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Free Encyclopedia of Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair | Ask a Question or Search InspectAPedia |
 Mobile ViewENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS - INSPECT, TEST, REMEDY MOLD: A COMPLETE GUIDE to TEST CLEAN PREVENT ACCEPTABLE MOLD LEVEL ACCURACY OF VARIOUS MOLD TEST METHODS ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT INDOOR MOLD ACTIVITY of MOLD in buildings AGE of MOLD - Old is the Mold? AIR TEST FOR MOLD: ACCURACY AIR TEST SAMPLING CASSETTE STUDY AIRBORNE MOLD SPORE COUNT ACCURACY AIRBORNE PARTICLE ANALYSIS METHODS ALLERGEN TESTS for buildings ATTORNEYS and EXPERT WITNESSES ATTIC MOLD BASEMENT MOLD BASEMENT MOLD WATER IMPACT BATHROOM MOLD BIBLIOGAPHY for ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, MOLD, IAQ BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS BLACK MOLD, HARMLESS COSMETIC BLACK MOLD, TOXIC & ALLERGENIC BLEACHING MOLD, Advice about BOOK MOLD, Moldy Book Cleaning BOOKSTORE - ENVIRONMENTAL BROWN HAIRY BATHROOM MOLD CACTUS FUNGI / MOLD CAR MOLD CONTAMINATION CARPET DUST IDENTIFICATION CARPET MOLD CONTAMINATION CARPET PADDING ASBESTOS, MOLD, ODORS CARPET FUNGICIDAL SPRAY CARPET STAIN DIAGNOSIS CARPET & other STAIN TESTS CARPET TEST PROCEDURE CARPETING & INDOOR AIR QUALITY CHAIN OF CUSTODY - TEST SAMPLE CLEARANCE INSPECTIONS - MOLD CLEANUP CRAWL SPACES DIRECTORY of MOLD / ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS DIRT FLOOR MOLD CONTAMINATION Disinfectants Disinfecting Buildings with Bleach DRYWALL MOLD DUCT SYSTEM & DUCT DEFECTS DUST ANALYSIS for FIBERGLASS DUST CONTAMINATION FROM HVAC? DUST SAMPLING PROCEDURE EFFLORESCENCE, Salts & White / Brown Deposits EMERGENCY RESPONSE, IAQ, GAS, MOLD FEAR of MOLD - MYCOPHOBIA Fiberboard Insulation Sheathing Mold FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD FIBERGLASS PARTICLE CONTAMINATION TEST FIELD INVESTIGATION SERVICE FIND MOLD, ESSENTIAL STEPS FIND MOLD in buildings, HOW TO FIRE DAMAGE vs MOLD DAMAGE FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FLOODS IN buildings-mold FUNGICIDAL SPRAY & SEALANT USE GUIDE GAS EXPOSURE EFFECTS, TOXIC GAS DETECTION & MEASUREMENT HOUSE DUST ANALYSIS HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS HIDDEN MOLD, HOW TO FIND HUMIDITY CONTROL & TARGETS INDOORS INDOOR AIR HAZARDS TABLE INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT INSULATION MOLD Mold in Fiberglass Insulation Mold on Books, Book Conservation Mold on Fiberboard Insulating Sheathing MOLD PREVENTION AFTER FLOODING MOLD RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION Mold in Foam Insulation Moldy insulation may look clean Why does mold grow in fiberglass? When to test insulation for mold How to Test for Mold in Insulation References, Fiberglass Hazards Vacuuming exposed insulation ITCHY FABRICS LABORATORY SERVICES LAB PROCEDURES MICROSCOPE TECHNIQUES MEDIA BLASTING for MOLD REMOVAL MICROSCOPE DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY MICROSCOPE SLIDE PREPARATION MICROSCOPE SLIDE PREP - PERMANENT MOUNTS MICROSCOPE TECHNIQUES for the LAB MEDIA BLASTING for MOLD REMOVAL METHANE GAS SOURCES MICROSCOPE DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY MILDEW in BUILDINGS ? MILDEW ERRORS - MOLD PHOTOS MILDEW REMOVAL & PREVENTION MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS MOLD ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT MOLD MOLD ACTIVITY in buildings MOLD AGE - Old is the Mold? Single-leak mold Multi-event mold Mycologists' view on age of mold Building scientists' view on age of mold Conditions affecting fungal growth Conditions permitting mold age assessment Determine if Mold Contamination is Active? MOLD APPEARANCE - WHAT MOLD LOOKS LIKE Black Mold Brown Mold Green Mold Red Mold Yellow Mold White Mold Invisible Mold Meruliporia Mold Photographs Mildew Photographs Recognize Cosmetic Mold Recognize Harmless Black Mold MOLD GROWTH ON SURFACES, PHOTOS MOLD APPEARANCE - STUFF THAT IS NOT MOLD HARMLESS INDOOR PARTICLES Black stains from soot/thermal tracking Black stains from animals Black cosmetic mold Efflorescence & white or brown deposits House dust MYCOPHOBIA, STAINS MISTAKEN for MOLD Pollen Sprayed foam insulation