Brown Mold Growth in the Home - a Photo ID Library for detection and identification of mold allergens

What brown, dark brown, even brown-to-black colored indoor mold looks like when found growing on building surfaces
Photos of brown mold in buildings - how to recognize indoor mold problems
Questions & Answers about brown mold in buildings; should you buy a moldy house?
References

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What does brown mold look like when found growing indoors? Brown mold identification photographs - building mold.

These mold spores and their photographs and examples of materials sometimes mistaken for mold have been collected in the U.S., Spain, Mexico, France, as well as in other countries where I've studied bioaerosols.

Also see BROWN HAIRY BATHROOM MOLD for a Q&A on the harmfulness of "hairy brown mold" found in a bathroom.

These photos of mold on indoor building surfaces 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.

Photographs to Help Identify Mold in buildings -
What brown or tan mold looks like in a home or other buildings

Among the 1.5 million mold species, there are a great many that may be found in buildings and that are brown or tan in color. Some of these brown molds, also sometimes appearing black, and commonly found indoors include Aureobasidium pullulans, Taeoniella sp., and even the very common Pithomyces chartarum. Most of these are wood rot causing fungi and they appear where wood framing or building sheathing have been exposed to wet conditions.

Brown mold can be easily seen on building surfaces but it cannot be reliably identified to genera/species without analysis by a qualified aerobiologist/microscopist in a test lab. See Mold Atlas & Particles List for an atlas of building molds and for more microphotographs of building mold samples observed in our laboratory. See our Atlas of Mold Related Illness Symptoms & Complaints for details about specific mold genera/species and their health effects. Also see Mold spores in the Home - a Photo ID Library for detection and identification of mold allergens on indoor building surfaces.

Identification Photographs of Brown Mold in buildings

Photograph of extensive brown mold contamination of roof plywood in an attic
Daniel Friedman 04-11-01 Brown mold on plywood roof sheathing in an exposed to leaks or moisture problems is one of the most common molds spotted by home inspectors. In this particular attic a sample was collected using our tape sampling method.

Our lab determined that in this case the brown mold was predominantly Aureobasidium pullulans which is at most, an allergenic, non-toxic mold. (Often in attics we also find Aureobasidium pullulans which looks about the same, or a little darker on plywood or framing.)

Very frequently when we are asked to investigate a building where this condition has been observed, we discover that there is a more serious problem with Aspergillus sp. or Penicillium sp. mold contaminated-insulation - a condition that was missed in the initial investigation. Inspectors or mold remediators who call for roof replacement in a case where the plywood is not actually damaged (delaminating) from leaks are overreacting to the "toxic black mold" they think they see, and they are failing to identify the more serious problem that may be present.

As you can see in this photo of very dark mold in an attic, in a wet attic these mold groups, which are "brown" in the microscope, can look pretty "black" on the plywood. As we point out in other comments throughout our website, the public, media, and "mold inspector" focus on "toxic black mold" in buildings is often unfortunate as it fails to address more serious problems.

Brown mold on Oriented Strand Board (OSB) wallboard in a basement exposed to prolonged wet conditions. This mold was, on lab testing, predominantly Cladosporium sphaerospermum which is at most, an allergenic, non-toxic mold.

Small colonies of a few square inches each of other more problematic molds and yeasts were also present.

Remediation included simply discarding this material.

Brown mold growth indoors (C) Daniel Friedman

Our brown mold photo at above left was obtained in a flooded basement where wooden paneling had been quite wet.

Brown Stemonitis sp. growing on oriented strand board (OSB) subflooring in an un-finished bathroom, above right, is one of our more photogenic mold species.

Brown Stemonitis sp. mold growing on oriented strand board (OSB) subflooring in a condominium subjected to wet conditions over many months is shown in close ups in our two photographs above. More photographs of white and brown Stemonitis sp. fungal growth in bathrooms are shown and discussed at BROWN HAIRY BATHROOM MOLD and also at Rental Apartment Mold Safety Advice.

At left and below we include additional photographs of Stemonitis sp. details from our forensic lab.

At left is a light gray-brown Stemonitis slime mold or "pipe cleaner" fungus that we collected on tree bark. Though it may occur, we have not found this light gray-brown Stemonitis species in buildings.

At below left is the capillum or "hair net" that holds the Stemonitis spores until the net is ruptured (easily by touch) to release spores.

At below right are Stemonitis sp. mold spores.

