The homeowner was looking to add some new lighting features in his ceiling and when he went up into his attic to start doing electrical work he noticed that he had dark staining all over the roof deck sheathing. The sheathing was covered in mold staining and the attic was very hot and humid. The problem was caused by lack of ventilation in the attic coming from the soffits. The soffits had been completely covered with fiberglass batt insulation and the blocked soffits were not allowing cool air to come in from the soffits to move the hot heat in the attic out through the ridge vent. The homeowner chose to have the problem fixed because he was fixing up the home for a home sale and did not want there to be mold in the attic to possible kill a sale. The homeowners biggest concern was that he had mold in his home and would cause a problem with putting his home on the market.

  The homeowner chose our company because he went up into the attic with us and we were able to show him what was causing the mold growth in his attic and that we would be able to remove the mold from his attic and fix the ventilation in his attic that caused the problem with mold growth in the first place. Our solution was to clean the attic roof decking and trusses within the attic a HEPA vacuum, and use a combination of remediation products to remove the mold. We then pulled the insulation from the blocked soffits and installed baffles into the eaves to allow directional airflow from the soffits to the ridge vent. The mold staining was extremely deep into the roof decking and was proving difficult to remove and we has to use more chemicals than we had previously anticipated. We used Mold X2 and Mold X2 Botanicals along with DuroVent Baffles. The homeowner now has a healthy, clean, properly ventilated attic and he will not have to be concerned with mold growth being in his attic for a home sale or inspection.

  The homeowner explained that she noticed some water staining on her ceiling and had a roofer come out to look for leaks. The roofer didn't find any leaks but did say that he found mold growth on a few parts of the roof sheathing inside of the attic. The symptoms of the problem were the roofing nails were rusted in the attic. The location of the mold on the roof sheathing was also frozen at the time of inspection. The problems in the attic were caused by not having a vapor barrier installed below the blown in fiberglass insulation and the insulation was below R30. The other problem was caused by a birds nest in the eave that was completely blocked the soffit not allowing airflow to enter the attic. The homeowner chose to have the problem fixed because she did not want further damage to the attic sheathing and did not want further water damage to the attic ceiling. The homeowner's biggest concern with the problem was that water was getting on her ceiling and she did not want any further damages to occur nor did she want mold growing in her home.

  The homeowner chose our company because we were able to locate the root cause of the problem and had a solution to remedy it. We were also able to help her save money on her energy bills by being able to properly insulate her attic as well. Our solution was to completely remove the blown-in fiberglass insulation, Remediate the mold within the attic space, clear the soffit of the birds nest to allow proper intake ventilation, air seal all the penetrations on the attic floor, air seal and insulate the leaky can lights and re-insulate the attic floor to an energy efficient R60. The one challenge that we faced during the installation process was that our misting collar to stabilize the insulation was giving us problems with a consistent spray and therefore would clog the hose. We were able to fix the misting collar spray nozzles with spares that we had on hand. We used MoldX2 products to remediate the mold in the attic, TiteShell can light covers, SilverGlo, ZypFoam, Weather-stripping, DuroVent Baffles and TruSoft Cellulose. The homeowner now has a clean, healthy attic and is properly insulated for energy efficiency in Zone 5 of Michigan.  

Where Does Mold Grow?

First, it's important to know where to look. Mold tends to prefer cold, dark, and moist spaces. You probably won't find it in your living room, but your attic and crawlspace are much more likely hiding spots.

Mold will grow in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been flooding. Mold grows well on paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood products. Mold can also grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.

And that's not all. You might also find it in doorways, windows, heating and air conditioning systems. It enters your home either through the air or by being attached to other moldy items like old shoes or newspapers. Once it's there, it's difficult to get rid of.

Signs of Mold

The health risks of mold make looking for early signs that it's growing into your home absolutely crucial. If you see even subtle signs, it might be time to call for professional help to take care of the remediation. Some of these signs include:

• Irritated lungs and breathing, similar to allergy symptoms.
• A musty smell in the home or areas of the house.
• Visible mold, both black and with potentially colored spots.
• Water leaks, past flooding, or persistent condensation.
• Rust and warping of materials due to humidity.

