Mold growth in the home is unhealthy for your family. It is essential that you deal with any mold or mildew in your home.
The common idea most people have of basements are dark, damp rooms, covered with basement mold.
In fact, basement and bathroom mold is one of the main concerns many homeowners have about their home. When someone talks about a basement or bathroom, usually what comes to mind are unsightly mold growth and that musky smell that are so typical of basements and bathrooms.
The best way to get rid of mold is to first know where its coming from. Targeting the cause of mold and mildew can help keep your basement and bathroom clean as well as safe for your family.
In order to address the problem effectively, you need to familiarize yourself with the many various reasons why molds in basements occur.
Usually, mold growth in the home is self-evident, and homeowners often discover it on their walls, in their roofs and baseboards. Mold also emits a certain unpleasant odor that characterizes its presence. When you get rid of the cause, you have better chances of getting rid of the mold or mildew itself.
The primary cause of mold in the home is dampness or water problems. These can come from plumbing leaks, poor footer drains, groundwater leakage, leaky roofing sheets, gutter problems, flooding and sump pumps that are not working properly.
Here are a few areas to deals with to prevent mold growth
Sealing porous materials
Untreated or unfinished porous materials such as sheet rock, timber, wood framing, solid bamboo plywood and carpeting can encourage mold, particularly black mold, to grow. While these materials are used in basements, there are ways to keep mold growth at bay. If possible, seal these porous materials with an appropriate sealant.
For example, seal your timber with teak or linseed oil to prevent mold growth. It’ll also keep the life of the timber and discourage bugs that love to eat wood.
Dry out the air
Basements are close to the soil or ground, most basements are moist and cold and these conditions typically result in mold. To combat cold basement floors, you can warm them up by installing radiant heat. This can also get rid of damp in the basement and bathroom. Choose either under floor water heating or electric radiant heat to dispel the damp air.
Insulating Your Basement
Insulating your basement can help prevent mold and mildew growth.
If you live in a place with high levels of summer humidity and cold winters, it would be a good idea to use insulation with a vapor barrier on your exterior walls. The vapor barrier must be employed on the warm side of the wall. This will stop moisture from wicking on the insulation during the winter.
Using Dehumidifiers
Dehumidifiers are also great for eliminating mold and handling dampness in the home. Dehumidifiers help keep the room dry. These are found in home improvement stores as well as over the Internet.
Other things to look at
When planning basement remodeling ideas, find all openings such as cracks and holes check that they are sealed and that there is good ventilation around the foundation.
You have to check that water does not develop around the house and that the gutters lead water away from the foundation.
Obviously, getting rid of mold also has a lot to do with taking preventive measures.
Once you discover even little things such as a small leak on a corner or slight dampness on your carpets or furniture, its best to deal with them right away and take action to prevent future mold growth. One tiny leak could result in a bigger problem that is more difficult to solve if left as it is.
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