Author Topic: Attic Mold Removal  (Read 6950 times)

wisermiser

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 17
Attic Mold Removal
« on: September 09, 2013, 03:48:34 PM »
Has anyone cleaned up attic mold themselves?  I'm curious to know what works such as bleach or vinegar. 

I've had a remediation expert come out and quoted over $1000 for a process that included ionizers, air filters, negative air pressure fans and space suits.  I get the impression that remediation is heavy on hype and excuses to gouge the average customer. 


worms

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 382
Re: Attic Mold Removal
« Reply #1 on: September 10, 2013, 01:34:27 AM »
Chances are that you need to sort out the cause of the high humidity and improve the air-flow if you want to stop the mold returning, but you could do a lot of that yourself for a lot less than $1,000!

GuitarStv

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 23239
  • Age: 42
  • Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Re: Attic Mold Removal
« Reply #2 on: September 10, 2013, 07:23:03 AM »
Bleach will kill mold on a surface.  The issue is that the surface mold is only part of the problem.  If you don't kill the mold in the wood itself, the surface mold will come back.  The other issue is that using bleach in an enclosed space will let loose a ton of pretty noxious chemicals.

It's much safer to clean the area with a mixture of about 50-50 water-vinegar.  Then I'd go to home depot and get some of the moldproofing spray that they have (I think it's called concrobium or something like that) and spray it on the cleaned areas to lock the mold that's in the wood in place.  All of this assumes that you have addressed the issue that led to the mold in the first place . . . which means better air flow, open attic vents, patched any leaks in the roof, and fixed any other areas water could get in.  I'd also replace any moldy looking insulation.

Get a decent respirator for this work, and wear long sleeves, pants, gloves, and goggles.

wisermiser

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 17
Re: Attic Mold Removal
« Reply #3 on: September 11, 2013, 06:05:21 PM »
Thank you for the advice.  When I purchased the house there was some attic mold and the attempted remedy was to unblock sofit vents that were clogged with insulation.  That didn't stop it from coming back so I'm having several roof vents installed.  I scoped out doing this myself but decided to contract it out instead (its a tile roof).  The compromise was to clean up the mold myself since it isn't too bad. 

Why do you suggest 50-50 vinegar rather than full strength? 

GuitarStv

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 23239
  • Age: 42
  • Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Re: Attic Mold Removal
« Reply #4 on: September 12, 2013, 08:06:57 AM »
Honestly, I just remember being told that.  You would probably be fine (or maybe better off) with straight vinegar.