White stuff that is not mold Wood sap MOLD ATLAS & PARTICLES INDEX MOLD by MICROSCOPE MOLD in the PETRI DISH, PHOTOS Mold on Books, Book Conservation MOLD CLASSES, HAZARD LEVELS MOLD CLEANERS - WHAT TO USE MOLD CLEANUP COMPANIES MOLD CLEANUP, DO IT YOURSELF MOLD CLEANUP GUIDE- HOW TO GET RID OF MOLD MOLD CLEANUP - BLEACH MOLD CLEANUP - HEALTH RISKS MOLD CLEANUP - LIMITATIONS MOLD CLEANUP - MISTAKES to AVOID MOLD CLEANUP - MEDIA BLASTING MOLD CLEANUP - SAFETY WARNINGS MOLD CLEANUP - WOOD FLOORING MOLD CLEANUP - WOOD FRAMING & PLYWOOD MOLD CLEARANCE INSPECTIONS MOLD CLEARANCE: FOLLOWUP STEPS MOLD CLINICAL REFERENCE TEXTS MOLD CONSULTANTS/INSPECTORS MOLD CONTAMINATION LEVELS MOLD CULTURE PHOTOS MOLD CULTURE SAMPLING METHOD MOLD CULTURE TEST ERRORS MOLD CULTURE TEST KIT VALIDITY MOLD DETECTION & INSPECTION GUIDE MOLD DOCTORS - ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE MOLD or INDOOR AIR EMERGENCY RESPONSE MOLD EXPERT, WHEN TO HIRE MOLD EXPOSURE, FOOD HAZARDS MOLD EXPOSURE RISK LEVELS MOLD EXPOSURE STANDARDS MOLD FAQ's MOLD FREQUENCY in buildings MOLD GROWTH ON SURFACES, PHOTOS MOLD GROWTH on SURFACES, TABLE OF MOLD GROWTH in/on BUILDING INSULATION MOLD INFORMATION CENTER MOLD INSPECTORS & MOLD TESTERS MOLD INSPECTION HOME BUYERS GUIDE MOLD INSPECTION SERVICE MOLD INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE TIPS MOLD INVESTIGATION REPORTS MOLD KILLING GUIDE MOLD LAB REPORTS MOLD LEVEL IN AIR, VALIDITY MOLD LEVEL REPORTS MOLD LEVELS IN buildings MOLD by MICROSCOPE MOLD ODORS, MUSTY SMELLS MOLD on or in CARPETS MOLD ON DIRT FLOORS MOLD PREVENTION GUIDE MOLD RELATED ILLNESS GUIDE MOLD RELATED ILLNESS SYMPTOMS MOLD RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION MOLD SAFETY WARNINGS MOLD SPRAYS, SEALANTS, PAINTS MOLD STANDARDS MOLD STANDARDS - GOVERNMENT MOLD STANDARDS - WORLD WIDE MOLD TOXICITY VARIATION MOLD TEST KITS for DIY MOLD TESTS MOLD TEST PROCEDURES MOLD TEST REASONS MOLD TESTING METHOD VALIDITY MOLD TESTING SERVICES MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS MYCOPHOBIA, STAINS MISTAKEN for MOLD MYCOTOXIN EFFECTS of MOLD EXPOSURE ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE OZONE for MOLD OR ODORS PAINTS & COATINGS ODORS IN buildings RENTERS & TENANTS GUIDE TO MOLD ROBIGUS & Wheat Rust Fungus ROT, TIMBER FRAME SLIDE PREPARATION, MICROSCOPE SMELL PATCH TEST to Track Down Odors SOUND CONTROL in BUILDINGS STAIN & BIODETERIORATION AGENT CATALOG STAINS on BUILDINGS - QUICK GUIDE STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING EXTERIORS STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING INTERIORS STAINS on INDOOR SURFACES: PHOTO GUIDE STAINS & Thermal Tracking TECHNICAL & LAB PROCEDURES TRAPPED MOLD BETWEEN WOOD SURFACES VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in BUILDINGS VENTILATION in buildings VINYL Siding or PLASTIC Window ODORS in buildings VINYL CHLORIDE HEALTH INFO WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR BUILDING WATER ENTRY in buildings World Trade Center Collapse Dust Photos More Information |
Here is an extensive photo guide to mold growing on all kinds of surfaces of all kinds of materials found on or in buildings: What does mold look like growing on various building & other material surfaces? Beginning here is an online reference photo library of various kinds of mold as it is found growing on a wide range of surfaces and materials found on or in buildings. These photos of mold on indoor various materials or "mold growth substrates" may help you recognize mold in buildings, recognize probably-cosmetic mold, and recognize stuff that is not mold and does not need to be tested. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.© Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. Pictures of Mold on Various Building Surfaces and Materials
Directories of 6 atlases or indices of building mold
Photographs of Mold Growing on Various Building Surfaces and MaterialsLinks listed below provide photographs of mold that we have photographed, sampled, and tested on a wide range of surfaces and substances found on building surfaces or on items and contents found in buildings. CONTACT us to submit photographs of mold growth on other manmade or building-related materials.
