Silver Spring homeowner discovers disgusting surprise in attic under a 3-year-old roof

By Kim Cox:

***Important Note*** This is super important, so take a couple of minutes to read it – you’ll be glad you did!

Just a few weeks ago, someone called to schedule an attic and roof inspection, so Dan went over to check it out.

Since many attic inspections reveal some common, often minor issues, he thought it would turn out to be just an ordinary inspection.

But this inspection was different!

What Dan found underneath the roof sheathing sent chills down his spine…

You see, the reason the homeowner called us in the first place was because in the attic, he noticed ice crystals had formed on the nails that stick out under the sheathing.

Ok…  So you’re wondering… no big deal, right? It’s just some ice crystals up in the attic, where nobody goes, anyway.

But before Dan even saw the ice crystals, he came face to face with an extraordinary layer of dangerous black mold that covered the underside of the roof almost completely.

Gross! Not to mention potentially dangerous to this homeowner’s health!

In fact, Dan felt the mold was so bad and so unsafe that he did something he’s never done… he recommended the homeowner get his family out of the house until a professional could remove the mold, and fix the root cause of the problem.

And to add insult to injury… the roof had been replaced only 3 years ago! (But not by us)

Here are actual pictures showing just how bad the black mold is in this home: (Look closely, you can even see the ice on the nails, and on the truss support)

Yes… I covered this topic last year, but I just want to reiterate just how important it is you know about it because your family’s health could be at stake, as well as the integrity of your home.

So why did mold grow to unsafe levels in this particular home?

The  short answer… no soffit vents,  improper, inadequate ventilation and air circulation, which caused the warm, moist air from the house to get trapped in the attic, allowing this black mold to grow to dangerous levels!

The roofer who replaced the roof three years ago neglected to make sure the ventilation design was adequate for this home.

And unfortunately for the homeowner, he must now pay to remediate the mold from his attic, and install soffit vents to prevent this from happening again. Ughhh…

Fresh air needs to circulate in an attic – coming in low, often from a soffit vent, and then exiting from a higher vent, usually a gable, or preferably a ridge vent.

And sometimes, especially if you suspect poor attic air circulation, installing an attic fan with both a thermostat and a humidistat can be helpful.

Other causes of moldy attics besides improper ventilation, and what to look for

Typically, colder parts of the country see mold issues more often than warmer states. When warm moist air leaks into your attic from your living space creating condensation, mold will start to grow.

The source can be anywhere there’s a penetration into your attic, such as incorrectly vented bathroom fans, stove hoods, lights, ceiling fixtures, and even attic hatches and attic pull-down stairs.

Also, roof leaks, ice dams, inadequate insulation, and missing soffit baffles can create problems.

Look for musty smells, wet insulation or water stains, black mold anywhere in the attic, on insulation, sheathing, or rafters.

And when it’s cold out, also look for ice crystals or frost forming on nails and roof trusses on the underside of roof sheathing – usually on the north side of the house.

How to prevent mold growing in your attic 

Get your roof and attic inspected regularly by a licensed, reputable MD roofing contractor – we recommend inspecting annually.

Properly ventilate your roof and attic with the right combination of soffit, ridge, gable vents or fan.

Don’t assume your roof is ventilated correctly! It’s worth having roofing professional check it out to make sure.

And I’ve said it before, but we’ve seen roofs right where the original roofer never even cut in the ridge vent at all, trapping all the moisture right where you don’t want it – inside the attic. Bad workmanship, and more importantly, bad news for the homeowner!

The bottom line!

If you want some peace of mind, call us to schedule a free, no-obligation roof ventilation analysis.

You’ll feel much better afterwards knowing your home is safe…

Whether your home is in Frederick, or Silver Spring, over to Columbia, Maryland, or any community in between, we can help!

To get your free, no-obligation attic and roof, attic, and ventilation analysis,
or to simply ask a question, call Kim at 301-368-3551

On Top Home Improvements, Inc.
10818 Avonlea Ridge Place
Damascus, MD 20872
Tel: 301-368-3551
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