Eight Mold Prevention Tips for New Construction
Mold can ruin newly built constructions, and that is why property owners need to take care of mold even before it starts accumulating.
Mold leads to severe health problems and causes weakness in the construction that can lead to many pitfalls shortly.
The best mold solution is to prevent it from piling up in an area. Usually, mold occurs when an area has moisture and low ventilation.
This can occur for many reasons, and some of the major reasons for mold accumulation are leaking pipes, wrong plumbing, moisture buildup, underground gutters that overflow, etc.
Property owners must take care of mold from the start by creating proper ventilation, inspecting the plumbing in the construction area from time to time, and cleaning roofs and basements regularly.
To help you prevent mold from accumulating in your newly constructed spaces, we have created a list of the best mold prevention tips. Go through this list and see how each of the steps highlighted can help you prevent mold from piling up in the construction area.
List of Ways to Prevent Mold Growth in New Construction
Here is a list of ways to prevent mold growth during the construction phase.
- Keep the building dried
The first and the most obvious way to prevent mold from occurring in a newly constructed place is to keep it completely dried. If you observe that mold is piling up in an area, see any leaking pipes around it. If there are leaking pipes, you need to first fix those pipes before the area can be dried. Pipes can cause moisture, and that leads to mold. So, make sure that the plumbing work is done properly within the building before new construction takes place.
If the building is already under construction and there are no leaking pipes, find the area with the most moisture. If the building is near the sea or a lake, it will have moisture. You can have proper ventilation to remove the moisture from the area. Or, you can use a heater in the area to keep it properly dry.
- Keep the materials dried
Most construction materials can easily get mold if they are kept in a moist area. To make sure that they are properly dried, keep them in a safe place far from moisture. Make sure they are not kept underwater tanks because they are mostly moist. Moisture can react with iron and steel, and this leads to mold formation. You can use a dryer over the material to dry it after use. If the construction requires a lot of water, make sure that the materials used for construction are kept far, far away. If they are to be used with water, dry them once they are used. This includes all your toolboxes, digging materials, and even construction materials like sand, cement, and bricks.
- Eliminate humidity sources
In new constructions, the best way to eliminate humidity is to use a dehumidifier. These keep the internal temperature under control, and therefore, moisture can’t react with the construction or the construction material used.
Most of the time, people keep construction material in the basement. Since basements are more prone to humidity, make sure that the area is first dehumidified before use.
- Prevent moisture with ventilation
Are there any windows in the area? Make sure to keep them open during the day so that moisture doesn’t build up in the area. When the airflow is smooth within the newly constructed building, materials are less likely to get mold. This will keep the construction strong and provide it with more longevity.
On the other hand, if there is a lack of ventilation in the area, then make sure to use internal fans to keep the area properly ventilated and dried. This will ensure that mold doesn’t accumulate on the walls, floors, or ceilings.
- Equip Construction with Mold-Resistant Material
The best way to prevent mold from piling up in the area is to equip the construction with mold-resistant materials. Mold-resistant chemicals are available in the market. Use that on the newly constructed areas where mold has started to appear. These chemicals can remove the mold and keep the area completely dry. They form an extra layer on the said area so that it can’t react with moisture. Therefore, mold won’t appear in that area again.
If you want mold-resistant walls, then use mold-resistant paint on the walls or wallpaper. This way, mold won’t appear on the walls. These materials will also keep the construction new and long-lasting.
- Monitor Humidity Indoors
You can use humidity measurement tools to make sure that the area is clean and mold-free. Use these humidity monitoring tools in the basement and rooftops (usually attics) where rain or gutters can cause drainage issues.
If there are any symptoms of drainage blockings, then mold will start to appear in the area. Your humidity controllers can help you locate these areas. Many Construction and Mold Remodeling firms can also help you locate the mold and clean it.
- Clean and Repair Roof Gutters
Roof gutters are used for rainwater drainage. If due to dried leaves or any other obstacle, they become blocked, then rainwater starts to accumulate on top of the roof. This water will then seep into the roof through the bricks. It can ruin the wood structure or the cemented walls. In that case, mold will start to appear in the internal layers of the walls. To make sure no such issue arises, clean the roof gutters on time. You can clean the roof gutters by repairing them yourself or by hiring a roof cleaner.
- Keep Mold Away from House Plants
If your newly constructed building has lots of plants, they can easily accumulate moisture if the area is less ventilated. Make sure that your house plants don’t require water regularly because this water will then seep into the walls and the ceiling, resulting in the appearance of mold.
Ready to Prevent Mold from Accumulating?
These are some of the best ways to prevent mold from accumulating in a newly constructed building. Make sure to follow each step properly to ensure that mold doesn’t ruin the construction.
That said, if you have any other tips that can help prevent mold from accumulating, then share that with us in the comments below.
Author bio
About Ashley Rosa: Ashley Rosa is a freelance writer and blogger. As writing is her passion that why she loves to write articles related to the latest trends in technology and sometimes on health-tech as well. She is crazy about chocolates. You can find her at twitter: @ashrosa2.
