Fix Your Roof and Avoid Mold

When you find a leak in your roof, you need to address it soon. Leaks cause many problems, including structural damage, slip-and-fall danger and mold and mildew growth. Mold from a leaking roof in Springfield, MA may cause health problems and respiratory distress, especially to vulnerable workers and customers. However, as many leaks only show damage in the attic or upper stories, you have to pay attention. Here is what to know about roof leaks and mold.

How to find it

Leaking roofs do not just introduce a stream of water into your premises. Effects may be less obvious. Roof breaches may merely invite condensation, or water accumulation may limit itself to your attic. If you have a crawlspace attic or one you do not visit often, many mold problems may be barely noticeable until you notice physical symptoms.

There are two types of mold growth: systemic and limited. Systemic growth is widespread and may build up through an entire area, like your attic or an upper-story room. Limited growth stays in one spot, and if your attic is well insulated, you will likely not experience systemic growth.

If you have systemic mold growth, you will likely notice dark stains spreading through your ceiling. When you do not have adequate ventilation, condensation builds up from the leak and allows the mold to spread to your entire attic and upper floors.

Limited growth presents as dark discoloration that is limited to the area of the leak. You will not notice extensive staining, and you will likely not detect it unless you are in the attic.

What to do

First and foremost, fix your roof! There is no point in investing in mold remediation if your roof still leaks. Mold remediation professionals do not address leaks in roofs, so you will need to hire a skilled roofing contractor for this step.

Once the roof is fixed and there are no further leaks, it’s time to start remediation. If you have systemic mold growth, you’ll most likely have to hire a mold remediation company to ensure you kill all of it. This type of treatment will take longer, and there may be a follow-up treatment in case the mold spread was more extensive than previously believed.

Limited growth may be addressed with a bleach-based spray and scrubbing. However, since mold can result in lawsuits and workers’ compensation claims, hiring a mold remediation company is still your best bet.

After a contractor kills the mold with fungicide, they’ll dry out the area completely. This is performed with industrial fans and dehumidification equipment.

The final step is to treat residual stains with an encapsulant. This will improve the appearance of any surfaces affected by mold.

Keep in mind that if you allow the mold growth to linger, contractors may have to remove walls and ceiling panels to kill all the mold. This is why it’s essential to address leaks and any mold resulting from them as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more extensive—and expensive—the job will be.

If you wish to avoid mold from a leaking roof, complete the first step with us. R & H Roofing LLP offers unparalleled roofing expertise to commercial and industrial clients in Springfield, MA. Call us today to request a quote.

Categorised in: Commercial Roof Repair

This post was written by Writer