Hello,
we have discovered that our attic is damp and there is some light mold growing on the wood.
Our house was plastered in December and the screed was installed in early January.
We have an uninsulated roof; the insulation will be installed on the concrete ceiling.
So far, only the insulation along the outer edge has been laid because the roof is so flat that there is no other way to access it. The rest of the insulation is still packaged and lying in the attic.
The hatch to the attic has not been installed yet.
As a result, all the moisture has risen upwards and settled inside on the roof structure and the vapor barrier.
Now the vapor barrier is damp in some areas and some light mold has formed on the wood.
The insulation at the edge is partially damp as well.
What would you do now?
Is it enough to remove the mold (if yes, how) and then let everything dry?
Does the damp insulation need to be replaced?
What about the attic hatch? If we install it now, the moisture will be trapped inside. But if we leave it open, the moisture will continue to rise upwards.
And how can I best ventilate to get rid of the moisture? The heating is not finished yet but should be operational by midweek at the latest.
It would be great if someone could share some advice with us.
In hindsight, it was obviously a mistake to leave the hatch open to the attic. Unfortunately, due to personal issues (illness, surgery, etc.), things have been quite chaotic over the past few weeks...
we have discovered that our attic is damp and there is some light mold growing on the wood.
Our house was plastered in December and the screed was installed in early January.
We have an uninsulated roof; the insulation will be installed on the concrete ceiling.
So far, only the insulation along the outer edge has been laid because the roof is so flat that there is no other way to access it. The rest of the insulation is still packaged and lying in the attic.
The hatch to the attic has not been installed yet.
As a result, all the moisture has risen upwards and settled inside on the roof structure and the vapor barrier.
Now the vapor barrier is damp in some areas and some light mold has formed on the wood.
The insulation at the edge is partially damp as well.
What would you do now?
Is it enough to remove the mold (if yes, how) and then let everything dry?
Does the damp insulation need to be replaced?
What about the attic hatch? If we install it now, the moisture will be trapped inside. But if we leave it open, the moisture will continue to rise upwards.
And how can I best ventilate to get rid of the moisture? The heating is not finished yet but should be operational by midweek at the latest.
It would be great if someone could share some advice with us.
In hindsight, it was obviously a mistake to leave the hatch open to the attic. Unfortunately, due to personal issues (illness, surgery, etc.), things have been quite chaotic over the past few weeks...
B
Bieber081530 Jan 2017 21:31Cause ... Most likely it was moisture, yes. So you need to ensure that no new moisture can enter and then dry it out as much as necessary.
Remediation ... exactly, removing both visible and hidden mold. How far you need to go cannot be assessed from a distance. It is also unclear to me whether remediation is possible or if it is a total loss. But, realistically: it hasn’t been moldy for long. If the cause is quickly and permanently eliminated, I believe that remediation using a standard mold remover should be sufficient. I would apply it generously (meaning over a wide area) to the affected spots. Always ventilate well during this! (If needed, actually remove a few roof tiles …). I would then consider it done. Regularly check the roof structure (i.e., once a month for the next year), and apply mold remover again if necessary.
Disclaimer: Layperson’s opinion ...
Remediation ... exactly, removing both visible and hidden mold. How far you need to go cannot be assessed from a distance. It is also unclear to me whether remediation is possible or if it is a total loss. But, realistically: it hasn’t been moldy for long. If the cause is quickly and permanently eliminated, I believe that remediation using a standard mold remover should be sufficient. I would apply it generously (meaning over a wide area) to the affected spots. Always ventilate well during this! (If needed, actually remove a few roof tiles …). I would then consider it done. Regularly check the roof structure (i.e., once a month for the next year), and apply mold remover again if necessary.
Disclaimer: Layperson’s opinion ...