mold Removal

If you have concerns about your attic, don’t wait to have it tested for mold growth — the attic is one of the most common places we remove mold from in the GTA. Attics are the perfect habitat for mold growth, providing peace and quiet, darkness, moisture, and lots of organic material. The MoldTech team has been doing attic mold removal in Toronto for over a decade as a trusted and knowledgable mold specialist; call us today to book your free visual inspection. 

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