Stemonitis mold spores (C) Daniel Friedman

Watch out: some brown molds (or molds of other colors too) may be white at some growth stages or may include white components such as their mycelia. See White Mold and see Rental Apartment Mold Safety Advice for some examples of the white colored stage of Stemonitis sp..

extensive brown mold and mushroom contamination of wall trim and carpeting -
Daniel Friedman 04-11-01

Brown fungus growing out of carpeting and floor trim combined with green mold on the exposed surface of drywall were conditions easily seen, and under which we assumed that the wall cavities were likely to be mold-contaminated in this area.

If you see mushrooms growing out of a building surface it's a safe bet that conditions have been quite wet and there is high probability of additional and substantial hidden mold growth and perhaps rot (and insect damage) in building cavities and in nearby wood structural members or subflooring.

Questions & Answers about brown mold in buildings

Also see BROWN HAIRY BATHROOM MOLD for a Q&A on the harmfulness of "hairy brown mold" found in a bathroom.

Question: I'm looking at a home with mold damage, should I avoid buying it?

I am thinking about buying a house, but has a brown fluffy mold on most of the floor joists, and it looks like the pictures you have of Brown Mold on OSB.

Since taking the joists out will not happen, would it be wise to stay away from this house cost wise? The mold 's brown and fluffy, and I found a few salamanders under there as well. Please help - Skyler

Reply: How to avoid buying a home that ends up under water

A competent onsite inspection by an expert usually finds additional clues that help accurately diagnose a problem. That said, here are some things to consider:

The mold you see may be the tip of an iceberg of bigger mold contamination, leak damage, rot. Finding salamanders in a crawl space or basement are a sure sign that there has been a serious water entry or leak problem. That's why you need a competent, thorough inspection.

I can't say you should or should not buy a house that needs mold remediation or any other repair - but my OPINION is that the relevant questions are?

Does the price of the home reflect the repair work needed?

Will cost of making the house livable price it out of the current marketplace compared with similar homes in the neighborhood?

Do you have the time and energy to manage the work needed, or do you have someone you trust to do it for you ?

If you like the house, its price, and the neighborhood, and if you are willing to handle the repair work needed, you still should not proceed with the purchase before you have a reasonably accurate idea of the extent of repair work that will be needed - that's what can help keep you from getting in over your head and ending up with a house that is "under water".

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Technical Reviewers & References

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

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

[1] Field Guide to Mushrooms, Lincoff, Gary H., Carol Nehring, National Audobon Society, Alfred A. Knopf, 2000, ISBN 0-394-51992-2

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

Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.

The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.

Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.

Building inspection education & report writing systems from Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd

Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, have provided us with (and we recommend) Carson Dunlop Weldon & Associates' Technical Reference Guide to manufacturer's model and serial number information for heating and cooling equipment
Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Technical Reference Guide purchased as a single order. Just enter INSPECTATRG in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
Environmental Health & Investigation Bibliography - our technical library on indoor air quality inspection, testing, laboratory procedures, forensic microscopy, etc.
Adkins and Adkins Dictionary of Roman Religion discusses Robigus, the Roman god of crop protection and the legendary progenitor of wheat rust fungus.
Kansas State University, department of plant pathology, extension plant pathology web page on wheat rust fungus: see http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/path-ext/factSheets/Wheat/Wheat%20Leaf%20Rust.asp
"A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home", U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
US EPA - Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Building [Copy on file at /sickhouse/EPA_Mold_Remediation_in_Schools.pdf ] - US EPA
US EPA - Una Breva Guia a Moho - Hongo [Copy on file as /sickhouse/EPA_Moho_Guia_sp.pdf - en Espanol

