If you know how to prevent mold in poorly designed houses, then you and your home are safe.
Mold is not just a ugly stain on the wall. If ignored it can cause health issues and destroy your home.
Mold is usually found in unconstructed and poorly designed houses. Such houses have bad air circulation, water pipes or places that are always wet.
When you have a house that is not well built or designed, don’t worry. You can still take precautions that will prevent mold from growing.
In this post I will show you how to prevent mold in houses that are not ideal with its construction.
And we will also tell you when to call a pro mold removal service because in some cases this is the best solution.
Why Mold Grows in Poorly Designed Houses
Mold needs three things to grow:
- Moisture
- Warmth
- Organic material (like wood, dust or drywall)
Houses that were poorly designed usually have areas where water enters easily or air is not there. This is the perfect environment for mold to grow peacefully in the background of the walls, under the floors or on the ceiling.
These dark corners are wet most of the time and more so when there are drips, blocked downpipes and no ventilation.
Non-windowed rooms, fanless bathrooms, poor drainage areas can also hold water.
As time passes the wetness accumulates and the environment is conducive to mold growth and spread. The worst part is it grows silently and noiselessly hence you may not realize it until you encounter a serious health and home problem.
Common design issues that lead to mold are;
- No proper ventilation in bathrooms or kitchens
- Leaky roofs or poor roofing structure
- Cracks in walls or around windows
- Flat roofs that allows water to sit instead of draining
Not enough insulation causing condensation on cold surfaces
How to Prevent Mold in Badly Designed Houses
1. Keep the Air Moving
Air is one of the best tools that you can use to prevent the growth of molds in your home. As fresh air flows into a space, it dries out wet surfaces and does not allow moisture to accumulate.
But in poorly designed homes, air flow is a big problem. Most rooms have small windows, no cross ventilation and blocked ventilation channels.
Such can trap warm wet air especially after cooking, bathing or rain. Stagnant air has no place for moisture to escape.
That moisture rusts on walls, ceilings and corners as time goes by, which is the perfect condition for mold to grow. Better air circulation can go a long way of making sure your home is mold free.
What you can do is:
- Open windows when possible, even for a few minutes a day
- Use ceiling fans or standing fans to move air
- Leave doors open between rooms to improve air flow
- Use ventilation fans in bathrooms and kitchens
Where you don’t have built in fans, it’s a good idea to install exhaust fans in moisture prone areas.
2. Control Humidity Levels
Humid air is mold’s favorite. It’s moisture loving and when the air is humid it’s the perfect condition for mold to multiply.
Poor designs in homes often means higher humidity due to poor ventilation, air flow blockage or inaccessible water leaks.
Humidity can be stored daily in bathrooms without a fan, kitchens without windows, and basements without sunlight. Leakages as small as under the sink or behind the walls would contribute to the moisture in the air.
Since there’s no place to escape or dry up, mold starts to grow silently when this damp air has nowhere to go. Prevent mold from growing before it gets out of control by controlling indoor humidity is one of the biggest measures.
You can control humidity by:
- Buy a humidity meter (hygrometer) to check levels.
Keep humidity below 60%. Ideal is around 45–50%. - Apply dehumidifier, particularly throughout rainy season, or the basement.
- Do not dry clothes in the house except with a vented dryer or a lot of air flow.Summarize: Even when you boil water it humidifies the air. When cooking always open your window, or a vent.
3. Fix Leaks Fast
One of the biggest causes of mold growth in any home is water leaks. Yes, even tiny and insignificant leaks can provide a perfect spot for mold to grow by the time.
Leaks are happening in the sinks, behind the walls, around the windows or the roof that got broken. Water could find its way into walls, floors or ceiling unless leakage is identified in time and repairs made promptly. The water trapped forms a secret cavity where mold grows.
A lot of people only find out there are leaks when the mold has already spread. Knowing the problem by checking the leak regularly can save you from the worst situation of having serious mold problems.
Poorly built homes may have:
- Leaky roofs
- Loose plumbing
- Gaps around windows or doors
- Cracks in walls
Here’s what to do:
- Check for signs of leaks—water stains, soft walls or musty smells
- Get dripping taps, showers or pipes fixed quickly
- Using water proof caulk or filler seal cracks and spaces
- Make sure that drains and gutters are clean so that water is removed away from your house.
- When rain is pouring water inside your home through the front door, have a professional inspection done.
4. Use Mold-Resistant Products
When you’re doing repairs or renovations on your house, ask for materials that are mold resistant. It’s smart in wet areas like bathroom, kitchen, basement or laundry room.
Use drywall and paint that’s mold resistant, waterproof paint and moisture free insulation. They’ll prevent mold growth and water damage to your home or steam. They’ll keep your walls and surfaces dry.
Although these materials are more expensive, they’ll save you time when you’ll have mold problems. In the end, they’ll save you the expense and stress of leaving your home dirty, unsafe and covered in toxic mold for longer.
Here are some of them:
- Mold-resistant drywall (also called green board)
- Waterproof paint with mold protection
- Plastic or vinyl flooring instead of carpet in damp areas
- Mold-blocking primers before painting walls
These materials will hinder mold growth even in case of moisture.
5. Insulate to Prevent Condensation
This is usually caused by poor design especially in attics or basements of the house and outer walls where there is not a lot or even no insulation.
