I recently discovered mold (don't know what kind) on the ceiling of our bathroom. We have poor ventilation in there. While we take most things on ourselves, I'd like to have this checked out by a "professional" but have no idea who to call. Help please...Thank you!
Is it just a little mold? If so, the wrong paint was used when the bathroom was painted the last time. They sell mold resistant paint for bathroom ceilings!
Most molds are perfectly harmless, btw.
Most likely it's mildew and not mold. I'd clean the ceiling real well, make sure it's good and dry, maybe slap some more paint on it. Invest in a little turbo fan to use after bath and shower time, saves on future elbow grease for sure.
Mold and mildew can only grow if they have moisture and bacteria, get rid of one of those and your problem will be solved.
I had this same problem with my children's bathroom. The ventilation in the room was poor and my sons and daughter would let the water run for what seemed like forever compounding the problem by creating a "cloud" in the room.
What I thought was mold was really meldew. Clean the ceiling with a mixture of bleach and water, make sure the ceiling is painted with mold resistant paint, and exchange the bathroom fan for one with a larger capacity to pull the moisture out of the room. Make sure it is vented through the roof, and not just into your attic. When you buy the new exhaust fan compare capacity, price and noise level.
I have two lights in the bathroom, one over the vanity and one centered in the ceiling so I had the new fan wired to come on when the ceiling light was turn on.
These changes are not expensive and I have not had a problem since. Good luck to you.
If your bathroom doesn't get much ventilation, that is very common. I just cleaned some off our bathroom ceiling the other day. Just use a bleach cleanser, it wipes right off with a wet rag.
You don't need a professional.
you can go to Home Depo or any other building place like that and buy mold kits for about $10. Then you send $30 with the enclosed envelope and they will test the mold you collected ( they have everything you need in the kit) and email you the results of the type of mold with in 10 days.
If you have poor ventilation in there this is normal. You can paint over it with kilz. Start leaving the window open a crack when showering that will help release the moisture in the bathroom and stop it from collecting on the ceiling.
This is probally the type you have in your bathroom:
Cladosporium
Cladosporium is a black mold, though not the "toxic black mold." Cladosporium commonly grows on insulation in AC systems, on bathroom ceilings when there isn't enough ventilation, sometimes on walls and wallpaper in rooms where insulation is lacking, on foundation walls, on basement and crawlspace ceiling joists and subflooring, and on attic sheathing.
If it IS black mold (which is unlikely) it's nothing to mess with.
People are always claiming to have black mold in their homes--but REAL black mold cases are removed by professional teams trained to do it safely.
Most fire/water restoration companies now also deal with mold as well. Try calling on of those for a look-see.
Good luck!
do a google search for "mold remediation."
This happens in my bathroom periodically (like, every year or two) if we haven't been good about using the fan. I just wash it with a bleach solution & all's good.
And, yeah, I think it's because of the kind of paint used.
Your insurance agent should know some reputable companies.
We had mold, the bad kind. The man painted over it but I made him remove all the drywall and then bleach all the wood. I didn't feel good with just covering it up.