Photographs of mold found on the surface of items, materials, & surfaces found indoorsMold on/in Air Ducts in HVAC systems and Air HandlersThese photographs, courtesy of Florida home inspector and past ASHI President Mark Cramer illustrates mold growth on an air conditioner air handler. The most common mold genera we find in this location is Cladosporium sp.
You will note that mold growth is present on the air handler insulation, on the metal surfaces of the blower assembly, on refrigerant and condensate piping, and even on the paper labeling on the blower cage. When mold growth is on unpainted metal in an air handler it is most likely dining on organic dust and debris found on those surfaces.
Mold on Aluminum surfaces such as building siding
Mold on Appliances, refrigerators, etcThis photograph pair illustrates mold growth on a kitchen range fan hood (below left) and a refrigerator door surface (below right).
Below our pictures show mold growth on plastic controls for a kitchen stove and on the oven door handle, also a plastic component. This home had been subject to flooding that was undiscovered for weeks or longer.
Mold on refrigerator and freezer door gaskets is common, is not likely to be a health concern in a building, should be handled by normal household cleaning, and is not illustrated here. Mold on Art Works, paintings, painting substrates, other artworks
Mold on Asbestos Pipe Insulation
Mold on/in Attics and attic surfaces (roof sheathing)The photographs below illustrate mold growth on plywood roof sheathing. At left is evidence of a serious roof leak or attic moisture condensation problem (black plywood) and at right a much smaller brown mold growth on the plywood roof sheathing of a newer home. We may find mold growth like that shown at right just above a bathroom ceiling fan that vents directly into the attic space. These molds are very often Aureobasidium pullulans, C. cladosporoides, C. sphaerospermum, or Cladosporium sp. though other dark or brown molds (such as Taeoniella sp.) may be present too. Remember, mold identification by naked eye is unreliable; lab sample analysis is usually necessary.
The photographs below illustrate mold growth on tongue and groove roof sheathing in an attic. These molds are often Aspergillus sp. or Penicillium sp.
Mold on/in Attic Stairs
Mold on/in Automobiles, boats, cars, RVs
Extreme car mold contamination of most of the surfaces inside of the vechile is illustrated by our photo below.
Mold on Barn Framing, new construction
Mold on Baskets and woven organic materialsThese photographs illustrate mold growth on a woven laundry basket made in Mexico. Damp clothes left in the basket led to mold growth even though the climate itself is a very dry one. (All mold is everywhere all the time). It is also interesting to observe that mold grew more readily on the split (and rough surfaced) side of the reed material used to form the basket.
As you can see we experimented with cleaning this mold using a dilute bleach solution. It was not successful and we decided the best course was to dispose of the basket.
Mold on Bathroom Controls and SurfacesBelow our bathroom mold photos illustrate where hidden mold may be found around bath fixture controls, a common point of leakage into the bathroom wall.
Mold on Bathroom Surfaces: bath tile, bath tile grout, shower enclosuresOur photos below show the most common location of mold in tiled bathrooms - in grout or caulk joints. This mold is rarely sufficient to form a health concern, but it might be an indicator of leaks into the bath wall cavity - a greater concern for possible hidden mold and hidden damage. See BATHROOM MOLD for more detail about mold on bathroom surfaces including tile and tile grout.
