I just had the roof on my detached garage replaced, and while the roofing company did replace several sheets of plywood that were obviously rotted, they left two boards with visible mold on them. I've raised my concerns, and they've assured me that those boards are still structurally sound. However, I'm worried that the mold will continue to spread, even with the new shingles reducing further leaks. They offered me a discount for this, but I'd rather ensure the job is done properly. Should I be worried about this mold, or is it not a major issue?
3 Answers
If those moldy boards stay dry now that the roof is fixed, they should be fine. Mold usually needs moisture to spread, so as long as there's no further water getting to them, you shouldn't have to worry too much.
If you're talking about dry rot, it can keep spreading even if it’s not getting wet anymore. If the boards can’t be replaced, I’d recommend spraying some fungicide on them just to be safe. Honestly, it's usually not hard to replace just a couple of plywood sheets, and it could be done in a morning.
You might want to check exactly what type of mold it is. A good way to tell if it's dry rot is to stick a screwdriver in it—if it crumbles, that's a bad sign. If you’re seeing more damage, you might want to push for replacing those boards.