Oftentimes, homeowners will want to repaint their walls to give it a fresh, clean feeling, and while painting does provide this feeling most of the time, there are some instances in which a fresh coat of paint just doesn’t cut it. One of those instances is when there is mold or mildew.
What is Mildew?
Mildew is the most common cause for paint discoloration, and it can often make the section of the wall that’s affected look black, green or brown, and fuzzy, powdery or even slimy. Furthermore, mold is a parasitic fungus, and can eat into other porous painted surfaces, affecting those areas as well. Because of this, mildew has the potential to destroy the integrity of any paint film that you apply. That’s not all though—once mildew eats away at the paint, moisture can enter the painted surface and cause masonry to crumble and wood to rot.
Mold isn’t confined to just one area either; the spores – or seeds – of mold are extremely light, and float invisibly throughout a home until it finds the perfect environment to land and take root. Typically, this environment is a warm, humid, moist one with poor ventilation, such as bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms. Mold also likes to settle in rooms with little sunlight and poor air circulation.
How Can I Tell If Our House Has Mold?
The easiest and quickest way to determine whether or not a dark patch on your walls is mold or simply dirt, place a drop of household bleach (5% sodium hypochlorite) on the affected surface and wait for two minutes. Without scrubbing the spot, mildew will bleach out on its own in that timeframe; dirt will not.
How Do I Get Rid of Mold?
While you could use a household solution of three quarts water to one quart bleach on the affected surface, at Liberty Paint & Construction, LLC, we recommend investing in an actual mold/mildew remover. Many homemade solutions, such as the bleach/water solution, cause mildew to recess, but it doesn’t actually kill it. Oftentimes, the mold simply comes back to haunt the homeowners at a later date. Mold remover though actually removes the mold and its spores, ensuring that it won’t come back after repainting.
Mold removers are high in chemicals, so wear eye protection and rubber gloves when applying the solution. Apply the solution according to the directions on the bottle.
IF you choose to go with a homemade solution, still wear protective gear, and then apply the solution with a sponge or garden sprayer. Let the water/bleach solution sit for half an hour before rinsing away with water.
Choosing the Right Paint
It’s not difficult to find a paint that will protect your walls from future mold outbreaks, as most exterior, bathroom and kitchen paints are formulated with mildewcides to make the paint mold resistant. Once you remove the mold completely, apply primer, and then a coat of your chosen paint color.
Some paint formulas are better for mold than others. Paint with zinc oxide is more resistant to mildew than paint containing titanium dioxide. Paints and primers with linseed oil are more susceptible to mildew, as are lower grade paints.
Water-based paints and latex paints that have a porous finish, such as flat or eggshell sheen, are highly susceptible to mildew. Glossier latex paints – especially those that are 100% acrylic semi-gloss and high-gloss – oil and latex enamel coatings are less porous, and therefore, less susceptible to mildew.
Can’t I Just Use a Mildew Resistant Paint to Cover Up The Old Mold?
No. Mildew inhibitors prevent the growth of new mildew, but they do not destroy existing mildew or fungus.
Are Mildew Resistant Paints Dangerous?
Yes, they are if ingested, which is why we recommend only using mildew resistant paints on wall, and avoiding windowsills, doorframes or any other areas where small children could potentially put their mouths.
How Can I Prevent Mold?
· Keep surfaces clean. Food, oils from cooking, and soap scum are all foods for mildew.
· Control the moisture levels in your home. Mildew spores need water to germinate, so the less moisture in the air, the better chance you have of keeping mold at bay.
· Keep shrubs and trees away from exterior walls, as the openness promotes air movement and drying.
· Consider using darker paint colors on your exterior walls, as they absorb heat better, and therefore dry quicker after a rain or dew.
· Install proper ventilation in each room, especially the kitchen and bathrooms, to prevent condensation.
· Install exhaust fans that vent outside to remove the two-gallons a day that accumulate from bathing and cooking alone.
· When painting the new coat on your walls, make sure there is not a ton of air circulating through the room, as a calm environment will prevent mildew spores from picking up and blowing into the new coating.
If you are tired of dealing with the pesky fungus that is mold, and if you want to get rid of the problem once and for all, step out for a few hours and let Liberty Paint & Construction, LLC do the job. We specialize in residential painting and home remodel, and we want to help you make your home feel like new again. Give us a call at 619-770-9437, or visit us at www.libertypaintandconstruction.com to learn more about what we can do for you.