Below we illustrate other locations where mold may accumulate in bathrooms. In addition to finding mold growth on aluminum surfaces (more likely growth supported by soap scum and skin cells), we have found mold growth on ceramic toilets and sinks (more likely supported by condensation or water splash combined with organic dust or organic waste).
Mold on Bleached Surfaces - yep, mold is still present and may sill be viable
Mold on booksBelow our mold pictures show mold growth on books that had been shelved in a library basement in which the relative humidity had not been controlled (below right) and where some books had been wet (below left). See BOOK MOLD, Moldy Book Cleaning for details about dealing with and restoring moldy books and papers.
Mold on Cabinets and VanitiesBelow our photos show mold growth occurring first on the near-horizontal surfaces of wood cabinet doors in a home where flooding had gone undiscovered for several months. We speculate that an extra layer of dust, including grease and organic debris on these surfaces was a factor in the more extensive mold growth on those locations.
But as you can see from our next pair of mold photos, fungal growth can become quite extensive on the smooth vertical sides and faces of kitchen or bathroom cabinets where moisture levels are sufficient.
Mold grows readily on the interior of kitchen and bathroom cabinets as well, as we illustrate below.
Finally, our indoor cabinet mold photos below illustrate why experienced mold remediators and insurance company adjusters assure that cabinets are removed from walls in a home where there has been flooding or leaks from above. The un-coated back side of wall-hung or floor-mounted cabinets are a ready home for hidden mold growth.
It would have been a mistake to leave these cabinets mounted to the wall of the home where they were found, even though mold was not visible on the room side of exposed wall surfaces. And further investigation of the wall cavity behind where these cabinets had been mounted confirmed that the cavity side of the wall needed to be cleaned as well. Mold on Cactus
Mold on Cardboard such as boxesMold growth on cardboard occurs readily in damp or wet areas. Both of the boxes shown in these photos had been located on a wet basement floor.
But the mold on the cardboard box shown below was less obvious. Notice the dark stains and spots along the bottom third of the carton at left ? This photograph illustrates mold growth on a cardboard box in a damp basement not exposed to flooding. In contrast, the box at right has been exposed to flooding.
Mold on Carpets and carpet paddingAt CARPET MOLD CONTAMINATION we discuss the detection, importance, and remedy for wet or moldy or smelly wall to wall carpeting and carpet padding.
Below we show two clues that give good evidence of the history of wet or damp floors below carpets - the carpet tack strips. At left are carpet tack strips on a dry floor, and at below right, moldy black carpet tack strips on a floor that has been repeatedly wet. Even a single soaking of wall to wall carpeting will lead to rust stains on the tack strips even if they are not more seriously damaged. .
Below our photos show carpeting that has been repeatedly wet by leaks through the building wall. A closer look showed visible mold on the carpet upper side and even rotted carpet sections. The under-side of this carpeting was a significant mold reservoir in the building.
Mold on Cars Boats RVs Trucks Vans
Mold on CDs and DVD's
Mold on Cedar Wood surfaces
Mold on Ceiling Fans
Mold on Ceiling TilesThese photographs illustrates mold growth on suspended ceiling tiles. At left was an extensive Aspergillus sp. mold contamination and at right leak stains and several genera/species of mold on the upper, hidden side of the ceiling tile.
Below are photographs of mold and leak stains on acoustic ceiling tiles. These older ceiling materials happened to also be an asbestos-containing product. Details are at ASBESTOS CEILING TILES, Asbestos-Containing. Also see CEILING FINISHES INTERIOR.
Mold on ChalkboardsOur photos of the chalkboard in a church basement illustrate use of oblique lighting to show up light colored mold growth that can be difficult to spot. Modern painted surfaces used as chalk boards may support mold growth on both the exposed front and the hidden hardboard back of the unit.
Mold on/in Closets & PantriesMold growth in closets and pantries is determined by their materials of construction and of course exposure to leaks (below left) or high moisture or floods (below right).
Mold on Clothing, Cloth, BeddingThis leather jacket photograph (below left) illustrates mold growth on articles of clothing - in this case a leather jacket left in a damp area. But we also find mold growth on fabric clothing, both natural fibers and synthetics, depending on the exposure conditions.
