What are the black spots on my wall?
Question:When I moved into my house, there were these black spots on my wall, but only a little. I thought they were caused by the previous home owner, and simply painted over it. The black spots have appeared again, and are spreading. The paint under the spots is flaking in some places as well. What's happening and how do I stop it?
Answers:
And the peeps are going nuts again, likely for no reason.
There are a few types of mold that can cause some serious health consequences. Many, many more that are nothing more than an eyesore and a nuisance. If you or anyone in the house has been ill -- the odd headache, nausea, breathing problems, do tell your doctor. But don't call someone to burn down the house just yet.
Mold grows only where there is moisture. You should not have any moisture in your wall, so that is the first problem to deal with. Is your roof leaking? Problem with the siding? Maybe the moisture in your house is just a bit high. You need to figure that out and fix it first.
If it is really bad, you may need to replace part of your drywall (or whatever your wall is faced with). If you do have a leak, you may need to replace insulation inside the wall anyway. There can be mold in there as well, you don't want to leave it. If the wall is sound, a bleach solution works well. 1 part bleach to 4 parts water. I tend to go a bit stronger to make sure.
After the mold is killed, it can still cause bleed through, so a primer/sealer is called for. Kilz is a good brand, there are others that work just as well. Topcoat with a good paint and you should be set.
uh, oh. this is a serious problem. If you have a landlord let them know IMMEDIATELY that you have MOLD.
this can make you seriously sick. have someone come and check it out ASAP. If you let it get in your clothes and furniture you have to throw it away. If you have an insurance policy look over it and see if it covers mold.
This sucks for you, either way, you will be seriously inconvenienced while they get the mold out (if you can even live there) The longer you wait the worse it gets! Tell someone now!
It is mold! Get it taken care of asap! If you just bought the house, you could actually sue the old owners for not reporting this too you. It could be deadly! The reason why it keeps coming back is because the mold is growing pass the paint. There is something leaking behind this wall. Better get it take care of. This is also why the paint is chipping.
It could be some sort of mold. Use bleach water treatment to clean it down. Maybe that room is too moist, making it perfect for the mold to grow and spread.
umm is this wall in a basement?
if so it's mold.
get out.
NOW
Uh-oh! That sounds like mold. You need to find someone (try looking in the phone book) as soon as possible, because if it's mold you want to catch it as soon as possible.
Good luck!
:0)
The black spots are actually mold spores. clean the wall with a 20/80 mixture of bleach and water (20% bleach), or buy an agent called Micro-ban that is available from most janitorial supply stores and use as directed. Let the wall dry thoroughly , then prime with KILZ brand stain blocking primer, then paint.
GOOD LUCK
you have black mold. this can cause serious health problems!! call the landlord to get him to remove it, or call the health department!!
That is mold or mildew, and it is caused by dampness in the walls. if it is in a bathroom, you may need to install a vent fan, if it is somewhere else, you probably have a leaky roof.
Gas heat can also raise the humidity level in a house.
Also the is a special mildew-resistant paint for bathrooms that has antibiotics mixed into the paint.
The most important thing is to find the source of the dampness.
Mold!
How serious this is depends upon the reason for mold appearing in the first place. What you do depnds upon whether you rent or own.
If you rent than it will be the landlords problem. If you own than you will need to seek other solutions, some of them already suggested. Also, if you recently purchased, you may have gotten a homeowners guarantee. Check everything out before you go broke trying to solve a bad problem.
If the mold is confined to one area there may be a roof or siding leak that is seaping down into the wall, or it may be a leaking water pipe. If the condition has lasted for a while you DO have a potentially serious problem. Do you have a damp basement? Moisture could be trapped in the walls. If the mold is widespread . AHHHH. If it is local, the wallboard, affected insulation, and possibly more, will have to be replaced and the cause will have to be addressed or the mold will reappear.
If the mold is in the bathroom or kitchen, especially on or near the ceiling, it may be the result of moist air and insufficient venting. Check it out before you panic.
If nothing is leaking; if it is in an area that recieves a lot of steaming air, and the wall/ceiling behind it is sound (surface mold) you can first scrub the area with vinager, then apply a mold retardant primer and repaint. Keep in mind that this problem will continue to crop up until ventilation is added to the area (an exhaust fan).
Just remember that widespread mold in the walls is a serious health risk and can lead to other health issues (sudden allergies, asthma, etc.) Either have the problem corrected or get out.
That is mold! That should be treated asap.
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