Yes, mold can very well spread from the attic to other parts of the house. To understand how mold spreads from the attic to other parts of the house, it is important to understand what mold actually is and what conditions are needed to spread it. Mold is a type of fungi that spread through spores. Spores are microscopic particles or cells. Spores are naturally present indoor and outside. Molds can be found in nature everywhere where there is enough moisture and oxygen present. They can be found on a number of materials such as paper, wood, fruits, carpets, insulation, and decaying matter just to name a few. They play a very important part in nature’s ecosystem and can be thought of as nature’s digestive system since it breaks down organic material like leaves, animal bodies, and plants. However, when mold finds itself inside the homes of people, it can have an adverse effect on the structural integrity of the house and an adverse effect on the health and well-being of all the occupants in the building.
Now that you know that moisture and oxygen are needed, you might be wondering where mold thrives in the house? Mold thrives in places where there is humidity, darkness, and oxygen present in such quantities that it encourages mold growth and spread. Such spaces can be the basement, crawl space, and in most cases, mold growth in the house can be directly traced back to the attic! The attic provides the perfect environment to grow mold. If the attic has a faulty roof, the moisture together with the combination of the warm air pushing upwards from the ventilation systems will encourage mold growth and through the help of spores will likely spread to other places. Mold growth can be easily recognized by its greenish to blackish color. You can see mold growth on the drafters, and the wooden sheathing or plywood between them. Depending on where the spores are, mold can be present on the insulation as well if it is moist enough.
Mold can spread from the attic to the home in different ways. Mold spores can find themselves on items that are stored in the attic which are then placed in the basement. If the humidity level is perfect enough, then mold can start growing and spreading in the basement through cross-contamination.
In other cases, mold spores can enter the ventilation system like the AC and spread from thereon. As long as the mold spores find a moist surface, they can grow and develop within 24-48hrs, therefore, quick action is required. If you see any signs of mold growth on the wooden surfaces in your attic, call Attic Insulation Toronto immediately to receive mold remediation services for mold removal!