Can You Paint Over Mold?
Homeowners are aware that mold can be a health hazard. But did you also know that mold can break down and ruin drywall, floors, carpeting, and other materials in your home? Your home and your family's health are at risk if mold is left unattended.
Mold and mildew are commonly seen in shower enclosures and around bathtubs. That's why many homeowners try to keep shower and bath areas scrubbed and clean. But mold can also get established in basement walls and ceilings, garages, kitchens, laundry rooms, and other areas of your home that have a high humidity or moisture level.
So maybe you're wondering – can you paint over mold? This article answers that question and covers the best practices for dealing with mold. Plus, we offer expert advice and professional solutions for eliminating mold and knowing when it's safe to paint.
Understanding Mold in Your Home
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describe how mold can grow inside and around your home and how it can affect the health of you and your family. Airborne mold spores naturally circulate in the air. But those spores become a problem when they land on moist surfaces and begin to multiply.
Mold can cause a range of mild to severe allergic-type symptoms. Some people, especially those with asthma, lung disease, or a suppressed immune system are particularly susceptible to mold. You should consult a medical professional if you suspect symptoms caused by mold.
If your home's humidity level is higher than 50%, mold spores can easily take hold and grow.
But in addition to high humidity, mold can be caused by underlying problems. If your roof, windows, or walls aren't watertight; you've had flooding; or your plumbing is leaking; mold can take hold. Leaking water and mold weaken the construction materials your home is made up of – from drywall, tile, carpeting, cabinetry, and much more.
While we're on the subject of understanding mold, let's clarify how mold and mildew are similar and different. Both are a form of fungi. Mildew takes on a flat powdery gray or white appearance on moist surfaces, and is more localized. Mold can be fuzzy or slimy and appears in a variety of colors. Both have a foul, musty odor. Mildew can usually be cleaned with a bleach solution while mold is invasive and can be resistant to cleaning. Large areas of mold infestations should be professionally removed.
The Risks of Painting Over Mold
Painting over mold is a bad idea! Before you paint you need to resolve the source of the mold problem. This is what happens if you paint over mold:
The paint will seal over the mold, allowing it to continue to grow and spread.
The new paint will start to peel and crack, exposing mold that will continue to grow.
Spot-fixing peeling paint won't cure the problem until the cause of the mold is repaired.
Health hazards will continue to be present as the mold grows under the paint.
Aesthetic issues include staining, cracking, and peeling. Not a pretty picture.
Does Paint Kill Mold? Separating Fact from Fiction
Does paint kill mold? No – paint does not kill mold and is not a solution to removing and eliminating mold. Painting over mold is a temporary solution that only masks the source of the problem. Painting over mold can worsen the situation.
Locating the source of mold growth is essential. You'll never be able to eliminate mold until you repair the cause. And unless you have a small localized mold problem (under 10 square feet) that you can repair yourself, you should hire a professional to remediate the problem.
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Effective Mold Cleaning Techniques Before Painting
Before painting, you'll need to do the following:
Eliminate the underlying cause of the mold. Check for things like leaks and high humidity levels.
Be aware that if you still need to solve the source of the problem, mold can reappear after cleaning.
So be sure to eliminate the cause of the mold before going to the hard work of cleaning it.
Remove all moldy items.
Moldy items are a breeding ground that allows mold to multiply.
Remove anything where mold has taken hold – from drywall, insulation, and ceiling tiles – to books, magazines, and textiles like clothing, upholstery, curtains, and rugs.
Once the moisture or humidity problem has been solved, thoroughly washing your walls before painting is essential. If you're removing mold from a small area like a bathroom or laundry room, you may be able to do the job yourself. Commercial products are available to kill mold, or you can save money by using bleach.
Wear non-porous gloves, eye protection, and a mask.
Open windows and doors for air ventilation.
Mix a bleach solution by combining 1 cup of bleach with 1 gallon of water.
Avoid mixing ammonia or other cleaning products with bleach. This will cause dangerous toxic fumes.
Scrub the moldy areas with the bleach solution. Then wipe down the area and use fans to hasten the drying process.
Ensure the entire area is completely dry before prepping and painting. Use fans if necessary.
If you're dealing with areas larger than 10 square feet, the EPA recommends that you hire a professional mold abatement company to complete the work.
Be sure to ask if they follow the EPA standards for mold abatement, and get those procedures in writing.
The mold abatement crew will source the cause of the problem and thoroughly eliminate the mold. Then – and only then – can you paint.
For a high-quality professional painting job, hire interior painting services to expertly and efficiently complete the prep and painting.
Preventing Future Mold Growth in Your Home
Mold is a liability to your home and your health so you'll want to prevent future mold growth. Once a professional mold abatement contractor has solved the root cause of mold growth and permanently eliminated it, prevent future mold growth by:
Using proper ventilation and humidity control.
Ensure air conditioners, heaters, and fans are in good operating condition and filters are changed regularly.
Make sure sprinklers are directed away from structures.
Maintain a regular maintenance schedule to check for leaks, drainage, and other moisture issues.
Choosing the Right Paint to Combat Mold
You can't get rid of mold by covering it with paint. But once the mold has been eliminated, there are special primers and paints you can use to resist mold and inhibit it from growing in the future. Mold-resistant paints won't completely prevent mold from reappearing but will go a long way to inhibiting and slowing growth.
Several mold-inhibiting paint brands are available. Singletrack Painting can advise you on selecting the best mold-resistant paint for your home. From a north-facing exterior prone to mold or interior spaces like your kitchen or bathrooms, Singletrack knows which primer and paint formulations will work most effectively for your specific situation.
Why Professional Painting Services Make a Difference in Mold Prevention
After a mold abatement team has resolved and eliminated the problem, you'll need to finish the job with a fresh coat of paint. Hiring professional painters will ensure the prep and paint application contribute to longer-lasting, mold-resistant results.
Whether you've been dealing with exterior or interior mold, Singletrack Painting has the skill and experience to advise you on painting solutions for the mold-prone areas of your home. When you're ready for a beautiful, long-lasting paint finish after mold abatement, contact Singletrack Painting. We're ready to help!
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