Painting your home is an exciting way to update and refresh your space, but what happens when you spot mold during the painting process? Painting over mold may seem to be a quick and simple solution to a nagging problem, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.
We highly recommend against painting over mold at your home or business.
If you spot mold mid-paint stroke, stop painting and call to speak with a technician about our professional mold remediation services.
Why Shouldn’t Homeowners or Landlords Paint Over Mold?
Painting over mold only delays the inevitable and may put the health of your family or employees at risk. Long-term consequences of painting over mold include:
- Home safety
- Personal and family health
- Property damage (residential and commercial)
- Long-term costs
When you paint over mold, you’re not getting rid of a problem, you’re hiding it. Painting over mold does not fix the source of the mold (water leak, flood, etc.) and will only make the problem worse. If mold is painted over, it will continue to grow. As the mold continues to grow on porous surfaces like drywall, eventually the material will be incredibly saturated, unsafe and will need to be removed and replaced.
What Happens If You Paint Over Mold?
When you paint over mold, you could be putting the health of your home and family at risk. Painting over mold will not kill mold or stop new mold from growing. According to the CDC, mold can cause nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation, skin irritation, and more severe reactions in immune-compromised people.
Keep in mind that:
- Paint does not kill mold.
- Paint that is mold-resistant only works proactively, not reactively.
Painting over mold is a quick-fix many homeowners or landlords jump to because it’s cheap, or at least they think. If you paint over mold, it will return in its original form or the form of chipping, bubbled or cracked paint. In the long run, this could cost more than it would have been to receive mold remediation services in the first place.
Steps to Take Instead of Painting Over Mold
When you choose to not paint over mold, you are choosing safety and a quality environment. When you go with proper mold remediation services instead, your paint will last longer and you will have the peace of mind knowing you found and eliminated the root cause – and the likelihood of more future mold issues.
How Do I Prevent Mold After Remediation?
After professional remediation, you’ll want to do everything you can to prevent the problem from returning. There are a variety of ways to prevent mold. They will require continued diligence and maintenance. Ultimately, the work put into your home to keep mold away will keep yourself, family and household safe.
- Mold-resistant primer
Before embarking on your painting journey, be proactive and use a mold-resistant primer. This is especially important for rooms where moisture is prevalent, like the bathroom or kitchen.
- Take control of your humidity
By making sure your home stays dry and well ventilated, you are helping to prevent the development of mold. Dehumidifiers can help in the prevention of mold, as well.
- Properly dry and clean spaces where leaks or floods have occurred
- Making sure all spaces are completely dry is a huge step toward preventing mold. If you have spaces in your home that are notorious for leaking or flooding, regularly check in on them and dry the area with a towel, as needed.
Choose Rainbow Mold Restoration and Remediation Services
If you’re seeking quality, professional mold restoration services for your home or business, choose Rainbow Restoration. There’s no mold cleanup job too big or too small for our local, IICRC-certified technicians. If you have a mold problem, you need help now. Don’t wait. Call to speak with a technician, today.