Mold on Computers & Electronic Equipment
Mold on Concrete, Stone, or Masonry SurfacesMold growth is generally associated with organic materials that provide food for the fungi that grow on surfaces. There are however fungi (and algae) that colonize stone and other masonry materials such as a sidewalk (below left). But in buildings where there is fungal growth on a masonry surface, most often we encounter it on painted surfaces and in our OPINION it is the paint that is providing mold food. Also on occasion we have found mold growth on bare concrete and concrete block where we suspect that the nourishment for the fungal colony was in part formed by organic dust and debris on the surface (dogs in the basement) or by materials carried to the concrete block surface by outside water seepage.
Mold on Sweetened Condensed MilkWhile food products with a very high sugar level are resistant to mold growth, they are not "mold proof" as this case study demonstrated. We left a container of sweetened condensed milk with the can opened but a plastic cover in place for four months. You can see the results below. This mold growth is not peculiar to the individual sweetened condensed milk brand; rather it could happen with any similar product.
Below we include photographs one of several principal molds that were growing on this sweetened condensed milk product surface - Aspergillus sp.
Mold vs. Corrosion on Copper Piping
Mold on Countertops and Laminate Counter Undersides
As you can see in our photos below, a plastic laminate countertop may appear to be perfectly clean, but its wooden or composition wood or OSB or chipboard substrate may be a welcome host to mold growth in a wet or flooded home.
Mold on/in Crawl Space Framing & SubfloorsOur crawl space mold photo at below-left illustrates Stemonitis sp. growing out of a wet sill plate. We also find this mold growing out of OSB subflooring in structures that have remained wet. At below-right a reader-submitted photo shows 20% moisture (at the time of inspection) and heavy fungal growth on both crawl space framing and the subfloor overhead. We suspect that the moisture level has been even greater than 20% in this area.
At below-left our photo shows common damp crawl space area conditions that produce a brown mold on plywood subfloor. Often this fungus is Aureobasidium pullulans, or a species of Cladosporium. We often find other dark or brown molds such as Taeoniella sp. on plywood subfloors visible from a basement or crawl space where there have been leaks into the floor structure.
The yellow mold shown on wood framing at above-right is often found in older homes that have had a history of wet or damp conditions. When we see yellow surface mold in this pattern we are alert for Meruliporia incrassata in the U.S. or Serpula lacrymans in Europe - house eating fungus. Details are at: Meruliporia Mold Photographs Mold on Dirt surfaces
Mold on Doors, interior, hollow-coreBelow we show mold colonization on a hollow core door we tested in a home where flooding had gone undetected for several months. It is interesting but not really a shock to observe that very different levels and even genera/species of mold might grow on an interior door on different surfaces: the face of the door compared with the edges of the door. The face of a typical hollow core interior door may be a veneer luan or birch, while the door edges are typically solid soft pine. We suspect that either differences in moisture uptake of the two woods on the different door surfaces, or differences in the wood species, or both, resulted in different levels and types of mold growth.
Below are more examples of mold growth on hollow-core interior doors exposed to high moisture (below left) and extensive leaks from above (below-right).
Mold on Doors, interior, solid woodAt below left our photograph illustrates mold growth on a solid interior door - a louvered model. At below right there are at least two genera of mold on the solid wood pine door in our photograph.
The solid wood and glass French Doors illustrated below were observed in a home where basement flooding occurred due to a heating boiler leak. Hot water and even steam rose throughout the home and went unattended for more than a week.
Mold on Drywall or Sheetrock®
These black mold photos (above) show dense black fungal growth on drywall (black mold on Sheetrock™ type wall surfaces) in areas that had been very wet from chronic leaks or building flooding. The distinct top edge of mold growth shown in our photograph at left are often observed due to a flood water level or even without flooding, the sudden or distinct line where mold growth slows or stops can be due to a discontinuity in the wall material - in this case it was a tape joint in drywall that affected the moisture gradient in the wall and thus the mold growth pattern.
Above we provide a closer look at very thick black mold on the cavity side of drywall found in a wet basement. Mold growth on drywall and often on other surfaces includes a family of circular growth patterns (upper area of photo at above right) until the mold growth has expanded to form a solid black covering (left wall of photo at left and lower wall of black mold in photo at right).
Our photo at above left shows black mold colonies as individual rounded "rings" on the cavity side of drywall on a building crawl area wall. The black mold photo at right shows how dense black mold may be hidden from view behind wall baseboard trim (removed for this picture) in a building that has suffered wet floors.
Here are closeup photographs of black mold on building surfaces to show what mold colonies look like on close inspection in-situ. At left is mold on water stained drywall in a basement utility area. At right are small mold colonies that have appeared on a kitchen ceiling in just a few days after a heating system leak led to high indoor moisture and humidity levels.