Allergies, Allergens, Allergy Testing in buildings - References & Products

Air Conditioning System Blower Fans & Filters Cascading for Optimum Indoor Air Quality
Allergen Tests in buildings advice about how to test, what to look for, in evaluating the level of dog, cat, or other animal allergens in a building
"IgG Food Allergy Testing by ELISA/EIA, What do they really tell us?" Sheryl B. Miller, MT (ASCP), PhD, Clinical Laboratory Director, Bastyr University Natural Health Clinic - ELISA testing accuracy: Here is an example of Miller's critique of ELISA http://www.betterhealthusa.com/public/282.cfm - Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients
The critique included in that article raises compelling questions about IgG testing assays, which prompts our interest in actually screening for the presence of high levels of particles that could carry allergens - dog dander or cat dander in the case at hand.
http://www.tldp.com/issue/174/IgG%20Food%20Allergy.html contains similar criticism in another venue but interestingly by the same author, Sheryl Miller. Sheryl Miller, MT (ASCP), PhD, is an Immunologist and Associate Professor of Basic and Medical Sciences at Bastyr University in Bothell, Washington. She is also the Laboratory Director of the Bastyr Natural Health Clinic Laboratory.
Allergens: Testing for the level of exposure to animal allergens is discussed at http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/animalallergy/diagnosis.shtml (lab animal exposure study is interesting because it involves a higher exposure level in some cases
Allergens: WebMD discusses allergy tests for humans at webmd.com/allergies/allergy-tests
Animal Allergens: Dog, Cat, and Other Animal Dander - Cleanup & Prevention Information for Asthmatics and regarding Indoor Air Quality.
Atlas of Mold Related Illness Symptoms & Complaints - long list of both documented, studied mold related illness, and complaints ascribed to mold contamination or allergens in buildings
Cat Dander: how to inspect and test a building for past or current presence of cats, cat hair, cat dander, and cat allergens
Clinical Atlas of Mold Toxicity - An Online Description of Toxic, Pathogenic, Allergenic Fungi, Fungal Diseases
Fiberglass Insulation Contains Mold© 2005 comments about a field study in process, & more about health hazards from fiberglass insulation
Humidity: What indoor humidity should we maintain in order to avoid a mold problem?
Mold Action Guide detailed guide on finding, removing, and preventing indoor mold contamination
Odors, Odor Detection, Smells, & Gases how to find and identify sources of noxious or toxic odors and gases
Other environmental risks, Our much longer list: Asbestos, carbon monoxide, electromagnetic fields, etc.
Ozone: The Use of Ozone Indoors for Control of Odors and Mold Removal in buildings: A Summary of Hazards and False Claims.
Pollen Allergens: identification, plant pollen and indoor air quality
Products to Reduce Mold & Allergy Problems to reduce indoor mold or allergen levels: air cleaners, air purifiers, dust mite covers, vacuum cleaners, crawl space vents
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
Rodent control issues, including dander, fecal, and urine contamination of buildings and Building insulation are discussed at our
Sewage and Septic backup contamination in buildings: inspection, testing, remediation, & references to expert sources
Action Guide: What to do about mold, mildew, and other indoor allergens
...

