Mold on studs

[The Lazy Destroyer]

40'x20' detached garage.
Insulated walls (R13) and insulated ceiling (R30), Racedeck on the floors.

We've been getting a ton of rain, pretty much every day for over a week.

On one side of my garage (on of the 40' walls) there is what appears to be mold forming on the woods studs, from the floor area to about 2' to 4' depending on the area.It is kind of a soft grey color and I would consider it a powdery consistency. I've also noticed it on some spots around the flooring, and under the car I keep parked there always (hasn't moved in months). Seems mostly on the wood tho... studs and some random 2x4's I have around the garage, along with the other random spots.

I don't recall seeing this about a month ago, I suspect it's been from the crazy humidity we've had over the past couple weeks. I typically leave the garage door shut. I have overhead fans but only use them when I'm working, a couple times a week usually.

I'm trying to not alarm myself but I am not sure if I should be very concerned... or if I should just treat/clean it and try to keep the fans on maybe until it starts drying back up inside.

Thoughts?

 

[The Lazy Destroyer]

Pics:

Some of this is dust but the spots I think are the same stuff:

 

[bobemmerich]

It does look like some form of mold. I'd run a dehumidifier, that should keep it dry in there. Remediate that stuff. I'd recommend a water/bleach solution. Wear a respirator and gloves.

 

[The Lazy Destroyer]

I'd run a dehumidifier, that should keep it dry in there.

Something like this?
http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-70-Pint-Dehumidifier-ADEL70LR/203661857#.Ud9iQm1CodU

I'll do some searching around on here to find the best way to clean it all up.

 

[M17715]

I'm wondering why the walls don't have drywall on them. It might help if you get some up. It would keep the wood from drawing the moisture.

 

[rockchucker]

35% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide in a Spray Bottle. Be careful!

Then run a dehumidifier or figure out where the moisture is coming in.

 

[The Lazy Destroyer]

I'm wondering why the walls don't have drywall on them. It might help if you get some up. It would keep the wood from drawing the moisture.

That's the plan but it may not happen until next year. Done a lot of work on the garage in the past year and had to catch up on the projects "in" the garage if ya know what I mean

 

[EOC_Jason]

I'd recommend a water/bleach solution.

^^^ +1... Just mix in a spray bottle and spray lightly... You will be amazed how fast it will disappear...

 

[The Lazy Destroyer]

So spray bottle, lightly spray, and then just wipe off?
Judging by the consistency of it I would bet it should come off pretty easily.

I'm picking up a dehumidifier today and will also keep the overhead ceiling fans on.

 

[EOC_Jason]

So spray bottle, lightly spray, and then just wipe off?
Judging by the consistency of it I would bet it should come off pretty easily.

I'm picking up a dehumidifier today and will also keep the overhead ceiling fans on.

You probably won't even have to wipe it off in areas that aren't that bad... Spray a little and watch the magic happen...

 

[rlitman]

35% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide in a Spray Bottle. Be careful!

There are some real dangers associated with this strong peroxide. I for one wouldn't have that stuff around my house (and that's saying something, considering what I have in and around my garage).

I'd recommend a water/bleach solution. Wear a respirator and gloves.

That's an option, and in this case of very light issues, it might be a good one.
But while bleach will probably kill the existing mold, it has just about no residual action (same as peroxide), so it will not prevent recurrence. Also you're introducing water back into the equation doing this. So if it doesn't kill every last spore, you can expect a flare up once the bleach evaporates, while the wood is still wet.

I would suggest buying a product actually made for this. Concrobium comes to mind first, but there are other good ones. This light contamination may only require a spray, and watch the magic, without any wiping or cleanup.

 

[The Lazy Destroyer]

I would suggest buying a product actually made for this. Concrobium comes to mind first, but there are other good ones. This light contamination may only require a spray, and watch the magic, without any wiping or cleanup.

Thanks for the suggestion, I may try this stuff out too. I see my local HD carries it.

 

[rieferman]

You mentioned overhead fans and that you only run them while you're in there. It may be worth seeing how things change if you run them consistently (say, full time).

My shop (insulated and with wall covering) only gets humid if I leave doors/windows open. Do you have open eaves or some other access point for humidity?

 

[wb2vsj]

For the $$ of a dehumidifier you can get a nice sized AC unit for your garage. 'Course you have to mount in in a window vs the dehumidifier just sits on the floor.

 

[The Lazy Destroyer]

You mentioned overhead fans and that you only run them while you're in there. It may be worth seeing how things change if you run them consistently (say, full time).

My shop (insulated and with wall covering) only gets humid if I leave doors/windows open. Do you have open eaves or some other access point for humidity?

Ya I'm going to keep them on constantly for the time being, especially until I can get it all cleaned up. Picked up a big dehumidifier today and will keep that running too.

I don't have any eaves and the ceiling is buttoned up w/ insulation. The mold I'm seeing is in no spots higher than a few feet, anything eye level or higher is fine. I popped some of the Racedeck floor tiles up to check under there and didn't see anything obvious.

I open the door occasionally but typically leave it all closed up for temperature and bugs.

I should have checked further last weekend, I had noticed the short time I did have the door open that it was a bit humid in there... we've had so much rain it's been pretty humid

 

[The Lazy Destroyer]

For the $$ of a dehumidifier you can get a nice sized AC unit for your garage. 'Course you have to mount in in a window vs the dehumidifier just sits on the floor.

AC should be coming next year. I have to cut into the walls for a window so it a bit of labor to get a decent AC unit in there... however I will be doing that eventually. Not sure it will help too much because I only work in there on weekends typically and would not leave it on for most of the time.

I figure a $275 humidifier will be a good start, and can hopefully help these issues until a real AC unit comes in.