Much more closely we can examine an individual black mold colony on a painted drywall ceiling (above left). In the microscope at 1000x we can see individual spores of Stachybotrys chartarum - a well known black mold that is often found on indoor building surfaces. Mold in Dust samplesIt is expected to find mold spores in indoor dust samples in most buildings. Typically in a building without an indoor mold reservoir the dust samples reflect spores that are also found in outdoor air. But when we find Pen/Asp spore chains or clusters such as shown in our dust particle photographs below, we suspect that there is a nearby problem mold reservoir in the building.
Both Aspergillus sp. and Penicillium sp. spore chains are fragile enough that they normally break into individual spores quickly as the spores are released from the conidiophore and travel through air. So when we see spores that are still "stuck" together, we figure that the spore source must be close by. Mold on Fixtures, Plumbing
Mold on Floor Tiles & Resilient Flooring
Mold on Flooring, WoodOur moldy wood flooring photo at below-left is a clue that there was a history of leaks at the exterior door. In fact an inspection of the crawl area below this room found extensive rot and mold damage - the mold-stained flooring in this photograph had been re-finished with a clear coating, but the damage continued below. At below-right is another example of "fixing" a moldy floor by simply coating over the mold with a clear floor re-finishing compound.
At below left the yellow-white mold growing up through the hardwood finished floor is a strong indicator of more significant hidden damage, possibly including Meruliporia incrassata - a source of extensive structural rot in some buildings. At our picture of moldy flooring at below right we are looking up at the under-side of finish flooring that was installed without a solid subfloor. The blue-green thick mold we sometimes find in this location often is identified in our lab as Trichoderma.
Mold on Flooring, resilient floor coveringThe photos just below illustrate Semonitis sp. fungal growth on a resilient bathroom floor covering contributed to us by an Australian reader. You are looking at the same fungus at two different stages of its growth.
Mold on Framing Lumber, Joists, Studs, I-JoistsSevere mold contamination on floor joists over a flooding basement is shown in our photographs below.
More moldy floor framing
More moldy floor framing includes an area below a protracted leak (below left) and (most likely) cosmetic mold on new framing lumber waiting for use in a reconstruction job for a building that experienced a fire (below right).
Mold on Upholstered & Wood Furniture, Game Tables, Croquet MalletsThe game table (below left) appeared "clean" to the remediators who left it in a basement during and following a mold remediation job. But a look underneath the table at its unfinished wood surfaces told a different story (below right).
Black mold growth (actually dark brown mold) was not visible on this livingroom couch set until a closer inspection was made.
And a still closer look at this fabric illustrates one component of the reason that it is just about impossible to completely clean mold growth from plush upholstered furnishings. Our second photo (below right) illustrates a dining room chair with dense mold growth on the chair back as well as on the upholstered seat (not visible in our photo). While it is possible to adequately clean mold off of solid wood surfaces, only if this chair were a valuable antique might it be economically justified to have it stripped, cleaned, and re-upholstered.
The wood buffet in our photos below was exposed to extensive mold growth in a home that was flooded and left for several weeks. The removal of surface mold is not difficult but the removal of mold odors (MVOCs) that remain can be quite a challenge. If furniture like this is to be cleaned and salvaged special attention will be needed in cleaning the hidden and un-coated wood surfaces such as the under-side of drawers and the frame of the unit, and following cleaning those surfaces will best be treated by coating with a clear sealant as well. More likely the unit is beyond successful cleaning.
Black, green, white mold growth on upholstered furniture is obvious in these two photographs, of a mold on a leatherette surface (below left) and on an upholstered chair (below right).
Mold on Garden Hose
Mold on Glass SurfacesMold found "growing" on glass is most likely growing on organic deposits that are on the glass surface like the overflows on these wine brewing bottles. We have also observed more serious damage to glass lenses on cameras and binoculars exposed to mold. In that case mold is attacking coatings on the lenses.
Mold on Hardboard, Masonite™At below right (click to enlarge) you can just see white fungal mycelia that permeated this sample of hardboard siding that had been used as wall paneling in a church's damp basement.
Mold on Insulating Boards, Homasote™ Celotex™
Mold on Insulation, fiberglass, foam
Mold on Insulation Kraft Paper FacingIn our photo at below left we see black mold and other mold growths on the kraft paper facing of fiberglass building insulation. Our black mold photo on kraft paper found on a different section of building insulation (below right) illustrates mold colonies that do not always grow in round colonies shown other mold photographs.
