Organic and porous, drywall is one of the places homeowners often have mold on.
The thing is that people who do not know anything about mold are often the ones with large outbreaks of it.
In rooms like the basement or laundry room, large amounts of water can build up and sit for long periods of time. This allows the mold to grow quickly and spread over the drywall.
Unfortunately, most people do not notice it until after it has become very bad.
In today’s guide, we’ll cover mold on drywall – most likely causes, how to remove mold from drywall, when should you consider a replacement, and how to prevent drywall mold in the future.
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Why Mold Grows on Drywall?
If you’ve read our post on what mold needs to grow, you’d have seen that organic materials combined with moisture create an environment conducive to mold growth.
Drywall contains paper, which is organic and therefore a food source for mold. The outer layers of drywall are made of heavy paper, and if they get wet, mold will start growing shortly after.
The moisture we’re talking about often comes from water leaks through plumbing, malfunctioning appliances, and roofs. Your drywall can quickly soak up this water, along with materials around it, like insulation.
Do You Need to Replace a Moldy Drywall?
Look at the damage that has been caused. If it is extensive and heavy and the wall looks like it is crumbling, then you need to remove it and replace it.
If all you see is a small speckle, you have a chance of removing mold without needing to replace the entire drywall.
In our article on whether or not you should replace water-damaged drywall, we mention that drywall that is more than 1% wet should be replaced.
So, if, besides mold, your drywall is also soaked up, measure the moisture contents and see if you can dry it out and preserve it. Look into that guide to see how to do this.
Drywall Mold Removal Steps
Addressing the Moisture Source
Before you start addressing mold on drywall, get rid of the moisture source first.
Repair the water leak that has caused the issue. Inspect your pipes, roof, gutters, and siding to see where the water is coming from.
If you’ve got no leak, you may simply have high humidity in your home due to the humid climate and improper ventilation. Mold grows above 60% humidity levels, so measure yours and see if that’s the case in your home.
Sometimes, if there’s a lot of temperature variation in your area, you may have condensation problems that lead to mold.
Consider getting a dehumidifier if there’s a lot of moisture. Place the dehumidifier in a water-damaged room.
If there’s a specific spot that’s really damp, you can use an air mover to target it for faster drying. Fans can also do it if you don’t plan on buying or renting out this restoration equipment.
Removing the Mold
First, you need to put a mask over your mouth and wear gloves. When you clean the area, the spores will be released into the air.
Breathing it in could aggravate your breathing and cause flare-ups of allergies or respiratory conditions. Also, you should wear eye protection because you will be working with strong cleaners.
Ideally, seal off the area with plastic sheeting to prevent mold spores from spreading to other parts of the home.
Put white vinegar in a spray bottle and apply it to the surface. Let the vinegar sit for a while, so that the drywall can absorb it.
Vinegar will kill mold’s roots, unlike bleach, which only wipes off mold from the surface but doesn’t penetrate to the roots. Using bleach is also not recommended because it may damage the wall’s color.
Take a stiff brush or sponge to scrub the mold off the drywall. Be thorough in your cleaning to ensure all visible mold is removed.
Once about an hour has passed, rinse the area with warm water. If there’s still mold on the wall, you can retry these steps all over until all the mold is gone.
There should be no sign of mold on your drywall. It is still possible that the cleaning discolored the wall. In this instance, you can easily repaint it with a water-based primer and paint. This also makes it harder for mold to grow on the walls a second time.
How to Prevent Mold on Drywall in the Future?
As we’ve said, repainting the drywall can help prevent a mold problem. Consider applying mold-resistant paint or inhibitors to the drywall.
If you’re struggling with condensation, proper insulation can help prevent it and maintain consistent temperatures.
Keep your humidity levels below 60%, perhaps by getting a dehumidifier or just making sure that you ventilate the area better (especially true for rooms like bathrooms or basements).
And besides that, mitigate any water leaks in time. Just make sure that there’s no excess moisture in the room and you will be good.
Conclusion
If you need more help with mold remediation, make sure to contact our pros right away. Not all mold problems should be DIY-ed.
Sometimes, an issue is to big to be dealt with by an untrained individual. In this case, an experienced team should work on resolving the problem instead.
Call our professionals today; they’re looking forward to helping you out!
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