I put my shop up last fall and am finally wiring it now. While up in the attic I noticed that in a few places the trusses (prebuilt menards) have areas of black spots, possibly mold on them. I'm sure it's from sitting outside in their yard. It will be impossible to clean every spot but is this something I should be worried about? The garage. Will be fully insulated and dry walled and will see huge Wisconsin climate changes. Please let me know your thoughts I will try to post a pic later.
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Black spots, mold? On trusses should I worry?
- Thread starter mc1984ss
- Start date
kd3pc
Well-known member
You might spray them with some bleach while you can get to them, and then make sure you have a good plan for attic ventilation when you insulate and dry wall..
I have soffit vents and a ridge vent, and no problems with the changes in TN weather.
I have soffit vents and a ridge vent, and no problems with the changes in TN weather.
Mold lives in damp, still spaces.
This is true from attics to crawl spaces.
The easiest thing for you to do, after putting in some gable vents, would be to get some $20.00 box fans up there to keep the air moving.
Never turn them off.
((I have one in my basement that has been going 24/7/365 for over 15 years. Maybe 4 times in that period have I had to squirt some WD40 followed my some very light ("sewing machine") oil around the motor shaft when it started to squeak.))
This is true from attics to crawl spaces.
The easiest thing for you to do, after putting in some gable vents, would be to get some $20.00 box fans up there to keep the air moving.
Never turn them off.
((I have one in my basement that has been going 24/7/365 for over 15 years. Maybe 4 times in that period have I had to squirt some WD40 followed my some very light ("sewing machine") oil around the motor shaft when it started to squeak.))
Cyberbear
Well-known member
Put a little diluted Chlorox in a spray bottle and give the black spots a shot. Install good ventilation and all should be well.
jimgood
Well-known member
I think you'll have better luck with Concrobium. If it's not a lot of mold, one spray bottle should do. Just spray it on and forget about it. It will prevent mold from coming back on the surfaces.
Jess
Well-known member
If its not finished inside yet, you could have moisture from the concrete floor still in there. The soffit and ridge vents will work better once you close off the ceiling. I would not put in gable vents as they could defeat the air flow from the soffit to the ridge. You can read more about this on Green Building Advisor and other similar references.
A quick spray with a mold and mildew will tell you if its that, but it could just be stained from being exposed to weather. At one time lumber was treated with PCPs to keep it nice and bright in shipping and storage but once that was found to be nasty stuff, most mills no longer apply any sort of surface treatment. The PCPs is the reason that most old sawmill properties are considered contaminated....
A quick spray with a mold and mildew will tell you if its that, but it could just be stained from being exposed to weather. At one time lumber was treated with PCPs to keep it nice and bright in shipping and storage but once that was found to be nasty stuff, most mills no longer apply any sort of surface treatment. The PCPs is the reason that most old sawmill properties are considered contaminated....
rsanter
Well-known member
You will want to kill the mold now with bleach or some other product meant for that.
The problem with mold is that even after you kill it there are spores left that if they ever get wet again they will bloom immediately. That is why in the case of mold abatement in houses, once they have dried the areas out and killed the mold. They will paint over the area with a primer that has stuff in it that resists mold in the future.
Easy to do. Kill the mold, paint over it.
Bob
The problem with mold is that even after you kill it there are spores left that if they ever get wet again they will bloom immediately. That is why in the case of mold abatement in houses, once they have dried the areas out and killed the mold. They will paint over the area with a primer that has stuff in it that resists mold in the future.
Easy to do. Kill the mold, paint over it.
Bob
8man
Well-known member
Mold won't grow without water. Humidity in the air isn't enough moisture. Ventilate the attic and it won't grow even if you don't kill it. Spraying with a Clorox solution is a good idea, ventilating the attic space should then take moisture away and it won't grow back. BTW mold spores are in the air you breath, they are everywhere. Just remove the water.
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
Mold won't grow without water. Humidity in the air isn't enough moisture.
Yes it is. I can't count the number of places I've worked that don't get any actual water but have a decent amount of humidity, that I've seen mold and mildew growing on stuff. My old speaker covers used to get a teeny bit of mold in the summer before I put in the mini split and we've NEVER had any water in our basement.
Tommy