Mold Contamination Testing, Cleanup, Prevention: references & products

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
Aerobiology, Building Science, Microscopy, & Laboratory References, an extensive technical bibliography
Allergens: what they look like in buildings
Associations: Sick House, Sick Building, SBS - Air Quality, Government, Private Associations and Information Resources
Atlas of Clinical Fungi, 2nd Ed., GS deHoog, J Guarro, J Gene, & MJ Figueras, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, 2000, ISBN 90-70351-43-9 (you can buy this book at Amazon) - The Atlas of Clinical Fungi is also available on CD ROM
Atlas of Mold Related Illness: Index of Symptoms and health, physical, neurological, psychological, and other complaint which people suspect may be mold or building-related.
Atlas of Indoor Mold, Online Clinical Mold Atlas, Toxins, Pathogens, Allergens and Other Indoor Particles - Medical Health Effects of Mold (separate online document)
Black Mold that is Harmless Photos of recognizable, usually harmless black mold on wood, bluestain, ceratocystis, ophistoma
Building Floods: quick steps after a building flood or plumbing leak can prevent costly mold contamination
Classes of Mold: what types of cosmetic, allergenic, or toxic mold are a problem? Can mold be cleaned-up successfully?
Clinical Mold References - Detailed bibliography of mold reference texts
"A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home", U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
"Disease Prevention Program for Certain Vegetable Crops," David B. Langston, Jr., Extension Plant Pathologist - Vegetables, University of Georgia (PDF document) original source: www.reeis.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/209797.html
"Disease Prevention in Home Vegetable Gardens," Patricia Donald, Department of Plant Microbiology and Pathology, Lewis Jett
Department of Horticulture, University of Missouri Extension - extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=G6202
"Management of Powdery Mildew, Leveillula taurica, in Greenhouse Peppers," Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, British Columbia - Original source: www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/peppermildew.htm
Environmental Health & Investigation Bibliography - our own technical library on indoor air quality inspection, testing, laboratory procedures, forensic microscopy, etc.
Fiberglass: Mold in Fiberglass Insulation© 2005 comments about a field study in process, & more about health hazards from fiberglass insulation - DJF
Fifth Kingdom, Bryce Kendrick, ISBN13: 9781585100224, is available from the InspectAPedia online bookstore - we recommend the CD-ROM version of this book. This 3rd/edition is a compact but comprehensive encyclopedia of all things mycological. Every aspect of the fungi, from aflatoxin to zppspores, with an accessible blend of verve and wit. The 24 chapters are filled with up-to-date information of classification, yeast, lichens, spore dispersal, allergies, ecology, genetics, plant pathology, predatory fungi, biological control, mutualistic symbioses with animals and plants, fungi as food, food spoilage and mycotoxins.
Fungi, Identifying Filamentous, A Clinical Laboratory Handbook, Guy St-Germain, Richard Summerbell, Star Publishing, 1996, ISBN 0-89863-177-7 (English) (buy at Amazon)
Looking for Mold Procedure: what mold is often found where in buildings - simple technical presentation
Meruliporia: the house eating fungus or "poria"
Mold Action Guide: Step-by-Step Instructions, What to do about mold, mildew, and other indoor allergens
MOLD APPEARANCE - WHAT MOLD LOOKS LIKE Photos of what mold looks like in buildings
MOLD APPEARANCE - STUFF THAT IS NOT MOLD Photos of NOT-mold material that is sometimes mistaken for mold
MOLD ATLAS & PARTICLES INDEX, Pathogens, Allergens and Other Indoor Particles - Medical Health Effects of Mold (separate online document)
MOLD BY MICROSCOPE Mold under the microscope - photo identification of the most common indoor molds found in buildings
Mold FAQs Answers to Most Questions about Indoor Mold, Mold Related Illness, Mold Cleanup, Mold Prevention
US EPA: Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Building [Copy on file at /sickhouse/EPA_Mold_Remediation_in_Schools.pdf ] - US EPA
Mold spores in the Home - a Photo ID Library for detection and identification of mold allergens
Mold Test Kits - How to Collect and Send Your Own Mold Sample to our mold testing lab or to any mold lab you wish
Most Common Indoor Molds Found in buildings, A Table of
Mycology, Fundamentals of Diagnostic, Fran Fisher, Norma B. Cook, W.B. Saunders Co. 1998, ISBN 0-7216-5006-6 (buy this book at Amazon)
Ozone Warnings - Use of Ozone as a "mold" remedy is ineffective and may be dangerous.
Rot concerns in buildings-some building mold such as Meruliporia incrassata "Poria" risks serious rot and hidden structural damage
US EPA: Una Breva Guia a Moho - Hongo [Copy on file as /sickhouse/EPA_Moho_Guia_sp.pdf - en Espanol

OTHER IAQ ISSUES: How To Find and Address Other Indoor Air or Indoor Environment Contaminants Besides Mold

Mold or allergens may not be the only or even the main indoor environmental contaminant. Don't let media attention to mold cause so much enviro-scare fear that other, possibly more urgent hazards go un-addressed.

Fiberglass building insulation and HVAC duct work insulation hazards
Sewage and Septic backup contamination in buildings: inspection, testing, remediation, & references to expert sources
Other environmental risks: Asbestos, carbon monoxide, electromagnetic fields, environmental illness, fiberglass, MCS - multiple chemical sensitivity, toxic gases, etc
Indoor Gas Sampling Plan for Residential buildings lists a number of toxic indoor gases which we test for, depending on the building complaint and building conditions
Ozone Warnings - Use of Ozone as a "mold" remedy is ineffective and may be dangerous.
Pet control - if you can't say goodbye to your bird, cat, dog, guinea pig, hamster, tropical fish, then limit the areas they occupy and limit the airflow from that area to sleeping or other areas of the building, use allergenic bedding, eliminate wall-to-wall carpeting, improve housecleaning including use of a HEPA-rated vacuum cleaner. For more details see our article Dog, Cat, and Other Animal Dander - Information for Asthmatics and Indoor Air Quality
Rodents, Mice, Squirrel Control - I find high levels of mouse and rodent dander, fecal dust, and urine-contaminated dust in some buildings, and high levels of these materials in building insulation in those locations. If you have a mouse problem, particularly if mice and their waste (fecals or urine) are contaminating the building HVAC or building insulation, may need both steps to clean up or remove infected materials and steps to stop an ongoing rodent problem. If squirrels are a problem, the cleanup needs to include closing off entry openings into the building. Get some help from a licensed pest control expert.


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Free Encyclopedia of Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair

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Photographs to Help Identify Mold in buildings - What brown or tan mold looks like in a home or other buildings