Black Mold On Siding

Black mold on western red cedar siding we interviewed one of our callers jim who was deciding whether or not to replace the cedar he had on his house for the last 30 years.

Black mold on siding.

It s hard to see shotgun fungus itself because it s only 2 millimeters wide. In this four part article part 1 helps you identify the problem whether mold or mildew part 2 discusses steps to remove mold and mildew from your siding part 3 goes over when to call a professional and part 4 shares tips for preventing the growth of mold and mildew in the first place. You may have black mold and mildew or green algae growing on the north side of your home if you live north of. The black coloring or darkening of the cedar siding is caused by mold growth.

When mildew gains a foothold homeowners often turn to diluted chlorine bleach sodium hypochlorite a k a. The black tar like spots that are all over your vinyl siding are more than likely a fungus called sphaerobolus stellatus better known as artillery or shotgun fungus although it s most often found on the east coast it can grow anywhere and especially thrives in areas that have cool damp springs or rainy fall weather conditions. Add to this moisture warm temperatures and mold spores which are always in the air and it s the perfect storm for a mold infestation. Read our guide to learn how to easily remove mold from wood.

Mold commonly grows on wooden surfaces as wood is very good at absorbing water. Mold removal usually requires some scrubbing and the best tool to use is a stiff bristle natural fiber scrub brush avoid metal fiber brushes they can damage the siding. Also known as artillery or cannonball fungus sphaerobolus it uses internal water pressure to forcefully fire its spores similar to seeds up to 20 feet away the fungus sets its sights on bright areas so that means it will aim for any pale surface that reflects light such as the siding on your house. Scrub with moderate pressure being careful not to push too hard against the flexible vinyl which can break using a scrub brush on the end of a long pole will help you avoid the need to climb to the top of the ladder to.

Your standard household whitener it appears to make mildew vanish but on porous surfaces such as wood or vinyl siding chlorine evaporates too quickly to get to the fungi s roots guaranteeing regrowth. The next step in eradicating mold on siding is typically cleaning the siding with a bleach solution which is either sprayed or brushed onto the affected areas. This can be done by either the homeowner or a professional contractor. Homeowners can then try applying a mildew blocker to keep the matter from returning.