What is Mildew?
Mildew is the most common cause for paint discoloration, and it can often make the section of the wall that’s affected look black, green or brown, and fuzzy, powdery or even slimy. Furthermore, mold is a parasitic fungus, and can eat into other porous painted surfaces, affecting those areas as well. Because of this, mildew has the potential to destroy the integrity of any paint film that you apply. That’s not all though—once mildew eats away at the paint, moisture can enter the painted surface and cause masonry to crumble and wood to rot.
Mold isn’t confined to just one area either; the spores – or seeds – of mold are extremely light, and float invisibly throughout a home until it finds the perfect environment to land and take root. Typically, this environment is a warm, humid, moist one with poor ventilation, such as bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms. Mold also likes to settle in rooms with little sunlight and poor air circulation.
How Can I Tell If Our House Has Mold?
The easiest and quickest way to determine whether or not a dark patch on your walls is mold or simply dirt, place a drop of household bleach (5% sodium hypochlorite) on the affected surface and wait for two minutes. Without scrubbing the spot, mildew will bleach out on its own in that timeframe; dirt will not.
How Do I Get Rid of Mold?
While you could use a household solution of three quarts water to one quart bleach on the affected surface, at Liberty Paint & Construction, LLC, we recommend investing in an actual mold/mildew remover. Many homemade solutions, such as the bleach/water solution, cause mildew to recess, but it doesn’t actually kill it. Oftentimes, the mold simply comes back to haunt the homeowners at a later date. Mold remover though actually removes the mold and its spores, ensuring that it won’t come back after repainting.
Mold removers are high in chemicals, so wear eye protection and rubber gloves when applying the solution. Apply the solution according to the directions on the bottle.
IF you choose to go with a homemade solution, still wear protective gear, and then apply the solution with a sponge or garden sprayer. Let the water/bleach solution sit for half an hour before rinsing away with water.
Choosing the Right Paint
It’s not difficult to find a paint that will protect your walls from future mold outbreaks, as most exterior, bathroom and kitchen paints are formulated with mildewcides to make the paint mold resistant. Once you remove the mold completely, apply primer, and then a coat of your chosen paint color.
Some paint formulas are better for mold than others. Paint with zinc oxide is more resistant to mildew than paint containing titanium dioxide. Paints and primers with linseed oil are more susceptible to mildew, as are lower grade paints.
Water-based paints and latex paints that have a porous finish, such as flat or eggshell sheen, are highly susceptible to mildew. Glossier latex paints – especially those that are 100% acrylic semi-gloss and high-gloss – oil and latex enamel coatings are less porous, and therefore, less susceptible to mildew.
Can’t I Just Use a Mildew Resistant Paint to Cover Up The Old Mold?
No. Mildew inhibitors prevent the growth of new mildew, but they do not destroy existing mildew or fungus.
Are Mildew Resistant Paints Dangerous?
Yes, they are if ingested, which is why we recommend only using mildew resistant paints on wall, and avoiding windowsills, doorframes or any other areas where small children could potentially put their mouths.
How Can I Prevent Mold?
· Keep surfaces clean. Food, oils from cooking, and soap scum are all foods for mildew.
· Control the moisture levels in your home. Mildew spores need water to germinate, so the less moisture in the air, the better chance you have of keeping mold at bay.
· Keep shrubs and trees away from exterior walls, as the openness promotes air movement and drying.
· Consider using darker paint colors on your exterior walls, as they absorb heat better, and therefore dry quicker after a rain or dew.
· Install proper ventilation in each room, especially the kitchen and bathrooms, to prevent condensation.
· Install exhaust fans that vent outside to remove the two-gallons a day that accumulate from bathing and cooking alone.
· When painting the new coat on your walls, make sure there is not a ton of air circulating through the room, as a calm environment will prevent mildew spores from picking up and blowing into the new coating.
If you are tired of dealing with the pesky fungus that is mold, and if you want to get rid of the problem once and for all, step out for a few hours and let Liberty Paint & Construction, LLC do the job. We specialize in residential painting and home remodel, and we want to help you make your home feel like new again. Give us a call at 619-770-9437, or visit us at www.libertypaintandconstruction.com to learn more about what we can do for you.