Mold on Stacked & Framing Lumber – 6 Methods to Treat
Mold growth is very common and on lumber, it is almost obvious. Since the problem of mold on stacked lumber is common to almost every homeowner, it comes with many solutions as well.
Nonetheless, mold and mildew can be very dangerous at times. But hopefully, it won’t damage the lumber if you get the mold covered before it gets dry. The fungi can take place at any time on any lumber. Nonetheless, the infestation depends on the lumber as well.
Sometimes lumber is treated with some chemicals. These chemicals are formulated with either borates or copper. These chemical formulas are called natural biocides that help in preventing mold and mildew. Hence, this chemically treated lumber is less responsive to mold growth.
Still, mold is capable of occurring on treated lumber. So, cure and prevention both need to be discussed.
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How to Remove Cosmetic Mold on Framing Lumber:
We know that black mold is quite a bit dangerous. However, there are different types and colors of the black mold you will find. It is also mentioned as cosmetic mold. Cosmetic mold mainly develops on the framing lumber for building construction purposes.
These fungi are also referred to as ‘bluestain’ and come with a harmless formation. They thrive horribly on sapwood. For building plumber, sapwood is one of the most important parts.
How will you recognize cosmetic mold?
Well, cosmetic mold comes with a different configuration. In the case of indoor mold infestation, the contamination is uninterrupted. Hence, it spreads out easily to its neighbor surfaces. However, the remarkable signs of cosmetic mold are the mold patches that are formed in straight lines. The patches are interrupted and come in straight strips. Nonetheless, this is a cosmetic-only mold and absolutely harmless.
Removing of Cosmetic Mold:
Now, if you recognize your framing lumber is infected with cosmetic mold, it is necessary to clean it off as soon as possible. However, it is confirmed that the interrupted mold growth on framing lumber is not active. Thus, the mold is neither harmful to humans nor to the wood.
Again, if you find black mold growth on dry wood in the form we have discussed above, no action is required. Here the mold is not active or dominant. The existence, however, has a great effect on the future. It makes the lumber susceptible to other dangerous mold varieties.
Therefore, it is necessary to inspect where the cosmetic mold has built active colonies. Otherwise, it will cause dampness to the framing lumber.
6 Ways to Treat Mold Stacked & Framing Lumber on New Construction :
Most of the time, the dominant and presiding black mold is found on new construction framing lumber. This mold can also develop even after the completion of the construction. Mold and mildew on framing lumber get enough food to produce spores everywhere.
Nonetheless, they only need a wet condition to grow their kingdom. Also, the sugar aerosols from the bushes and trees help in flourishing the mold. Even dust is a great source of food as well. So, now cleaning all the fungal material including hyphae, spores, conidiophores, and all, from the wood surface, is important.
To clean off the mold it is not necessary for you to have to take off all the stains from the wood. However, the following guide might help you with this problem.
1. Wiping Mold from Framing Lumber:
Wiping the moldy wood surface is helpful if the contamination is mild. You need to be a bit careful while wiping with a rag. Make sure the used rag doesn’t touch the uncontaminated area by mistake. Otherwise, it will affect the uncontaminated surfaces as well. For wiping purposes, you can use the materials written below.
2. Using a Sterile Wipe:
However, it will be best if you also use a Sterile Wipe like the professionals. A sterile wipe lessens the chances of moldy debris spread. It always offers a folding option that allows a clean side to wipe while moving to another spot. So, you get to clean the mold with a new side for every wiping stroke.
Though homeowners might overthink using professional material, to prevent spreading it is the better option. This may be overkill sometimes, but depending on the infestation you can use a sterile wipe.
3. Cleaning with Water and Detergent:
It is a simple process. Just make a solution with water and detergent and wipe with a sponge. This helps in removing loose particles of mold. In this case, however, cross-contamination can also take place.
Hence, we suggest getting a sterile wipe for wiping purposes. You certainly do not want the whole framing wood to get covered with this fungus.
