Spray Foam Insulation and Mold –
A Complete Guide
No one wants to have mold in their home. It can easily lead to serious health problems, like difficulty breathing. Thankfully, an insulation spray foam can help. It will be able to stop moisture from getting into the house.
However, before you start spraying, there are a few things that you need to know. This will ensure that you aren’t accidentally making the situation worse. Let’s look at some of the best ways to use spray foam insulation to take care of the mold problem in your home.
Signs of a Mold Problem
Let’s start by looking at some of the signs that you might have a mold problem. The most obvious symptom is the smell. It will often give the room a musty smell. This will be very difficult to get rid of without treating the underlying issue.
Another issue to look for is the spots. These will usually be either green or black. At the start, these can be very small and difficult to identify. But as the mold starts to spread it will be more visible. By this point, though, it signifies that the mold has a strong grip on the house. This will make it harder to remove.
Finally, it might start to manifest itself through health issues. It’s common for mold spores to cause breathing problems, particularly among those with asthma. Sometimes, it might also trigger issues for those who have allergies. You might even start to notice yourself feeling lightheaded.
Spotting Mold Behind Drywall
Sometimes, though the mold might be hidden away, behind the drywall. This can be even more challenging to spot. But, as long as you know what to look for, it won’t be impossible.
The first thing that you should be looking for is a sign of damp spots. Remember, mold will need a relatively moist environment to thrive. This can cause dark rings to appear on the wall.
It’s also a good idea to look at the condition of the paintwork. Sometimes, the presence of mold might be enough to make it begin to peel. This is the start of the deterioration process, as the fungus starts to eat through the wall.
Finally, you might find that the wall is starting to rot, as the fungus eats its way through the supporting beams. As a result, it can make the wall start to appear discolored.
Should You Spray Foam Insulation Over Mold?
There is nothing preventing you from spraying over the top of the mold. But this doesn’t always mean that you should. Let’s look at why it might not be a good idea.
Will Spraying Insulation Foam Kill Mold
Often, the only thing that you are thinking about is how the spray will affect the mold. It will kill it. This is because the thick foam will block out the airflow. Without air to sustain it, the mold will die.
However, spraying over mold is still a bad idea. It doesn’t deal with the underlying issues. Because of this, the mold could re-occur. Over time, this will lead to property damage, as the fungus eats through the walls. It is also a serious health problem, with the spores causing a lot of issues for those who have breathing difficulties.
Can You Spray Foam Insulation Over Black Mold?
Black mold is the most dangerous type of mold. It’s been linked with the most serious health issues. So, how does this affect mold and spray foam insulation? You will be able to spray the insulation over the mold. This cuts off the oxygen supply and kills the mold.
This is only a temporary solution, as the mold could return. However, it will be better than some other solutions. For example, painting over the mold won’t work. The fungus will be able to eat its way through the paint. Plus, it won’t be able to deter new mold from growing. Spay insulation does both.
How to Spray Over Mold
If you are determined to spray over the mold, there are a few things to bear in mind. First, the foam will expand. You don’t want to overfill the space. If you apply too much, you should be able to use a knife and cut off any excess.
It’s also important to try and get all of the mold. This will prevent it from spreading and becoming a bigger issue.
Removing Mold From Your Home
Before you start doing any work, you’ll need to focus on removing mold before insulation. Let’s look at some of the steps you’ll need to go through to do this.
Why Does Mold Occur?
The first thing that you need to consider is why the mold is forming in the first place. There are a few potential reasons why this might be happening. This can include:
- High moisture. Mold spores will need to have a high humidity area before they can germinate. This is why they are most prevalent in wet areas, like the bathroom. The good news is that there is an easy way to test whether this is what is attracting the mold. You can use a hygrometer. Ideally, it should be between 30 to 50 percent.
- Mold will need the right temperature range to thrive. It will struggle in hot environments. The ideal range is between 77 to 86 Fahrenheit (25 to 30 degrees Celsius).
- Organic material. The mold will need to eat. This means that it will need to settle on some type of organic material. This can include things like wooden beams and wallpaper.
One of the things that make mold so dangerous is the spores it releases. This is how the fungus spreads. The spores will float through the air until they settle in a suitable area. Because of this, a relatively small mold patch can rapidly spread throughout the whole house.
Stopping the Mold Infection From Spreading
While a mold infection can spread quickly, it isn’t impossible to stop. There are a few actions that you need to do.
First, you’ll need to take action as soon as you spot the problem. The longer you wait to get started, the more spores it will be able to release. This will make it even harder to control.
To remove the mold, you’ll need to use a spray. You might be able to find one in the hardware store. Though you can also make one yourself. You will need to mix one cup of bleach with a gallon of water. You should then be able to spray this on the affected areas to start killing the mold. You’ll also need to scrub the affected areas with a coarse brush. This will dislodge the mold.
Sometimes, if they are soft surfaces, like carpet, you will need to remove them. The porous nature of these surfaces can provide the ideal environment for mold to flourish. Alternatively, you will need to spray, scrub, then vacuum up any spores.
Once you have cleaned the infected areas, you should use a HEPA vacuum. This has a fine particle filter, which will allow you to capture any spores that remain in the air. This will reduce the chances that the mold problem will re-occur.
When to Call a Professional
You might be able to deal with a minor mold problem yourself. But if it is too large, you will need to call in the professionals. They will be able to treat it with harsh chemicals. This will ensure that it stops spreading.
