Mold on Wood Structural Buildings | Crawl Space Waterproofing | Charlotte NC

MOLD ON WOOD STRUCTURAL BUILDINGS

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WOOD

Wood is an excellent building material because of its properties.

Indeed, wood is a natural insulator due to its porosity and the air pockets within its cellular structure. Wood is 15 times superior to masonry and concrete when it comes to insulating a home. In

America, most wooden buildings are prefabricated offsite, which makes it easy to build. However, molds can grow on organic

materials such as drywall, leather, cardboard, and of course, wood.

MOLD HEALTH ISSUES Before referring to mold-related structural damage, it is important to note that mold growth harms the

indoor air quality and human health. If the moisture

content on a surface is above 19 percent, a significant mold growth likely occurs after a week. On the other hand, ideal temperatures for mold growth are

between 68 °F and 86 °F. In the first stage, moldrelated health issues can present through the

following symptoms: throat irritation, eye irritation,

cough, nasal stuffiness, and wheezing, as well as skin irritation in some cases.

MYCOTOXINS

The fact is that mold excretes toxic compounds called mycotoxins, which enter the body through the

airways. These toxins are produced by fungi under

environmental conditions created by high levels of moisture.

DAMAGE TO WOOD STRUCTURES In the first instance, mold does not cause rotting in wooden items. In the early

stages, mold indicates the presence of

high-level moisture. However, if mold is not remediated, it can cause severe

structural damage such as wood decay.

Structural damage is a symptom of longterm mold exposure because mold feeds on dead organic materials, and it even

attacks hard materials such as concrete.

THE ROLE OF NEGLECTED CRAWL SPACES IN MOLD GROWTH

Typically, crawl spaces tend to be dark

places that lack UV radiation. On the other hand, these spaces are commonly vented in old houses. Therefore, vented crawl spaces are susceptible to moisture,

especially in high-humidity locations. This is because outside air with a dew point

higher than interior crawl space surface

temperature enters the crawl space. Here, an encapsulation job is required to

prevent the entering of humid air into the house.

THEME

If you need to waterproof your house, do not hesitate to call the professionals on crawl space waterproofing in Charlotte, NC.

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