Attic Mold Removal in Brentwood, TN

What causes attic mold in a Brentwood house?

Almost always, it's moisture getting into the attic faster than it can leave. Large homes with several rooflines, dormers and valleys have more places where flashing can fail and more attic pockets that don't ventilate well. Inside, warm air from bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms rises through openings around recessed lights, attic stairs and plumbing stacks. On cold nights it hits the underside of the roof and condenses, and over a winter that can leave a gray coating across whole sections of decking. A bath fan duct that came loose or was never run outside adds steam directly.

Is spraying a coating on the wood good enough?

Not on its own. EPA says not to paint or caulk over mold, and it stresses that moisture control is the key to mold control. Some companies apply a sealant after the wood has been cleaned and dried, which can be reasonable. A bid that only sprays a product over active growth, without fixing the air leaks, fan ducts or roof problem, leaves the cause in place. Ask each company to explain how it will remove the growth and what it will change so the attic stays dry.

Should I get the attic tested?

If you can see the growth, EPA says sampling usually isn't needed, and no federal limits exist for mold spores. Testing is more useful after the work, to show the area was cleaned properly. Angi recommends using a separate company for testing and remediation, so the one doing the cleanup isn't also grading it.

One more local note

About 16.6 inches of rain fell on Brentwood over two days in May 2010, flooding subdivisions along the Little Harpeth River on the west side and Mill Creek and Owl Creek on the east. Storms are a reminder to check the attic as well as the lower floors. If rafters or decking need replacing, the City of Brentwood Planning and Codes Department issues building permits. Its Codes Enforcement Section handles property maintenance complaints for renters. Angi's national range for attic mold remediation is about $1,000 to $4,000; Middle Tennessee prices vary.