The best way to determine whether you need to call in a professional is by looking at the size of the mold. As a general rule, anything over 10 square feet will need professional attention. How long it will take them to remove the mold will depend on how far it had spread. In some cases, though, you will need to be prepared to wait a week for the mold to be removed.
Precautions When Removing Mold
When you are dealing with a hazardous substance, like mold, you will need to take a few precautions. First, you should wear a mask. You don’t want to accidentally breathe in the spores. They can make you sick. This is especially important if you suffer from respiratory problems. The spores in the air have been known to trigger asthma attacks.
You should also make sure that you are wearing gloves. You don’t want to be touching the mold with your bare hands. This can spread disease.
Finally, if you live with others you should warm them about the mold and give them notice of the day that you plan to remove it. Try to set a plastic sheet barrier. This stops the spores from spreading and causing problems.
Is it Possible For Mold to Grow on Spray Foam Insulation?
Once you’ve removed the mold, you’ll be able to safely apply the spray foam insulation. But will the mold be able to stage a comeback? Can it grow on your spray foam insulation?
Spray foam insulation won’t be a good source of food for mold. Because of this, you won’t see mold on spray foam insulation.
As we mentioned, you will be able to spray this over the mold. As it expands, the insulation will cut off the oxygen supply. Because of this, insulating over mold will kill it almost instantly.
For this reason, this type of insulation has become very popular for use within the home. It’s commonly used in areas that are known for having high humidity, like the attic or basement. Normally, these zones are at a higher risk of mold. Using spray foam insulation limits how much the mold will be able to spread.
When to Avoid Spraying Foam Insulation
In most cases, spraying insulating foam is a good solution. It’s easy and fast to apply. Plus, it doesn’t degrade for many years. It’s estimated that a professionally applied foam will last for around 50 years. But that doesn’t mean that it will always be the best option. Let’s look at some of the circumstances when you should avoid applying foam insulation.
As we mentioned, you should avoid insulating over mold. This is a temporary fix to the problem. Without addressing the factors that led to the mold occurring, it will keep coming back.
Another common insulation is putting spray foam around electrical components, like ceiling lights. If the foam gets into these areas, there is a risk that it can jam them up. This will stop it from working, causing you potentially thousands of dollars in damages.
It’s also a good idea to avoid using it around the doors. As the foam expands, it might be enough to knock the door out of alignment. This can sometimes mean that the door won’t be able to open properly.
If you have any of these problem areas it might be a good idea to talk to a professional. They might be able to help you in these more sensitive areas.
How Spray Foam Can Reduce the Risk of Mold in Your Home
Using spray foam in your house is ideal, particularly in areas where you have a mold problem. There are a few ways that it can help.
First, it will be able to stop moisture from entering the room. In this area, spray foam tends to be more effective than other types of insulation. This is because it will expand. This allows it to fill the space, creating an airtight seal.
This will make it a lot harder for the mold spores to germinate. If you are still concerned about the risks, you can take some other measures to lower the humidity. We’ll take some of these preventive steps a little later.
It can also be a good way of blocking drafts and sealing passages to the outside world. This isn’t just about making it easier to heat and cool the room. It is also a good way of stopping the mold spores from getting into your house in the first place. It also makes it harder for them to spread once they are in the house.
Preventing Mold in Your Home
While there are ways of removing mold, this will be a lot of work. It’s best if you can prevent it from occurring in the first place. There are a few tips that you can use to do this.
Using Spray Foam Insulation to Reduce Humidity
First, it’s critically important to make sure that you are lowering the humidity of the room. High moisture is needed for the mold spores to spread. There are a few ways that you can control the humidity.
First, you might want to use a dehumidifier. This will suck the excess moisture from the air. It’s best to choose one that has an inbuilt hygrometer. Because of this, the air won’t become dried out.
It might also be a good idea to use some insulation. This will stop moist air from penetrating through the walls. Spray insulation can help you do this, forming an impenetrable barrier.
A third tip is to make sure that you get any leaks. The longer the leak is continuing, the more time for the moisture to build up in the air.
Finally, you should focus on getting your house dry if you have been flooded. The risk of mold will be greatly reduced if you can do this within 24 to 48 hours.
Take Proactive Measures
There are some parts of your house where mold is more likely to grow. These are the wet areas, like the bathroom. When you are cleaning these spaces, you should take some extra precautions. Use a bleach mixture to wipe down surfaces. This will neutralize any spores before they can get a chance to germinate.
Improve Air Flow
A simple way to get rid of mold is by improving the airflow around your home. This can mean opening a few windows, so the moisture doesn’t build up. You can also install exhaust fans in the bathroom, kitchen, attic, or basement. This is a good way to control humidity in these problem areas.
Get an Air Purifier
Some air purifiers will be able to catch the spores, removing them from the air before they have a chance to germinate. This is a great way of controlling the way the mold will spread through the house. However, you will need to make sure that you are using a HEPA air filter. This is the only one that will be powerful enough to filter out the small mold particles.
Use Mold Preventing Products
Finally, you might want to consider using a product that prevents mold. Some cleaning products let you do this. You can also add some mold inhibitors to the paint. This will stop mold from growing inside the house.
Final Thoughts
Having mold in your house is a big problem. The last thing you want is for the spores to make you sick. The good news is that there are some ways that you can solve this issue. You can use bleach solutions to remove the mold. You can also try insulation over mold, with the foam making it impossible for the fungus to access oxygen.