For homeowners, tenants and property managers alike, you should make it a priority to understand why mould grows on ceilings and how to remove mould from ceilings when it arises.
At one point or another, just about every home or property will develop mould. Mould grows in damp, poorly ventilated conditions and often appears on ceilings and walls.
Not only does mould smell and look unpleasant, but if left untreated, it can cause permanent damage to your home or property. This is why home and property owners need to get rid of mould as soon as it is noticed.
Rental tenants and property managers also share this responsibility, because either party could be held liable for repairs depending on the cause of mould growth.
Below, we explain more about mould, why it grows on ceilings and how to remove it effectively.
What is mould on ceilings?
Mould is a spore forming fungal organism. There are 100,000s of species of mould. In nature they can appear and grow anywhere under the right wet and damp conditions. Outdoors, Mould is important in the biodegradation of organic material within natural ecosystems. However, indoors, mould can be unpleasant and costly to your home.
What causes ceiling mould?
In the home, indoor mould grows due to excess moisture, poor ventilation and lack of natural light. Ceilings make for excellent spaces for mould growth for many reasons. For example, roofs can crack and leak outside water into ceilings leading to mould growth. Also, roof cavities are often dark and can be poorly ventilated allowing mould growth to spread to ceilings. Finally, condensation from use of appliances, cooking, drying clothes, windows, showering and indoor plumbing can cause water to collect on ceiling surfaces, resulting in mould growth.
Indoor ceilings, like most building materials, are often made from organic materials. This means mould growth can damage and degrade ceilings. So, if left untreated, mould can cause permanent stains on ceilings or even cause significant structural damage to a property.
What are signs of ceiling mould?
There are many different types of indoor mould with different appearances. Moulds tend to have a velvety/cotton texture and come in a variety of colours.
If you’re worried about mould on your ceiling, look out for:
- Discoloured spotty cluster/s appearing and spreading on ceilings.
- Flaking paint or peeling wallpaper.
- Musty smells in poorly ventilated areas like roof cavities.
How to prevent mould on ceiling
1. Inspect for mould
The best way to stop mould from becoming an ongoing problem is to identify what is causing it and fix it.
2. Stop mould growth conditions
Once you find the reason for the mould problem make sure you remove and stop any excess moisture to the area. It is important to keep the area well ventilated and allow plenty of natural light in, if possible.
3. Clean the affected areas regularly
Make sure the affected area is regularly cleaned – mould loves dirty and cluttered areas where it has plenty of dust and organic materials to eat and places to hide.
4. Schedule professional mould removal
If mould is a recurring problem, despite your best efforts to prevent it, it’s time to call in professionals for mould removal services.
How to get rid of mould on ceiling
If the mould covers a significant area of your ceiling or has been an ongoing problem despite your efforts to prevent it, consider professionals for mould removal services. If do want to try to remove the mould yourself, here are some tips:
- Determine whether the ceiling surface that the mould is growing on is made from sealed or porous material.
- If your ceiling is a sealed surface, you can try a concentrated mould killer solution – available in most hardware stores. If your ceiling is porous, decide whether the surface is actually treatable or will need replacing. If you want to try to treat the porous surface, then you will need an external surface mould killer.
- Before starting you will need: brushes; drop tarps and rags; drying clothes; a full protective suit to cover your entire body; a filtered full-face mask; thick rubber gloves, enclosed footwear and socks; and a good supply of clean water.
- Get all your products ready: put on your protective clothing, lay down your drop tarps on items around the area to be treated and fill a refillable spray bottle with the solution.
- Apply the solution to the affected surface ensuring your applicator gets into all cracks or crevices.
- Leave the area for 30 mins to allow the solution to work then remove any excess solution and wipe dry. Clean up the area and keep it well ventilated until vapours can no longer be detected.
- You may have to repeat this process if no improvement occurs.
Call the experts at Mould Removal Australia
Mould needs to be taken care of immediately and permanently before it harms your home. If you’ve recognised the signs of mould on your ceiling or mould is a persistent problem, let the professionals at Mould Removal Australia take care of it.
Learning how to remove mould from ceilings can be half the battle, mould can be stubborn and some DIY products available in stores are not strong enough to actually remove mould. So, while you can try and fix the problem yourself, it can be time consuming, costly and sometimes just too hard.
Get it right the first time with Mould removal Australia. We have the expertise, experience and the right products to find and resolve persistent mould issues.
For more information about mould and our services see our website.
Get a free online quote
Mould Removal Australia services locations across the Sydney area, Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Central Coast, Newcastle, Hunter Valley and Port Stephens areas.
Free online quotes, appointment bookings and any mould-related questions can be sent our way using our Contact Form or call us on 1300 681 034 and we’ll get back to you promptly.