Vinyl Siding Mold Problems
Mold is useful for making cheese and for breaking down organic materials such as leaves, wood, and other plant debris. But when mold grows on vinyl siding, it looks ugly, smells awful and literally eats the material on which it is growing. It can cause a variety of health problems including headaches, breathing trouble, skin irritation, allergic reactions, and aggravation of asthma symptoms, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Does this Spark an idea?
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How Mold Grows
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Mold infestation is the direct result of excessive moisture. If you want to get rid of mold, you must find the source of the water. It may be something you cannot control, such as a flood, heavy rainfall or fog. On the other hand, it could be something you can fix, such as no gutters or blocked gutters, or a broken drain pipe. If possible, remove the source of the excessive moisture before you clean the vinyl siding.
Why Clean Off the Mold?
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In addition to its unsightly presence and foul smell, if the mold gets under the vinyl siding and attacks the wood, you have a major problem that will probably require removing the siding, cleaning the surface underneath, and cleaning the siding and reinstalling it.
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Removing the Mold
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The kind of mold most likely to be attacking your vinyl siding is green mold, which is good news since green mold is relatively easy to remove. The first approach is to wash the vinyl siding with a solution of 1 quart of bleach to 1 gallon of water. You need to scrub the mold off the surface of the vinyl siding with a soft-bristled brush. You also can use a homemade cleaning solution such as 1/3 cup of dry laundry detergent or 2/3 cup of powdered household cleaner and 1 quart of liquid bleach mixed with 1 gallon of water. The website Vinyl Siding recommends commercial cleaners such as Fantastik or Windex. Do not use abrasive cleaners, because they scratch the siding.
Power Washing
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If you have large areas of mold on your vinyl siding, consider power washing the house. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. Aim the power washer straight at eye level. Do not aim it upward, which can force water behind the siding, causing even more problems than you already have. Before using a power washer, check the warranty on your vinyl siding to make sure power washing won't void it.
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References
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; "Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings"; Appendix B - Introduction to Molds
- Vinyl Siding; Cleaning
- Mold Inspector; Wood Siding and Exterior Wall Mold Remediation
- This Old House; For the Love of Vinyl Siding; Mark Feirer
- Reliable Remodeler; Home Maintenance; Vinyl Siding Mold Problems
- Black Mold Away; Solving Vinyl Siding Mold Problems
- Photo Credit house image by Brett Bouwer from Fotolia.com
