Basements are interesting spaces in our homes. They can be relaxing dens for television, gaming, and more. They can also be dark, foreboding spaces where you have to rush up the steps the moment you turn the lights off. Hopefully, your basement is more the former than the latter (but if not, we can help). However, whether your basement is finished or not, there is an issue you are likely to encounter at some point—mold. A health hazard and terrible for ambiance, mold often grows in basements thanks to being partially or completely located within the ground. But that doesn’t mean you have to suffer with it. Here is what you should know about basement mold and strategies for fighting against it.
Why Mold Grows in Basements
Growing mold is a recipe with three ingredients: moisture, a habitable surface, and a mold spore. As it ends up, most basements are filled with all three. In unfinished basements, water can leech into the concrete through the soil. And in both finished and unfinished basements, backups from sewer and septic overload can leave support beams, furniture, drywall, and more moist enough that mold can take hold. As for how the mold spore gets there, well, these spores are floating around all the time. We promise—they’re already in your home. It takes about two days for mold to take hold and begin growing, which means that any time you experience flooding or excess moisture in your basement, you need to fix it quickly.
How to Stop Mold From Growing in Your Basement
Mold is not inevitable. With the right approach, you can stop it from taking root and growing in your basement. Here are four essential strategies for preventing mold in your basement.
1. Regulate Humidity
If you aren’t already, start regulating your basement humidity level to prevent mold. High humidity makes for the perfect environment for mold to grow. You might already have humidity regulation built into your HVAC system, but if not, you can add a dehumidifier and run it whenever your levels are 45% or above.
2. Focus on Water Management
Rain is part of life here in Georgia, but it shouldn’t cause damage to your home. With proper water management, such as gutters, drains, and ditches, you should be able to direct rain water and melted snow away from your foundation and basement.
3. Toss Stuff Out
Our basements often become the place where the items we simply cannot bear to part with go to die. However, clutter in the basement both decreases airflow and gives water more places to seep in. Eliminate items you don’t need and for those you do, place the most vulnerable items, like books, away from the walls and floor.
4. Finish Your Basement
Yes, we did say that even finished basements can grow mold. However, basement finishing in Alpharetta does make it harder for mold to grow. As part of the process, the walls and floor are sealed and then covered with drywall and the flooring of your choice. Additionally, once your basement is finished, you are more likely to spend time there, spotting issues in their infancy and treating them before mold gets out of control. If you need help battling mold in your cellar, our Cumming basement finishing service can help. Call us to receive your quote or schedule service.
