Wohoo! The long winding road of house hunting has finally led you to the home of your dreams! Your offer has graciously been accepted, everything is going smooth as butter and then BAM! the Private Home Inspection reveals the attic of your new castle has mold! No! The horrors!
But wait a minute! Before you get scared, upset and run the other way, lets start by acknowledging that mold spores are everywhere. They are floating in the open air right now, along with 1,000's of other unseen irritants.
Those little microbes don't start growing until they nestle on a moist surface. Attics can become the "hostess with the mostest". When warm air from your home collides with cool air from the outside, condensation occurs on the surfaces in the attic creating a moist and hospitable environment for mold to thrive. Mold in the attic is more common than most people know. When was the last time you hung out in an attic?
What can cause moisture in the attic? There are several factors that could contribute, the following being the most common:
Improperly Vented Bathroom or Kitchen Exhaust Fans
Improper Roof Ventilation
Leaky Roof
The source of the problem, moisture, has now been identified. The next step is to have it remediated. Remediation is the process of removing the visible mold along with its root structure. It is HIGHLY recommended that you hire a professional to perform this chore.
Once the mold has been remediated you will want to correct the source of the moisture. If you don't it's just a matter of time those pesky microbes will take up residence again and not pay rent! In fact, its a great idea to check your attic space several times a year to ensure the freeloader hasn't mysteriously reappeared!
Discovering mold in the your Private Home Inspection shouldn't cause you to stop in your tracks and runaway. Hire a professional to mitigate and fix the source of the problem. Then you can truly become the ruler of your new abode!