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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