As with any building material, if OSB becomes damp, mold can begin to grow. I'm pretty sure it's not a leak, just the shower usage and dripping when the shower door opens. Here are a few ways to get mold out of the carpet. 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. Once you know it’s is no longer present, seal the wood with a primer or pigmented shellac from your local hardware stores. As long as your subfloor is solid it can be painted. The Concrobium kills existing mold spores deep inside the wood fibers and helps prevent new ones from taking root. If you don’t, the mold can spread its spores in the air. In our homes, that includes wood, fiber or gypsum board, paper, fabric, or green insulation. 2. Read our guide to learn how to easily remove mold from wood. In this way, a small colony of mold can expand to cover many square feet of material. Mold requires two primary elements for growth – food and moisture. The 2nd picture (over right) reveals wood framework as well as subfloor that have actually been properly cleansed, with no application of a fungicidal sealer. This occurs from water that either leaks under the subfloor, or from moisture within the concrete slab, itself. After treating the subfloor, we installed it in the van. If the moisture and mold have rotted the subfloor or penetrated deeply enough to the extent of resisting removal, you will need to replace the subfloor. Using a brush, scrub at the area of mold which has been sitting in the vinegar. If mold gets onto plywood, there is no need to throw the board out. So let’s say you’ve removed some floorboards in various areas and you’ve spotted mold growth. Mold on subfloor? It can cause water stains and mold. Although concrete is not directly a food source, the thin layer of dust that settles on the surface provides plenty of nutrients. The other side of the wall is the shower, but I cut a hole in the wall to look and didn't see any of this inside the wall or floor on the other side. It sucked right into the wood and helped prepare the surface for paint. Mold can also make spores that are like very small seeds. Unless the builder is on top of things, mold growth often ensues. If mold is still present or you notice mold stains, your only other option is to sand the wood. Unless you’re willing to regularly wipe down your concrete, it will be impossible to eliminate the food source for mold. Dealing with Water Damage Floor Coverings Have Sustained. Discussion Starter • #1 • Aug 19, 2009. Sometimes the mold will only be a light amount on the surface, but more times than not, when mold does begin to grow on wood flooring, it grows on the underside first between the bottom of the hardwood and the top of the subfloor. I planned on just removing the carpet and pad, installing backer board, then tile. Repairing a damaged subfloor is serious business, but it doesn't have to be scary. If you choose to take on mold removal tasks on your own, you must first determine the … Use a flashlight and shine the beam along the surface of the OSB – this will reveal the mold no matter what the color, due to it being three-dimensional. 3 Posts . You have two options before you. What makes me suspicious is it’s in one area and other areas don’t look this way. Mold is not always easy to see – most of the time, it is of a different color than the material it is on, but if you have painted the OSB a dark color, it may be difficult to spot. If the moisture and mold have rotted the subfloor or penetrated deeply enough to the extent of resisting removal, replace the subfloor. Your mold specialist should provide you with information, specific to your property, on how the process of removing mold from floor joists will work. Bag and remove the affected part of the flooring. Continue to clean your brush off in warm water as you work through the moldy area. If the boards are in good condition, you may treat the vinyl floors and reuse them, so make sure to pile them to one side until the subfloor is mold-free. Having an issue with some mold and I'm hoping someone here can at least calm me down a bit. Killing Surface Mold on Carpet. Mold commonly grows on wooden surfaces, as wood is very good at absorbing water. Ditto for the temperature requirements for mold. There’s something that feels good about taking on a home repair task on your own. I removed old carpet from a closet, is this mold on the subfloor? When I pulled up the carpet right along the shower, there is black mold on the wood subfloor. 10 Plus Fresh Groin Ceiling Mold on bathroom ceiling If you do have hardwood floors in … From the picture, it does not look like you have active mold spores that may cause a health risk. Saturate the material to weigh down the mold spores and then cut through the flooring using a reciprocating saw. Option #1: Do it yourself. STEP 5: Mix Borax Solution With 1 gallon of water, mix 1 cup of borax in a large bucket, fill the spray bottle with the solution and treat small affected areas. Mold and mildew have four basic requirements to initiate and sustain growth: suitable temperature, access to oxygen, a food source and moisture. Since mold is harmful, wear a protective mask and gloves before you begin the cleaning. Under the carpet there is the wood subfloor. Mold and Mildew will grow on untreated wood products given the proper conditions. Fix new subflooring, cut to fit, with screws every 8 to 10 inches length … Using a scrub brush will make it easier to break up the mold, as well as keeping your skin further removed from the vinegar while you are cleaning. Among other concerns, mold and mildew can lead to health problems in humans as well as pets. You can then submit this along with other documentation, like a mold test done by an industrial hygienist, to your insurance company. Sweep the Area. You will learn more about common outdoor molds and other molds that you should be aware of. Spores can survive conditions that are too sunny, hot, cold, dry or wet for mold to grow.