Roof Leaks & Mold Growth – How Does Roof Damage Contribute To Mold Growth?

Owning a home is a labor of love. Whether it is a minor repair here, some chipped paint there or a more serious maintenance project, it all has be done… eventually. I know, I know, you “…will take care of it next weekend.” While it is just fine to procrastinate on some, minor, household repairs and maintenance, roof repairs are not projects that should be put on hold. Roof leaks need to be addressed immediately in order to minimize damages and prevent additional problems and more costly repairs. 

Dangers of Roof Damage and Roof Leaks in South Jersey

Roof damage and roof leaks can be caused by a number of different events– i.e.: improper roof installation, wind or storm damage, and lack of maintenance. It is also important for NJ homeowners to keep in mind that most roofs are only meant to last 20 to 30 years, so it could simply be time for a new roof. However, no matter the cause, even the smallest of roof leaks can mean serious problems for your New Jersey home.

With enough time, even the smallest dribble from a roof leak can leave you with significant damage and serious problems. If a leak is neglected, water will build up over time and eventually permeate your porous building materials. Once water finds its way into your South Jersey home, it can…

1. Cause severe property damage
2. Compromise the structural integrity of the building
3. Create fire and safety hazards
4. Lead to higher utility bills
5. Create an environment for significant mold development.

Bottom line, do not put yourself, your family and your property at risk by delaying roof repairs or dismissing roofs leaks all together. South Jersey homeowners should promptly address roof leaks and signs of roof damage immediately before the situation becomes worse, and your are left with major water damage and severe mold damage in your New Jersey home.

A Leaky Roof & Indoor Mold Growth in Residential Home and Commercial Office Buildings

Once water penetrates your roof and enters your home, it can be incredibly destructive if not properly dried out. In a short period of time, unaddressed water buildup from a leak will soak into your porous building materials and spread to additional areas. This creates the ideal environmental for mold development. Mold growth is one of the most serious consequences of a New Jersey roof leak. If you are not careful in the event of a roof leak and do not take the necessary precautions within a reasonable time frame, mold can rapidly spread throughout the structure of the NJ home, to the HVAC system and then to the rest of the house via the vents and duct system. Airborne mold spores can spread and contaminate the air you and your family breathe and virtually any surface (i.e.: your carpets, wall finishes, furniture and even clothing).

Indoor mold growth, weather it is in your attic or your main living space, can mean serious health implication and severe property damage.

Attic Mold Growth Caused By A Roof Leak

If you have an attic in your New Jersey home, it will likely the be the first space affected by a roof leak. South Jersey attics are often especially vulnerable to mold growth as is. In order to prevent attic mold growth, it is about a constant balancing act of maintain a dry, conditioned attic space with sufficient ventilation, adequate insulation and effective moisture control. However, once moisture from a roof leak is introduced to the attic environment, mold will begin to rapidly develop and spread if the leak and moisture is not properly repaired and dried out in enough time.

In situations where water from a roof leak has been trapped in confined spaces throughout the attic, water damage and mold growth may not be visually apparent right away. If you are unsure whether or not a mold problem has developed in your attic following a roof leak, contact a local attic mold inspector in South Jersey to thoroughly assess for potentially mold growth.

If your New Jersey home suffered a roof leak and left you with attic mold growth, contact an local attic mold removal specialist in South Jersey for proper assistance. 

Ceiling Mold Growth in South Jersey Buildings Caused by Roof Damage

Again, if you have an attic in your New Jersey home, the very initial dangers of a roof leak will likely be water damage and mold growth within your attic space and damage to any items stored in your attic. However, if you do not have an attic, if it is a very large leak, or if a minor leak has been neglect for some time, your interior ceiling could be exposed to water damage and mold damage as well. Water intrusion from the roof can quick saturate your attic build materials (if an attic space exists below the roof) and begin to penetrate into your main living space through the interior ceiling.

Ceiling mold can be difficult to identify because it will not always be visually apparent at the surface. Often times, moisture gets trapped within the ceiling void above and mold begins to develop without notice. South Jersey homeowners may not notice a leak or mold caused by a leak until other physical signs begin to appear– i.e.: peeling or bubbling paint and plaster, rotting wood, discoloration and/or staining on the ceiling finish, unexplained, musty odors or visible damage to ceiling mounted fixtures.

For NJ homeowners who recently recovered from a roof leak in New Jersey and suspect that water intrusion has lead to possible mold growth, Mastertech Environmental is here to help. Mastertech’s team of roof leak mold removal technicians in South Jersey have the necessary tools and training to properly assess your home to explain how the roof leak has affected your home and how it could have created an environment for indoor mold growth. With the information gathered during that initial assessment, we will able to develop an appropriate scope of work for mold remediation following a NJ roof leak.