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This document gives advice on how to find and deal with mold in building attics and roof cavities.

This is a chapter of "How to Look for Mold" which describes how to find mold and test for mold in buildings including building attics or other building roof cavities, including how and where to collect mold samples using adhesive tape - an easy, inexpensive, low-tech but very effective mold testing method. This procedure helps identify the presence of or locate the probable sources of mold reservoirs in buildings, and helps decide which of these need more invasive, exhaustive inspection and testing.

© Copyright 2010 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

ATTIC MOLD When to Media Blast and Use Encapsulants in Attics

Is there ever a time when the fungicide, blasting, encapsulation method should not be used?

Toxic attic mold: The photo at the left was identified as a toxic mold that probably should be removed, although the ease of movement of mold spores from an attic down into a living area varies widely from building to building. Uncertain attic mold: The photo at the very top of this page shows where you may find mold growing on the attic side of ceiling drywall, particularly below roof leaks or in areas of ice dam leaks at a building eaves. In addition to testing to see what this material is (presuming there is a large area of it), we'd also evaluate the chances of particle movement between the attic and the living space before deciding on an appropriate approach to this moldy attic.

Using media blasting and encapsulants to remove mold in an attic are mold remediation methods which are probably inappropriate for small areas, say less than 30 sq.ft. of contiguous mold, and would otherwise certainly not be used without very good particle and dust containment measures.

If we had a moldy attic area where containment were impossible or impractical, other measures may be needed such as careful piece-meal demolition using negative air conditions in the attic and without passing moldy demolition materials unprotected through other building areas (double bagging, exit through a containment door, or disposal through an opening in a roof or attic gable end wall for example).

If a large area of toxic or allergenic attic mold is found on attic surfaces such as roof sheathing and or rafters, or on the surfaces of the attic floor or floor joists, media blasting may be a rapid and economical cleaning method to remove problem mold provided:

• Proper particle and dust containment can be set up to protect the rest of the building from cross contamination during the media blasting cleaning process
• Insulation that has been exposed to mold or which would be exposed to dust from media blasting has been removed. Be sure to review INSULATION MOLD.

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Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

FIND MOLD in BUILDINGS, HOW TO
  ATTIC MOLD
    ATTIC MOLD CAUSES
    ATTIC MOLD IS A PROBLEM ?
    ATTIC MOLD - IS IT TOXIC?
    ATTIC MOLD, WHERE TO LOOK
    ATTIC MOLD, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
    ATTIC MOLD, HARMLESS COSMETIC?
    ATTIC MOLD ROOF TEAROFF
    ATTIC MOLD ENCAPSULANTS
  BATHROOM MOLD
  BASEMENT MOLD
  BASEMENT MOLD WATER IMPACT
  BLACK MOLD, HARMLESS COSMETIC
  CARPET MOLD CONTAMINATION
  CARPET TEST GUIDE
  CRAWLSPACE MOLD
  DRYWALL MOLD
  DIRT FLOOR MOLD CONTAMINATION
  ESSENTIAL STEPS IN FINDING MOLD
  FLASHLIGHT HELPS FIND MOLD
  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
  Stuff that is Mistaken for Mold
  HIDDEN MOLD, HOW TO FIND
  Photo Guide to Finding Hidden Mold
  Hidden Mold Behind Paneling
  Hidden Mold Between Framing & Sheathing
  Hidden Mold in Flooring & Subflooring
  Hidden Mold in Wall Cavities
  Spotting Hard-to-See Mold
  Use of a flashlight to find mold
  Wall test cuts to spot hidden mold
  Light colored toxic molds
  Moisture Gradients and Mold
  Other Places to Look for Hidden Mold
  INSULATION MOLD
  SAMPLE POINT CHOICES FOR MOLD TEST
  SAMPLING MISTAKES
  USING LIGHT TO FIND MOLD
FLOODS & MOLD CLEAN/PREVENT
MOLD ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO
MOLD EXPERT, WHEN TO HIRE
MOLD RELATED ILLNESS
PREVENT MOLD, HOW TO
MOLD DETECTION & INSPECTION
MOLD APPEARANCE - WHAT MOLD LOOKS LIKE
MOLD APPEARANCE - STUFF THAT IS NOT MOLD

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

• Books, Complete List of Environmental Inspection, Diagnosis, Cleanup, Air Quality & Design, Inspection, Repair Books at the InspectAPedia Bookstore
• Environmental Health & Investigation Bibliography - our own technical library on indoor air quality inspection, testing, laboratory procedures, forensic microscopy, etc.
• Mold and Allergen Recognition and Identification - Not All "Black Mold" is Harmful; Some Suspect Stuff is Not Mold
  • How to Find and Test For Mold in Buildings - Looking for Mold - A 'how to' photo and text primer on finding and testing for mold in buildings
  • Recognizing Mold: What mold looks like mold identification photos to help identify mold - choosing what to sample in buildings
  • Recognizing Allergens: What various indoor allergens look like - identification photos to help identify pollen, dust mites, animal dander, toxic or allergenic mold - Common Mold and other Allergens, Irritants, Remedies & Advice
  • Stuff that is not mold but is often mistaken for it - things you may not want to test. Also, not all "black mold" is toxic - here are examples of harmless black mold.
  • Mold Action Guide: an easy step by step outline of what to do about mold
  • How to find mold without hiring anyone, for do-it-yourself'ers
  • Associations: Sick House, Sick Building, SBS - Air Quality, Government, Private Associations and Information Resources
  • Mold Test Kits - How to Collect and Send Your Own Mold Sample to our mold testing lab
  • How to find a mold inspector or test consultant: Directory of IAQ,Sick Building, Mold Allergen Testing, Building Investigation Service Providers
  • Meruliporia: the house eating fungus or "poria"
  • Mold Investigation Tips for Home Inspectors how to find mold, where to look, what is likely to be important. Advice to building inspectors intending to inspect or test for toxic or problematic mold indoors, mold inspection methods, and mold test methods which are valid or invalid
  • Mold Risk Levels in Buildings Based on Visual Inspection - simple visual clues help decide on action
  • Mold in Fiberglass Insulation© 2005 comments about a field study in process, & more about health hazards from fiberglass insulation - DJF
  • Frequently Asked Questions About Mold -- check this FAQ list & IAQ Site Map to see if you can find a quick answer to your mold concern
  • When to hire a professional to inspect for toxic mold or other allergens
• ...

More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

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The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems

Use this simple, economical mold test kit by following our instructions on how to collect and mail mold samples to our lab

Environmental Inspection, Testing, & Diagnosis On-Site IAQ, Gas, Air Testing, Mold Investigation, Sick Building Diagnosis, Lab Services, & Remediation Plan Preparation - indoor air quality testing, problem source determination, supporting lab work, written remediation plan addressing removal of environmental and other hazards and prevention of their recurrence.

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