These areas can get very cold especially during weather change without proper insulation. It is this hot air in the house that strikes such a cold surface as the walls, windows, or even the ceiling, that produces the condensation.
The wetness may remain on the surface or it may be absorbed by such material as wood, plaster or cloth. When this moisture does not dry quickly over time, mold will begin to form.
Insulation maintains indoor temperature even and decreases the chance of condensation and mold growth in your home.
To stop this:
- Insulate pipes especially in cold areas like the basement
- Add insulation to walls, ceilings or floors if possible
- Put thermal curtains so as to keep windows cool
- Place mats or rugs around the entry way to prevent moisture coming in
And don’t seal your vents or air flow in the exterior walls because this is prone to condensation.
6. Keep Surfaces Clean and Dry
Easy and effective: mold won’t grow on surfaces that are dry and clean. Mold needs two things to grow, moisture and something to eat like dust and dirt or organic matter.
When a surface is cleaned regularly and is absolutely dry, then mold won’t find a living space there. That’s why regular cleaning/drying is important especially in areas like the bathroom, kitchen, wash room or windowsills.
Clean up spills immediately, take time and clean corners and tiles and make sure no water is standing. Among the simplest and most natural way to prevent mold is to keep your home dry and clean.
Here are the ways you can make your home mold-free:
- Wipe down wet surfaces after showering or cooking
- Maintain clean walls and tiles on the bathrooms regularly
- Make sure spills, puddles are not left unattended to–wipe them up immediately
- Areas such as the bathroom and the laundry room should be sprayed with something that prevents mold. Be sure to inspect under the sinks, back of the furniture and house corners thoroughly. These spots should not be ignored.
These hidden spots are mold’s favorite places.
7. Let the Sunshine In
Sunlight will also kill off mold spores and keep the moisture levels low. Sunlight is a natural mold killer because it dries out the area and it becomes hard for mold to grow. Well, rooms with direct sunlight tend to be warmer and less humid and that’s the last thing mold wants to be in.
Poorly designed houses without windows or those with few and small windows have unlit and wet environments and that increases the chances of mold. Do whatever you can to get sunlight into your house: open curtains during the day, cut back bushes that hide the windows, and get a skylight or light tube, at least.
Even if your house wasn’t built to have big windows, you can:
- During the day open curtains and blinds
- Cut off trees or bushes that obstruct your windows
- Add mirrors to reflect sunlight into darker rooms
Any sunlight is equivalent to less mold.
8. Check Your House Often
The quicker you get to discover the mold, the easier it is to avoid it. Early-detected molds are immature and have not had an opportunity to get deep into walls, ceilings and floors. This is very convenient to wash and dispose of without having to make any major repairs.
Early molds can be considered as small black, green or white spots and they can smell musty too. Watch out wet regions like the bathroom, sink or windows.
You will be able to find out about mold when it is not too big of an issue yet because of regular inspections. Doing this before it is too late would save you time, money and make your house safe and healthy for everyone.
Make it a habit:
- Look for black, green or gray spots on walls and ceilings
- Sniff around for musty odors
- Check behind furniture or inside cabinets
- Inspect bathrooms, laundry rooms, basements and roofs regularly
Keep an eye out for minor signs. Even a little area of mold can multiply fast.
9. Watch Out After Flooding or Heavy Rain
If your house is not well built, heavy rains will cause trouble in no time. Failure to drain or seal properly, roof or drain may result to easy entry of rainwater into the building.
It may come through cracks on the walls, under doors or via a porous roof.
When it gets inside the building, the water can absorb carpets, floors and walls leaving wet areas where molds can develop fast. There are areas that may be wet even if you don’t notice it.
That’s why you should check your home after each heavy rainstorm, to do this you should watch out for puddles or damp areas or leaks. Preventing mold at its source may require fixing these problems before they happen.
Once any flooding or water spill:
- Wet items and areas should be dried out in 24-48 hours
- Remove moisture in the air through fans and dehumidifiers
- Lift up the wet carpets and dry below them.
- Throw away anything that cannot be dried or cleaned (like wet cardboard or paper)
Remember, mold can develop even if you don’t see water especially hard to reach places.
What If Mold Has Already Spread?
If you already see mold in many areas, don’t attempt to clean everything on your own (especially if the mold is black, thick or there’s an odor).
It’s even worse when one tries to clean it without the right equipment. You can contaminate other areas with the mold or inhale-infective spores.
It’s easier to look for a professional service.
When to Call a Professional Mold Removal Service
Molds appear even if you give it your best shot sometimes – especially in walk up areas where there’s a design issue.
The following are signs that you need to call a professional:
- You see mold covering a large area (more than 10 square feet)
- Mold keeps coming back after cleaning
- You or your family are getting sick (coughing,
Helpful Guide: Get Rid of Black Mold in Your Toilet: Effective Cleaning Tips
Conclusion
You can’t get rid of mold in a poorly built house but you can minimize it. Open windows to let fresh air in, fix leaks, drain moisture and use fans or dehumidifier. Clean gutters regularly and inspect the hard to reach areas. Have mold fighting materials.
If mold keeps coming back or is everywhere, hire mold removal experts. They know how to do it safely. Don’t wait long. When you feel sick or see mold, call a trusted cleanup service. You have your health and home to think about.
