White Mold Concrete Walls

However it is a sign of a water problem.

White mold concrete walls.

Moisture problems can occur in areas where rainfall is heavy and drainage is insufficient. It s simply a byproduct of the original growth. Preventing mold regrowth if the problem is related to ground water intrusion. White mold can be confused with efflorescence a mineral deposit caused by water seepage.

When the water evaporates a white fluffy structure is left behind. Closer inspection under good lighting will reveal a fungal growth pattern of spots like tiny mushrooms. Homes constructed with insulated concrete forms commonly called icf in the trade offer some important advantages over traditional wood frame structures. Mold can grow on many kinds of surfaces including drywall tile fabrics and even concrete.

It s a type of salt deposit caused by salty water which seeps through concrete brick or stone. It s also common for people to confuse white mold with a substance called efflorescence. You can remove efflorescence with phosphoric acid but that won t prevent that water problem. White mold is usually found in cool and damp areas such as basement walls.

If at all possible resolve the moisture issue before it hits your concrete wall. White mold on the other hand penetrates the surface of porous materials like wood or drywall and can ruin them. Mold is a living organism that occurs in wet environments. It is not mold.

If the discoloration remains after the initial cleaning paint the concrete with a stain blocking concrete primer. White mold can grow on concrete surfaces. If you see efflorescence it means that water is getting trapped inside your block or concrete wall. It won t make you sick but white mold will.

White mold white mold in basementafter flooding or prolonged dampness is easily identified by the characteristic white cottony mycelium of the mold that grows on the surfaces water damaged organic material. Efflorescence is often mistaken for white moldin basement concrete because they look a lot alike. Efflorescence is typically found on concrete and brick while mold grows on organic materials like wood and drywall white mold is a living organism fungus while efflorescence is simply salt deposits efflorescence is not harmful. Mold is always connected with moisture problems.

White mold growth provides an additional challenge because it is often confused with efflorescence a crystalline growth structure found on concrete and masonry surfaces. Most people confuse secondary efflorescence with mold because it looks like a white dusty mold growing on your concrete. The first step in the process is drying out the wet conditions in the basement. Efflorescence occurs when water moves through a masonry structure bringing unbounded salts to the surface.

And where there is water there is mold and potential structural damage. The white powder is efflorescence or minerals left behind as water that has flowed through the concrete walls evaporates. Problems with insulated concrete form walls.