At below left our photograph shows mold on the wrap covering fiberglass insulation used on piping. At below right our photograph of a black streak across a batt of fiberglass insulation is an example of a marking that a client thought was mold contamination. The black material was a pigment, not mold, and was associated with the product's manufacturing process. However other samples of this fiberglass batt were found to be contaminated with Aspergillus sp. - it was not visible to the naked eye.
Mold on Mattresses, BeddingThe mattress and bedding photographs shown below are discussed at Mold on Clothing, Cloth, Bedding
Mold on Metal Stud WallsBelow are photographs from two different buildings each of which suffered significant mold contamination in the metal wall stud cavity. Both buildings conducted water around the walls from a single leak point source when water flowed in the metal sill plate.
Mold on Metal Surfaces, Stainless Steel sinkIt's less surprising to find mold growth on a stainless steel surface if you consider that the surface may have had a film coating of food or other organic material. The moldy stainless steel sink in these photographs was in a home that had been left flooded for two or more weeks.
Mold in Modular HomesMold may be found in surprising locations in modular homes depending on the home's delivery conditions and construction history. Residential modular home structures include cavities between floors and some walls that an inexperienced inspector may fail to consider. Knowing that water had entered this modular structure we obtained permission for some destructive inspecting that helped track how water had moved through the building.
Mold on OSB Sheathing Board used as subflooring, roof sheathing, wall sheathingThe brown mold on OSB subflooring (below left) is most likely a very different genera/species than the green OSB mold at below right.
At below left is brown mold on OSB sheathing used in a roof structure. At below right our moldy OSB subfloor photo illustrates one of our favorite molds, Stemonitis sp. - often found growing in a fairy ring pattern on OSB subfloor that has been soaked. Se observed this mold growth in partly-repaired condominium that had suffered burst pipe flooding in upstate New York. Also see Mold on Subflooring
Mold on Painted Masonry
Mold on Painted WoodThese photographs illustrate mold growth on painted wood framing and subfloor over a wet basement. The colors suggest that more than one mold genera/species is present.
Mold on Paneling, WoodOur photograph of mold on wall paneling (below left) illustrate how mold growth may appear on these materials. At below left the dominance of mold at a building corner combined with the water stains on the block wall at the right side of the photo argue for a water problem that may be traced to a downspout spilling at the building corner outside. The second mold photo (below right) shows black mold on light colored wall paneling. Actually a closer look showed at least three different colors of mold [click to enlarge any of our images] and thus probably multiple species of mold present on this surface.
The pictures just below illustrate more subtle mold growth on wall paneling as well as how careful use of light can show up much more mold on a surface than may at first be apparent.
Mold growth variation on different components of wood panelingAs our photos below illustrate, moldy wood paneling in buildings can be tricky to spot because the mold may be hidden on the wall-side of the paneling and be not present or at least not visible on the room side (photo at below left). This problem is discussed at Hidden Mold Behind Paneling. . We also find different mold growth in quantity and sometimes genera/species in the grooves on wood paneling than on the surface of wood paneling (photo, below right). The explanation may be that the groove cut in laminated wood paneling exposes a different texture and wood species as well as exposing a different coating (black paint or stain).
The different texture of a milled groove in some wood panels grabs more moisture or more airborne spores than the harder smoother finished segments. This is another example of the trip-ups in indoor mold tests. Even eschewing an air "test", a surface sample will be entirely different depending on whether or not you stick the collecting tape on those black-painted wood grooves. Mold on Papers, FilesSeveral mold species grow readily and quickly on papers exposed to water or even high humidity, as we illustrate with our photos of file cabinet flooding below left and right.
When papers and paper file folders remain in a wet area heavy mold growth, including Aspergillus sp. are likely to be found. At below right we appreciated the irony of finding this moldy magazine in a flooded home - Fungi Perfecti.
Mold on Pine Paneling or Pine Trim BoardsOur photographs below illustrate how mold growth appears on solid pine wood paneling. At below left the rough-sawn pine boards were installed over drywall in a home where basement flooding had gone unattended. At below right the bevel-edged traditional pine paneling installed on stairwell walls and in the home's basement was severely mold damaged.
Watch out: we sometimes find extensive mold growth on the wall-cavity side of pine paneling in damp or wet homes even if the room side looks clean. The un-coated surfaces of wood products take up moisture and thus can support mold growth more quickly than a coated and moisture-resistant surface. Mold on Plants, Mildew
Mold on Plaster Walls, CeilingsOur field investigation work and lab testing suggest that plaster is somewhat resistant to mold growth but by no means
Mold on Plastic Surfaces
These two pictures show mold growth on plastic controls: the knob for a kitchen stove and on handle for an oven door handle. This home had been subject to flooding that was undiscovered for at least several weeks.