Most of these don't necessarily point directly to mold growth. They just point towards an environment that encourages this growth. That's why simply looking for them doesn't tend to be enough. A more comprehensive inspection is vital to making sure you know about any potential problems.

Can Mold Harm Humans?

The problems with mold are much more than just an inconvenience. Studies have repeatedly shown the many health risks that the spores can bring with them. In fact, mold has been linked to anything from chronic coughs to allergic reactions, skin rashes, red eyes, and more. In some cases, it can get worse.

The reason mold removal services tend to be so important is what mold does to the health of some of the most vulnerable people around us. Most are particularly dangerous for those of us with autoimmune disorders, chronic lung disease, strong allergies, or asthma. And of course, it's worse for infants, children, and the elderly, whose immune systems might not be able to fight against it.

The lesson is clear: you don't want and probably can't afford to have mold in your home. Unfortunately, due to its favorite locations, it could also be difficult to find at times. A thorough inspection can help you find it, but looking out for early growth signs is also important.

Mold Prevention Tips

Ideally, you never let it get to a point where removal becomes a necessity. In the interest of your health and your home's value, you want to make sure that you can prevent rather than remediate the mold. A few tips can help you achieve that goal:

• Keep the humidity in your home low, preferably under 40%.
• Regularly check your home, particularly the potential problem spots mentioned above, for growth and take care of it early when needed.
• Don't let wet areas stay wet. Dry them to make sure they don't become a hospitable environment.
• During renovations, invest in mold-resistant drywall and sheetrock to create a less preferable environment.
• Regularly clean your roof gutters to avoid any potential leaks or water entering the home in hidden spots.
• Clean mold problems immediately, rather than letting it grow into a more significant problem.

It pays to be proactive. Still, you can't be expected to know every square inch of your home. In addition to these general tips, it pays to have regular mold inspections, both for your peace of mind and to be able to detect issues before they become major problems.

Insulation Installation and Home Comfort

Are areas in your home freezing cold in the winter and super-hot in the summer? Or just looking to improve your homes energy efficiency and comfort? the attic should be at the top of your priority list. Insulation and air sealing in the attic have a dramatic effect on the home's overall energy performance, and upgrades in this area can lead to significant savings on heating and cooling costs. 

Most homes in Michigan have R-30 (just under 11 inches) which was the previous code. With increasing to the current code of R-49(approx. 18inches) our homeowners experience significant savings on their heating bills and savings on their electric bills during the summer months when air conditioning is used. Think of your home like a large bag surrounding your living environment. If you turn your furnace or air conditioning off how long will the hot or cold air stay within your home? The more thermal barrier to the outside environment you have the less your equipment will run saving you money and increasing comfort

How the attic impacts home comfort

Cellulose insulation can be installed over existing insulation without interfering with your storage area

About 50% of energy costs are typically attributed to heating and cooling, making it one of the biggest expenses for many homeowners. The attic has a major impact on home efficiency for several reasons:

• Air leaks and drafts between attic and living space
• Air leaks and drafts between attic and outdoors
• Poor or incorrect ventilation
• Insufficient attic insulation
• Uninsulated ductwork in the attic

Best methods for improving attic efficiency

• Air sealing: The first step to improving attic efficiency is air sealing. Your attic is full of gaps and cracks that allows conditioned air to escape from the living space into the attic and unconditioned air to enter from the outside. Sealing these air leaks helps to keep your attic isolated from the outside and keeps conditioned air inside your home.

• Attic insulation: Many attics are lacking proper insulation, which is one of the biggest causes of energy waste and uncomfortable rooms. Raising attic insulation to proper levels prevents heat transfer between the attic and the living space, meaning your HVAC system will run less because conditioned air is being contained in the areas you want to heat and cool.

• Ductwork services: If you have ducts in your attic, they are affected by the extreme hot and cold temperatures that occur in that space. When you try to send cold air through hot ducts or vice versa, the air in the ducts is heated in summer (and cooled in the winter), making it difficult to heat or cool your home. Having ducts in attics is extremely inefficient, which is why duct sealing and duct insulation are smart upgrades for homeowners with ductwork in the attic.