Thread: Water Damage or Mold, maybe both

This house has a new 2010 roof and a new ridge vent that was added. The underside of the roof deck looks black in some places and just looks like water damage, I guess it could be mold but not sure. What does it look like to you all?

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Between you and me - it's mold.
For the report - it's a mold like substance.

Mould as the result of insufficient/or lack of ventilation at soffits and will most likely continue to be a problem even with a ridge vent.

In addition it is most likely there is warm moist air entering the attic via the hatch, unsealed light fixtures, plumbing vent penetrations, improperly exhausting bathroom vents, activities in the house from cooking, laundry, aquariums, plants, habitants creating high humidity levels and lack of or use of exhaust fans, or house sealed to tightly.

I would call it staining. Stained by past mould growth, most likely.

If the sheathing is dry, then there should be no more issue with it, but we have to explain that some people.

Thanks Eric, Raymond and John. I appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Dan Hagman

Thanks Eric, Raymond and John. I appreciate it.

These guys are correct. I see it quite a bit on older homes with little or no soffit/ridge vents. Especially in attic areas behind kneewalls. (Lots of humidity in the summer here in Charlotte)


Andrew Constantine
http://InspectProHomeInspections.com
Charlotte NC Area Home Inspector

What did the crawl look like? Lots of times wet crawl = wet attic. Of course ventilation is the key just looking at the photos

Mold for sure........ I have an attic way worst than the ones in the pictures that i am in the process of fixing with ventilation and insulation. Shouldn't say mold in the report though. Should say you suspect mold and refer to a mold professional.

I agree, definitly mould, has anybody else considered this could possibly be a former growop, that's the only time I've ever come across anything as substantial as these pictures indicate.

As Ren pointed out there could be a wet basement/crawlspace issue.

Possible bath fan venting in attic?/ Report black looking material noted in attic framing have an applicable contractor evaluate and advise on this.

Gentlemen, even if there isn't moisture present at the time of the inspection, it doesn't mean that there won't be in a couple weeks with the change of the weather. A small percentage of people are allergic to the mold spores and with the way Murphy's law works, it is probably your client's child or grandmother. It might be real or imagined but I don't want the headache of dealing with it down the road.

That said, I do think it is poor ventilation (not enough vents or insulation covering them) and I would make note of that in the report.

However, in California they are really litigious and so this is how I word it in a report and you are welcome to use part or all of it.

There is evidence of what might be mold or mildew in the ..., which we are not qualified to identify or address. This has the potential of causing an allergenic response with a small percentage of people. We recommend an evaluation by a certified environmental specialist in the identification and remediation of mold and mildews.

That's just my two cents worth.

Brian Handy

An informative read

Indoor Fungal Habits

Also, see other links at bottom of page.

Hi Raymond,
Its a good article and I would generally agree with it. I personally downplay the issue of mold and mildew in a home so as to keep my clients comfortable with the issue and not freaked out.
I used to own a termite company here in California which is a very strict state in terms of reporting accurately and knowing the difference between wood destroying organisms and other fungi. I also studied plant pathogens and diseases in college which had rather lengthy studies and labs on molds and mildews. It has helped in allaying the fears of my clients.
That said I will point out one of the paragraphs in the article that helps in understanding the regulation in this state. The article you sent has the following comment:
"For most of the US, there are no valid or recognized certifications for “Mould Inspectors” (or other such terms as commonly used) since there is no governing body which accredits the certifications."
I'm not sure whether the certification is mandated by this state but this is one of those states that regulates the presence of mold. I'm including a link to another article that points out the perceived problem with molds.
Indoor Fungal Habits
I don't pretend to know much about molds and mildews, but I know enough to steer clear of the legal system.
Best Regards

In one picture you can just make out a gable vent. Another there is a ridge vent. The insulation appears to be blocking any potential soffit vents.

The ridge vent is pulling air from the gable vent instead of the soffits. The attic ventilation system is broken. There may be additional problems already mentioned like fans venting into the attic, wet crawlspace, etc.

Fix the ventilation.