Removing mould from wood
Mould growing on wood is one of the most commonly founds mould contamination in house. Most typical places for mould to occur are the partition walls studs, loft rafters, wooden floors and floor timbering. Wood is a natural food source and contains many minerals and nutrients which will enhance mould growth. Another reason wood attracts a lot of mould is the fact once it is wet it holds its moisture for a long time. This creates perfect conditions for wood mould: easy access to water, nutrient availability and temperate temperature.
Mould growing on wood apart from the fact that is it unsightly can result in weakening of the wood itself. Wood rot can have significant cost implication as severely damaged structural wood needs to be replaced. Wood rotting mould is only a small problem if considering their potential to contaminate indoor living space. They generally decompose wood (dry rot, wet rot etc) and release only small amounts of spores and toxins. However wood is often colonised by moulds which use wood as a growing substrate and source of nutrients. These moulds, most of which are toxic, can rapidly spread across wood and produce very high amounts of spores and mycotoxins.Possibly the most dangerous situation arises when mould grows hidden under floor boards. This hidden mould produces mycotoxins which evaporate into the indoor living space and slowly poison occupants. At first sight the house can look completely mould clean and still the occupant suffer off the mycotoxins exposure symptoms.
Starting point of mould removal from wood is the assessment of the severity of the problem. If you believe it to be a small problem and wish to tackle it yourself then there are steps that can be taken to do so. However if you believe it to be more of a serious problem or its somewhere you're worried about (i.e. wooden supports etc) then a professional mould remover should be contacted.
When removing the mould yourself make sure you have all the correct safety precautions in place:
- Wear goggles,
- Wear gloves,
- Wear a mask,
- Wear old cloths or protective clothing.
With all the safety precautions in place you can begin to clear the mould:
- Wet the mould with a spray,
- Make up a cleaning mixture (with bleach 1 part bleach to 10 parts water), (Bleach or bleach based product can be used as a short term solution but to gain long lasting effect you would have to use professional mould removal product)
- Damp a cloth and begin wiping the mould to remove it,
- Rinse the cloth and wipe again with only a damp cloth,
- If the mould doesn't go then rinse the cloth and scrub again, (keep doing this until all the visible mould is gone),
- Deep mould may require sanding with power tools;
- Once the wood mould is gone dry the wood as best as possible, the wood needs to be dried to prevent he wood damaged and making a damp area,
- Check the wood for any weak areas or damage,
- Keep checking the area for any damp areas or signs of mould redeveloping.
When dealing with mould on wood you need to keep checking for damp spots or small bits of mould. The sooner you remove the mould and fix the problem the less damage will be caused. If the mould problem is bad then make sure you contact a professional mould removal contractor as it may save you money replacing damaged parts.
With all the safety precautions in place you can begin to clear the mould:
- Wet the mould with a spray,
- Make up a cleaning mixture (with bleach 1 part bleach to 10 parts water),
- Damp a cloth and begin wiping the mould to remove it,
- Rinse the cloth and wipe again with only a damp cloth,
- If the mould doesn’t go then rinse the cloth and scrub again, (keep doing this until all the visible mould is gone),
- Once the mould is gone dry the wood as best as possible, the wood needs to be dried to prevent he wood damaged and making a damp area,
- Check the wood for any weak areas or damage,
- Keep checking the area for any damp areas or signs of mould redeveloping.
When dealing with mould on wood you need to keep checking for damp spots or small bits of mould. The sooner you remove the mould and fix the problem the less damage will be caused. If the mould problem is bad then make sure you contact a professional mould removal contractor as it may save you money replacing damaged parts.
