A Mold Solution team was sent to a home in Metuchen, NJ. The homeowner had extensive mold growth in her attic. Although mold is commonly found in basements and crawl spaces, attics can also be a mold trouble spot as well. Just like in basements and crawl spaces, homeowners can find themselves with mold in their attic for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, attic mold is caused by chronically high indoor humidity levels, especially in those attics with poor ventilation or non-working attic fans This particular home had a significant water intrusion from a roof leak. Although the leak was repaired, the problem was that because of poor attic ventilation, mold had formed on the water-saturated wood. And the poor attic ventilation exacerbated the problem.

We first treated the attic by applying our EPA-registered anti-microbial (MAPS 1). This application kills surface mold and airborne mold spores. Next, we scrubbed off any visible mold. Mold stains are a residue from mold enzymes. They are not harmful or allergenic. However, they look horrible, especially when it comes time to sell the home. Prospective buyers are always cautious about mold growth in the non-living spaces of the home. We then applied our patented polymer sealant (MAPS 2). This unique sealant destroys any mold at the cellular level. It is also moisture-sensitive and reactivates to prevent the return of any new mold growth in the treated areas. 

To prevent mold from returning to the attic, it is important to address those underlying problems that facilitated the mold growth in the first place. Ensuring good air circulation in the attic is essential in order to prevent moisture buildup. A key part of any attic ventilation system are having soffits and gables with built-in vents that allow proper air circulation. Especially during the summer, these vents exchange cooler air from outside the house with the hot, humid air collecting in the attic. This prevents water vapor from collecting on roof sheathing and rafters, eventually causing rot wood and triggering mold growth. Also, air inside attics can reach temperatures that can warp and damage roof shingles. You also need attic air flow during the winter to prevent ice dams from forming on the roof. Blocked soffit vents will stop airflow and trap humid air, creating an environment perfect for mold growth. Even well-insulated attics need good air circulation.

With this Metuchen home, we wanted to ensure that the attic had good airflow by installing plastic baffles (also called wind baffles, venting chutes, rafter vents, or insulation baffles) in the rafter bays. Baffles establish a pathway for air to circulate between insulation and the roof sheathing. They prevent insulation from restricting air movement and allow air to circulate under or near the insulation. It is common for wind blowing through soffit vents to disturb the insulation by moving it out of place and blocking the vents, especially with blown loose fiber insulation. Baffles act as screens to separate the insulation from the air currents blowing through the vents. Also, baffles allow you to insulate the entire attic floor space. Without them, you have to keep the vents clear of insulation, so a portion of the attic stays unprotected.

We finished up this mold job in less than a day, and with our treatment process, the homeowner avoided extensive, expensive renovations. This attic is now mold-free, and more important, will remain mold-free. We advised this homeowner, as we would any homeowner that had attic mold, to periodically inspect the attic for roof leaks, to monitor the attic’s humidity levels, and to make sure that the attic fan is in good working condition.