4. Use liquid dish soap with water:
This solution offers benefits for declining mild mold and mildew growth. Spraying the solution on the framing wood surface. Then rub the place with a scrubber.
5. Using stain solver cleaner:
Using an industrial cleaner to clean mold effectively works many times. There are some stain solver cleaners available in the market that contains oxygen bleach. It is certified and organic. Moreover, the cleaner is mixed with a small amount of liquid dish soap.
Nonetheless, it comes in a powdery formula. The formula dissolves in water. Spray the solution all over the mold-infested area. Then let the solution rest on the mold. After sometimes rub the place properly and then clean with water.
6. Medial Blasting:
In cases, if hand wiping to clean mold is not possible or hard then power cleaning is certainly required. Media blasting in that case a good solution. Media blasting is one of the spray equipment. However, for the solution, dry ice or baking soda has been found very effective.
There are some benefits of using media blasting. It declines the possibility of a moisture surge. It also prevents possible moisture damage to the other construction framing lumber.
So, these are the possible cleaning ways you can consider to remove mold on new construction framing lumber. If the mold-affected area occupies square feet less than 30 then you can cope with the cleaning. Hiring professionals or experts is not necessary.
If the infested place holds up more than 30 square feet, then we suggest you consult an expert. Otherwise, it would be difficult for you to properly inspect the area. Professional or mold consultants can come up with better-fixing ideas according to their strategies.
When you are done with the removal process, you need to know what to do afterward. And this is the most important part as there are still chances mold comes back even after removing. Dry it. Dry the framing lumber when cleaning is done.
Prevention Tips:
Chances of mold growth come to a low rate when you take some prevention measures. It is better to prevent first than to cure later. Check out the following to acknowledge some prevention tips.
a) Don’t Tuck up the lumber:
It is the first thing to do when you bring a stack of lumber from a lumberyard. You never know if there can be contaminated wood. It is necessary to clean the wood before installing any insulation. Otherwise, the hidden spores can cause suffocation in people with respiratory dysfunctions.
Do not cover up the wet wood even when the work is done in the wet spell. Or else, the wood will trap the moisture. Consequently, it will cause mold contagion.
b) Fast Air Dry:
Wood does not take enough time to dry naturally. If vapor barriers are offering high and effective performance under an open roof then the environment is suitable for proper drying of the wood. It is important because the wood is never going to dry in the wall on its own.
c) No Vapor Barrier for Wet Lumber:
Many builders tend to use a vapor barrier on lumber that is already wet. It should not be done. Otherwise, trapping moisture, it will cause a huge growth of mold and mildew.
FAQs:
Question: Does moldy wood need replacing?
Answer: We have already mentioned that mold and mildew growth are very common with wood. Almost every household has faced this experience. Luckily, the mold growth won’t hurt the wood. The lumber is going to be as fine as before even after the contamination.
It won’t cause any damage to the wood. So, mold rotting the wood is unquestionable here. So, there is no need to replace moldy wood. Only a few removal steps can help you out with the problem.
Question: Can moldy wood be saved?
Answer: There is the possibility that you can save moldy wood. Once the mold is penetrated the wood deeply, you lose the chance. If you inspect the superficial existence of the mold then it yet not has penetrated profoundly. In this case, you can simply kill the mold.
To kill the mold you can use a simple solution of detergent or soap with water. Spray the solution over the affected area and then rub the area with a brush. Gently do the process and make sure the brush is soft-bristled.
Question: Is lumber mold dangerous?
Answer: Lumber mold is non-toxic. Even the cosmetic mold we have viewed is not harmful to the lumber. It is because the mold is not active. The active mold however can make you sick. People who already suffer from asthma, respiratory problems, or allergies, can be caught by this fungus.
It can also cause irritation to several internal and external parts of the body. So, most of the time lumber mold is not that dangerous. Yet, sometimes depending on the mold intensity, it can cause sickness.
Last Updated on September 20, 2024 by Rogers Weber
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