Hey everyone,
I'm in the middle of purchasing a townhouse that we really love, but we hit a snag during the inspection. The inspector found black mold in the attic, which he believes is caused by a few factors: the roof is pretty old with no ventilation, and the bathroom exhaust fan is venting straight into the attic instead of outside.
He made some recommendations that we need to follow:
1. Repair the roof. The HOA is planning to replace it next year since it's been 20 years.
2. Hire a mold remediation company to remove the mold if they don't replace the roof within the next six months.
3. Fix the bathroom exhaust so it vents outside instead of into the attic.
This all sounds reasonable, but I can't shake the feeling of uncertainty. Will these fixes truly resolve the problem in the long run? Is it safe for my family to move into a place that has mold? I've read that even with remediation, some mold spores can linger and be harmful.
The house is otherwise in great shape, but this mold situation is making me reconsider the purchase. What do you all think?
4 Answers
It's true that a bathroom exhaust venting into the attic can cause significant mold issues. Here's what I suggest:
1. Make sure the bathroom exhaust is properly redirected to the outside according to local codes.
2. If the roof replacement is confirmed in writing for next year, a spot treatment of the mold might be okay, but if it’s uncertain, you should go for full remediation.
3. Check if you'll be responsible for any assessments related to the roof replacement after you move in, it should ideally be included in your purchase agreement.
4. Lastly, replace any damaged insulation if you find it due to moisture or mold.
How bad is the mold situation? If it's just a small area around the bathroom fan, redirecting it outside should prevent further mold growth, and you might be able to handle the clean-up yourself. But if the mold covers a large part of the attic, you might need professional help.
You can’t eliminate all mold spores—there are always some around, unless you're in a super sterile environment. The key here is to tackle the moisture problem and clean up properly. If you do that, you should be fine.
You can definitely test for mold spores in your living area. As long as you improve ventilation and redirect that humid air outside, it shouldn't be a major issue. The roof replacement should be a separate concern; just make sure you won’t have to shoulder any costs for that once you move in. Overall, it sounds bad, but with the right actions, you can manage it.
Thanks for the reassurance! I really appreciate the advice.
The mold isn't just by the vent; it's affecting about 60% of the attic, even in spots far from the fan. That's why the inspector thinks it's also a roof issue.