Should I be Worried About Mold Around My Foundation?

Signs of mold in your crawl space and around your home perimeter can be an indicator of serious foundation issues. Here we’ll explain what causes mold, and how it might affect your foundation.

What causes mold?

In the wild, mold is actually a really good thing. It acts as a decomposer in the nature of life, breaking down dead or rotting materials and returning them to the soil. For a home, the story is different. Mold often grows in ventilated areas that are humid or moist, where temperatures are similar to those favorable to humans. Unfortunately, crawl space foundations in San Diego happen to fit that description perfectly.

Some crawl spaces when left unchecked can have rotting wood, insects, or other materials that make the perfect home for mold to grow. If you have a crawl space foundation you should periodically check your foundation for mold growth along the perimeter and especially along the bottom edges of the foundation. If you live close to the ocean, the higher humidity can make your home even more susceptible to mold growth, so be vigilant!

How can mold affect a foundation?

Normally, concrete does not provide a great environment for mold growth. However, as cracks form, and materials like dirt and soil get into the concrete, mold can find a place to grab hold. When mold makes its way onto concrete, we get what’s called the “sponge effect” where the mold takes a single point of entry and then expands by amassing more moisture, bacteria, and substances.

This can lead to further cracks in the concrete and damage to the structural integrity of the foundation. The best course of action is to be as preventative as possible before mold takes hold in the foundation. You can do this by properly cleaning out and ventilating your crawl space, as well as treating walls periodically to prevent cracks and mold growth.

If you see signs of mold on your foundation, especially alongside cracks or other damage, please reach out. Sure Safe will get you an engineer-led inspection to make sure your foundation stays strong. Contact us today!