There’s nothing fun about finding mold on your wooden floorboards, walls, or other structures. It’s a misconception that mold can cause wooden structures to rot. In reality, the presence of mold could be a warning sign that rot is imminent. This is because mold needs moisture to form. If you notice mold on household wood, it’s time to call a professional mold services company for help.
Here are the top signs of mold on wood:
1. Nearby Source of Moisture
As mentioned above, mold needs moisture to survive. Mold thrives in dark, humid temperatures like closets and attics. Unfortunately, these areas usually feature wooden beams, rafters, and other structures. If there is a presence of moisture as a result of a burst pipe behind a wall or a roof leak, you should inspect your wood as soon as possible. Any time wood is exposed to heat and moisture, it could be a sign that mold is right around the corner.
2. Musty, Earthy Odor
Mold is often recognized by its foul, musty odor. If you smell this any time you approach something wooden in your house, it could be a sign that it’s infested with mold.
3. Damage and Discoloration
Damage and discoloration are also common signs of mold growth on wood. This discoloration is usually white, so it will be easily recognizable the moment you see it.
How Can You Tell If It’s Actually Mold?
Mold tends to grow on the surface of wood, and feeds off of structural polymers, sugars, and proteins. The best way to see if there’s mold on wood is if you find areas with visible black, white, green, orange, or purple spots. Sometimes, what may seem like mold may not even be mold at all.
This is known as staining. While the discoloration that staining gives may be easy to mistake for mold, staining isn’t hazardous since the discoloration doesn’t come from a biological source like mold does. Sources of staining include minerals, fasteners, naturally occurring enzymes, exposure to the sun, and can even just be generated by the wood itself.
There are a few things you’ll notice if it’s just staining:
- The wood looks intact but just slightly discolored.
- If your wood packaging has been sitting outside and is grayed out.
- There are stains or streaks coming from fasteners or nails in your wood packaging.
Do You Have Mold? Contact the Mold Services Team at Green Genie Environmental
It’s not fun to find mold on any of your surfaces, but especially not on wood. Since these wooden structures can succumb to rot after time, not treating mold at the onset can cost you a lot of time and money. If you have mold in your home, contact the mold services team at Green Genie Environmental. We only use eco-friendly methods of mold removal. Give us a call today at (716) 466-6653 to schedule a mold removal appointment.