Mould is a particularly unpleasant word. No householder wants to hear or even think about the possibility of mould on their property. Mould has an unpleasant damp smell, is unsightly and difficult to get rid of, but that’s not the only unpleasantness caused by mould. Let’s discuss these obvious disadvantages of mould in more detail.
Table of contents
Mould damages your home
By the time the mould has grown to the point where it can be noticed – by smell and by the naked eye – the problem is usually much bigger and more persistent.
Mould is most often caused by moisture-related problems in the home, such as leaking roofs, dripping plumbing, flooding or waterlogging, leaking foundations and constantly damp basements, condensation on windows and lack of ventilation. Bathrooms and kitchens, as well as small bedrooms, have the highest levels of moisture and are the most likely to develop mould.
Whatever the cause, mould should not be ignored. It is not the type of problem that, if ignored, will simply go away. On the contrary, mould will only spread further.
Structural damage
Mould spreads through walls and insulation materials. They destroy the materials they “live” on. If no action is taken, mould, which was only a small localised problem, can spread to the whole house and mould remediation will be a complex, expensive and lengthy process. Over time, mould can seriously damage the structural integrity of your home.
Unpleasant odours
Mould growth often causes unpleasant odours that can be difficult to remove. These odours can permeate the home and make it an unpleasant living environment.
Aesthetic damage
Mould can discolour and stain surfaces such as walls, ceilings and fabrics. These stains can be difficult to remove, and in severe cases may require repainting or replacement of damaged materials.
Impairment of assets
The resale value of a house with mould problems may be lower. Potential buyers are often wary of a house with a known mould problem, which can make it difficult to sell.
Increased maintenance costs
Solving problems caused by mould can be expensive. Remediation, repairs and preventive measures, such as more optimal ventilation and humidity control, require financial investment.
Legal and insurance issues
Some insurance policies may not cover mould damage, or may have limitations on coverage. If mould causes property damage or health problems for residents, it can lead to legal disputes and liability problems.
Mould is an overlooked cause of many diseases
According to the National Centre for Public Health, “moulds are best known for their allergenic properties, which are shared by around 300 mould species.
The number of people suffering from mould allergy is increasing every year, most often in the form of allergic rhinitis or bronchial asthma. In addition, mould can cause respiratory inflammation, eye or skin irritation, headaches or damage to the digestive system if eaten with food.
Mould and respiratory problems
There is a large body of scientific research and convincing evidence that exposure to indoor mould is linked to upper respiratory problems. Researchers continue to study the effects of mould, especially on children.
Some researchers are beginning to suggest that asthma and other respiratory diseases in some children may be related to exposure to indoor mould.
There are thousands of mould species worldwide, and there are reports that there may be over 100,000 mould species.
So you can expect anything from mould. Scientists may need more research to link specific health conditions to mould or mould species. But when it comes to health, why take the risk of testing on yourself – better to get on with the job of eradicating mould straight away.
Is mould in food also dangerous?
As already mentioned, there are many types of mould. There are also so-called “good moulds”, which are used in food production. The most common uses are in the ageing of mouldy cheese and in the production of cured sausages (these sausages are covered with a velvety white mouldy shell).
Moulds specifically for food production give a more pronounced flavour and aroma to food products and facilitate the preservation process.
This specialised mould should not be confused with the greenish, yellowish mould that appears on an old slice of bread or on an overripe tomato. The latter are poisonous and should not be eaten.
Similarly, produce affected by mould should be discarded, no matter how little of it may appear to be affected.
Signs of mould in the home
Mould can hide in many places in your home: in the attic, under the carpet, between walls, on the ceiling, between tiles, etc. Indoor mould can be insidious, so knowing the signs of mould in your home will help you identify it and take preventive measures.
One of the first indicators that your home may have mould is likely to be a stuffy, earthy smell in your home. The feeling that the house hasn’t been ventilated for weeks.
This is especially noticeable when you enter the room from the outside, as the contrast is stark. You may not be able to identify where the smell is coming from, but you can tell for sure that there is a source somewhere.
In some cases, you can visually identify mould, usually in the form of stains, which may be different shades. These stains can appear on walls, worktops and other surfaces.
Usually, when you see or smell mould, it is already a risk to you and your home. But in reality, what you can see or smell is probably just the tip of the iceberg.
Mould is indiscriminate – it can occur in any house
If you watched Navalny’s famous video about the so-called Presidential Palace, you must have seen the part about the palace being constantly rebuilt and repaired. Do you remember the reason?
That’s right – because mould fungi have grown in the house. And this happened in a house (or rather palace) that was built at a cost of millions of euros. And who can forget these lines from Maironis’s poem, “High up, covered with mould and lichen / Trakai is a glorious castle!”? So whether it’s a castle, a palace or just a shanty, mould can appear anywhere.
Conditions for mould growth
The prerequisite for mould growth is humidity. Therefore, in order to take preventive action, you should regularly check your home for moisture-related problems. For example:
- A narrow, dripping roof,
- Leaky foundations and a constantly damp basement,
- Dripping plumbing,
- Poorly ventilated bathroom and kitchen,
- Condensation on windows in rooms.
One of the most common situations where mould develops quite quickly is when windows are replaced with plastic. The old windows were leaky and had micro-ventilation.
If you change to sealed windows without additional ventilation, it is not long before the overall humidity increases (we breathe in and out, and then there is cooking or showering), which is why mould appears. This is why, in centralised renovation projects, the replacement of windows goes hand in hand with the installation of heat recovery (or its alternative).
Solving the problem of excess moisture also prevents the development or spread of mould. But if mould does appear indoors, don’t ignore it, take action!
Mould control – when can you do it yourself, when should you call in the professionals?
Nowadays, there is a wide range of products that can help stop the spread of mould and destroy it. However, this is only possible if action is taken immediately and if the mould has not yet spread widely throughout the house. If there is a lot of mould, it is better not to experiment and to leave the eradication to the professionals.
You should also call in specialists if you try to eradicate the mould and find that it has not stopped it, which means that your methods are ineffective, or that you are dealing with a more resistant type of mould.
How do I know if it’s time to call in the specialists?
One way to understand whether mould is widespread in your home is to assess the visible area.
- Mould damage of less than 1 square metre can be cleaned with conventional mould removers.
- Mould damage between 1 sqm and 3 sqm – clean with mould-intensive products or call in specialists.
- The area affected by mould is greater than 3 square metres – call in specialists to eradicate mould.
If detected in time, action can be taken to eradicate mould. However, it is also necessary to assess why it has occurred and how to prevent it from occurring in the future. As we have already mentioned, the most common cause is excess moisture, so find the source of the moisture and assess what you can do about additional ventilation.
Either way, don’t ignore it – mould is a threat to your home and your health.