Other examples of mold growth on plastic surfaces commonly found in buildings are illustrated below: a plastic light switch cover hosting mold growth, and plastic keys and other items stored in a drawer in a wet building.
Mold on Plastic Nasal Spray BottleThe plastic nasal spray bottle sampled by a reader appeared clean when used and visibly moldy 8-10 hours later. We identified Cladosporium Sp. as the dominant fungus growing in the sample provided.
Mold on Plastic Windows
Mold on Pottery, Ceramics
Mold on Porcelain surfaces
Mold on Roof SheathingThe pictures below show common examples of mold found on the attic-side of roof sheathing. For details also see Mold on/in Attics and attic surfaces.
The photographs below illustrate mold growth on tongue and groove roof sheathing in an attic.
Mold on Shelving, InteriorPhotos below are examples of mold growth on shelving and a bookshelf surface. The furniture at right is a wood veneer material.
Mold on Shoes
Mold on Stereo Systems, Speakers
Mold on Stone or Masonry Building Exteriors & Stone Artifacts & Statues
Mold on Subflooring in buildingsMold on plywood subflooring can be difficult to spot if the mold contamination is not extensive, but the green mold visible in our right hand photo of the same subfloor is a warning of wet or damp mold-conducive conditions in this area. And watch out: finding this mold sign is a reminder that the rest of the structure needs careful inspection as there may be a larger problem elsewhere.
At below left our photograph illustrates mold growth in a pattern and locations common on the subfloor over a damp or wet basement or crawl space. At below right the fungal growth on this wet subfloor confirms an extended period of very wet conditions. Also see Mold on OSB Sheathing Board.
Mold on Swimming Pools, Liners, TilesThe photo at below left was sent by a client who was investigating suspected-mold growth at the edge of a swimming pool liner and coping. We suspected and lab tests confirmed that this was an insect material not a fungus. Our second photograph (below right) illustrates a common mold that was found by our lab test of deposits on a swimming pool surround.
Mold on Tile, CeramicOur photographs below show mold on ceramic tile grout joints. We also find mold growth on actual ceramic tile surfaces - we believe that in that case mold is hosted on a film of organic material such as soap. See BATHROOM MOLD for more detail about mold on bathroom surfaces including tile and tile grout.
Mold on Tile, Roof
Mold on Vinyl Windows
Mold on Trim, WoodOur first moldy wood trim photos (below) show severe mold contamination on indoor wood trim at a door (below left) and in a wet basement (below right).
At below left we illustrate black mold growth on drywall that was exposed when we removed wood trim to check wall conditions following a wet floor that was soaked due to a burst toilet tank. Finding this mold less than 24-hours after the leak event indicated that this mold was almost certainly pre-existing condition. We traced a leak to a trim opening on the exterior of this wall. At below right we illustrate a common condition found on the back of wood floor molding: a combination of house dust and debris, water stains, and mold along the bottom edge (upper left in our photo).
Mold on Wallpaper & mold on drywall hidden behind wallpaperBelow you can see photographs of moldy wallpaper in a bathroom shower.
At below left we show Stachybotrys chartarum black mold that was found on the hidden side of wallpaper below this leaky window in a Maple Shade New Jersey condominium. Lab identification was, of course, required. We discuss the window leak that caused this mold, its extent, and what was done about it, in more detail at DRYWALL MOLD. At below right is a melange of mold growths on the wall and ceiling of a pre-1900 home.
Mold on Water Heaters & Water Tanks
Mold on Windows, TrimA leak from above led to mold growth on the top of this window jamb. Hidden mold in the ceiling and wall are likely (below left). Our second photo shows a common mold event: growth on window muntins, probably due to condensation on the window glass. But this window mold was more extensive than usual.
At below left we illustrate a very moldy window sill in a home that had been exposed to unattended flooding. At below right we show the first of three moldy window sash photographs that indicate chronic or prolonged exposure to wet, moldy conditions.
Below left and right we show close ups of mold found on the window shown at above right.
Mold on Wood Surfaces, Other The black mold found on wood framing (floor joist at below left and wall studs at below right) is an indicator of chronic wet conditions and neither of these cases are likely to be Black cosmetic mold that we find on some new framing lumber.
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