Mildew on wood

[billconner]

I'm going to "refinish" these spindles. Should I do anything extra for the mildew or just pressure wash, lightly sand, and prime and paint? I was also thinking about setting bottom end in a pail with an inch of preservative before priming. It will be sitting on a 2x5.

 

[PCustoms]

I'm going to "refinish" these spindles. Should I do anything extra for the mildew or just pressure wash, lightly sand, and prime and paint? I was also thinking about setting bottom end in a pail with an inch of preservative before priming. It will be sitting on a 2x5.

Is there a picture?

 

[HalfTonTom]

Is there a picture?

Yes, but there's mildew on it.

 

[billconner]

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Yes, but there's mildew on it.

Well, yes. Oops.

 

[PCustoms]

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Well, yes. Oops.

Clean, prime and paint..

I bet you have some wood decay under that paint though. Is that PT?

 

[Bunsen Honeydew]

Try cleaning with undiluted white vinegar, then add mildewcide to new paint.

 

[Hank11]

I would spray them with some bleach bathroom cleaner all the way around let them sit five minutes and then take a scrub brush with soapy water. Rinse well.

 

[billconner]

Clean, prime and paint..

I bet you have some wood decay under that paint though. Is that PT?

Yes. All pressure treated. 1994 - was that before CCA ban? I think that was after 2000. Some splintering but I have extra.

 

[PCustoms]

Yes. All pressure treated. 1994 - was that before CCA ban? I think that was after 2000. Some splintering but I have extra.

My experience here was the old PT developed green mildew (it was super damp here) and looked "0k". Anything I cleaned up seemed to rapidly accelerate the decay. While solid, wasn't cosmetically acceptable.

Mine was bare, maybe the paint will help.

 

[yhprum]

We can get an additive here you mix into paint to make it mold resistant. I think hydrogen peroxide will kill mold, bleach doesn’t.

 

[PCustoms]

We can get an additive here you mix into paint to make it mold resistant. I think hydrogen peroxide will kill mold, bleach doesn’t.

I wonder how it works on mildew?

 

[yhprum]

Here is what google ai says
While both are fungi thriving in damp environments, mildew stays on the surface as a flat, powdery growth, whereas mold burrows into materials, appearing fuzzy and in various dark colors. Mold is significantly more aggressive, causing deeper property damage and more severe health risks

 

[PCustoms]

Here is what google ai says
While both are fungi thriving in damp environments, mildew stays on the surface as a flat, powdery growth, whereas mold burrows into materials, appearing fuzzy and in various dark colors. Mold is significantly more aggressive, causing deeper property damage and more severe health risks

What's the value in posting AI answers from a Google search?

 

[yhprum]

Since mildew can turn to mold it seemed relevant to me mate.

 

[billconner]

Well, I thought it was mildew, but how do I know if it's mildew or mold?

 

[PCustoms]

Well, I thought it was mildew, but how do I know if it's mildew or mold?

That's clearly mildew.

 

[billconner]

That's clearly mildew.

That's what I thought. North shady side of house. Probably should cut trees back so corner of porch is more exposed and beyond drip line.

 

[Hank11]

We can get an additive here you mix into paint to make it mold resistant. I think hydrogen peroxide will kill mold, bleach doesn’t.

Huh?
Chlorine bleach will absolutely kill mold.

 

[rlitman]

Huh?
Chlorine bleach will absolutely kill mold.

It kills living mold, but does a poor job at killing mold spores. The chlorine evaporates before the water, allowing spores to absorb water and emerge after the chlorine is gone, leading to a new mold bloom shortly after chlorine treatment. Chlorine bleach is great for washing off mold, but only when followed up with a more permanent mold killing chemical.

In this situation, I'd recommend either a mold killing primer, or a mold killing additive to the paint (or both).

 

[PCustoms]

North shady side of house. Probably should cut trees back so corner of porch is more exposed and beyond drip line.

Yep, same problem I had. Tons of oak trees overhanging everywhere and brush to within 10' on 2 sides. Cut everything back, and for the most part where I washed everything (bleach/soap) it's not coming back.

 

[Hank11]

It kills living mold, but does a poor job at killing mold spores. The chlorine evaporates before the water, allowing spores to absorb water and emerge after the chlorine is gone, leading to a new mold bloom shortly after chlorine treatment. Chlorine bleach is great for washing off mold, but only when followed up with a more permanent mold killing chemical.

In this situation, I'd recommend either a mold killing primer, or a mold killing additive to the paint (or both).

Agree with the last sentence for long time success.

What the OP showed are loose spindles — easily sprayed and kept wet. But they can be dumped in a bucket and submerged in chlorine water, and it’ll kill the mold and everything else. There are obvious bad places not to use chlorine bleach for mold killing. One of them is under a house. You might gas yourself before you get done. They’ll find you a few weeks later when it starts smelling.

 

[PWC Repair]

Well, I thought it was mildew, but how do I know if it's mildew or mold?

Looks like neither to me. And you stated North shady side................also in that pic it appears very even covered and green colored. My vote is for standard green algae.

........oh ya,........and it will clean right off with some washing soda.