Even if you paint over a moldy area, it won’t completely get rid of the problem. There will always be mold if there is enough water around to support its growth.
It’s possible to keep mold from growing by painting with mold-resistant paint, but this won’t eliminate existing mold.
While mold can be painted over, if you don’t stop its production, it will always return. Mold can create serious respiratory problems for you and your family members and pets.
Identify and treat the source of excess moisture before attempting to clean and eliminate the mold. It’s best to seek the help of an expert to remove the mold if it is growing in a moist environment or is widespread.
Can You Paint Over Mold? Explained
In a nutshell, the answer is yes. Before painting over mold or mildew, the essential preparations and safeguards must be taken to prevent a recurrence.
The first step is to find out where the moisture is coming from. Inspect the doors and windows from the inside and the outside for any leaks that may have occurred during the construction process.
It’s important to make sure there aren’t any leaky pipes or bathtubs or toilets in your home, and you can do this yourself or consult a professional to make sure there isn’t any damage to your roof.
Make sure the rooms with a high humidity level have adequate airflow. Install ceiling fans in your bathroom that vent outside and circulate air between the indoors and outdoors.
The laundry room should be thoroughly ventilated with external dryer vents and no leaks from the washing should also be ensured.
Additionally, it is suggested that fans be used in the kitchen, or even just a slightly opened window, to promote air circulation and minimize moisture buildup.
It’s a good idea to have your roof redone if you haven’t had it done in more than two decades. Mold might be seen on the walls and ceiling of your home if your roof is more than 20-25 years old.
There are ways to eliminate mold and mildew stains if the cause of the humidity problem is fixed.
Learn About Mold
A mold is a form of fungus that is made up of very small creatures and may be found virtually anywhere. Patches of black, grey, or brown are the most common manifestations of this condition; nevertheless, it is possible for it to also take the form of spots of green, orange, white, or purple.
Mold requires moisture to grow, but once it does, it may swiftly spread and produce spores that can move through the air.
These spores are easily breathed in and have been linked to a variety of health problems, including difficulty breathing, headaches, fatigue, and nausea.
Learn About Mildew
Mildew is a type of fungus that is closely linked to mold; the only variation between the two is the appearance. Mildew grows on dead or decaying organic matter.
Mildew will appear as a grey or white patch on any surface such as walls, whereas mold will typically appear like a huge fuzzy black or green patch. Mold can also appear as a black or green mass.
Mildew can be removed with the use of an effective cleaning solvent and some good old-fashioned elbow grease. It can also be painted over with the appropriate sort of paint that is moisture resistant.
Reasons For Growth Of Mold Or Mildew
Mildew can come up as black, grey, green, or brown spots in high-humidity areas including bathrooms, kitchens, and basements.
A mold or mildew problem might develop over time in areas of the house with excessive humidity that aren’t properly ventilated with enough fresh air.
By adding bathroom vents that run to the outside and replacing furnace and air conditioner filters at prescribed intervals and opening windows even minimally, you can help avoid mildew growth in your home.
If you have washers and dryers in a basement or laundry room, you need to make sure they have appropriate ventilation.
Water leaks into the drywall of the walls or ceiling, where it is allowed to rest and soak for an extended period of time, are the most common source of mold growth.
There are a number of common causes of water leaks, including leaking bathtubs, toilets, sinks, faucets, and roofs.
To avoid irreparable harm to your property and your health, you must identify and repair the reason for the damage water that has caused the mold.
Mold and mildew aren’t caused by paint, but the sight of peeling, bubbling, or cracking paint is usually a clue that excessive amounts of moisture are present and that prompt action should be taken.
Starting with a search for an issue’s fundamental causes will assist speed up the time it takes to implement a repair strategy to address any moisture issues.
To avoid the growth of mold and mildew, make sure that any bathtubs, toilets, water faucets, and sinks are properly sealed and that any damage to the roof’s shingles has been repaired to prevent further leaks.
If you don’t pay attention to the root cause of the moisture, it will just keep happening. Before painting over the mold and mildew problem, figure out where the leaks are appearing and rectify them so that the problem will no longer exist.
Considerations Before You Paint Over Mold
- It is not possible to kill mold by painting over it.
- Mold-resistant paint can only be used to prevent mold from forming in the first place, not to kill mold that has already formed.
- Even though Kilz and Zinsser primers claim to eliminate mold, you should still clean the area first.
- Additives for paint that suppress mold growth are available. In our opinion, these “mold control” additives simply add a few months of “mold control” to the current paint and aren’t worth utilizing. People tend to pick this if mold-inhibiting paint doesn’t come in the colors they desire.
- If you paint over mold, you run the risk of the paint bubbling and flaking.
- Prior to painting, mold, and mildew indicate that the surface has moisture issues that require be remedied.
- Mold growth can be prevented if you keep the humidity under control.
- A mold-killing solution like Fiberlock’s “Shock Wave” detergent can be used to totally remove mold from the interior of your home before painting. Before priming, let the detergent dry fully. Fiberlock’s “After Shock” primer is applied to the interior of the vehicle.
- On damp surfaces, put a primer that is mold-resistant before applying paint.
- There are times when a mold remediation company may be necessary if you have a large amount of mold in a room.
- Mold is more difficult to eradicate than mildew. Mildew, as opposed to mold, is typically a grey or white fungus growth in a damp or moist place. There are many different kinds of mold, but the most common color is green or black, which indicates that you may get an extensive infestation.
- Use branded detergents to thoroughly clean the exterior of your home before applying any paint to it.
What Happens To The Surface If You Paint Over Mold?
Because of the dangers of painting over mold, it is best to avoid doing so. Mold cannot be killed by painting over it, nor can it be prevented from growing in the future.
Mold, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), can cause nasal congestion, throat discomfort, coughing or wheezing, irritation of the eyes or skin, and even more serious reactions in persons with compromised immune systems.
Always bear in mind the following:
- Mold cannot be killed by painting.
- Mold-resistant paint can only be used in a preventative, not a remedial manner.
Paint over-mold is an easy and cheap repair that many homeowners and landlords take advantage of. As a result, whether you paint over mold or not, it will reappear in the form of flaking, bubbling, or cracking coatings.
Mold restoration treatments may end up costing more in the future than they did in the short term.
What You Can Do Rather Than Painting Over Mold
To avoid painting over mold, you’re putting your health and well-being first. The paint will be durable and you can be at peace of mind knowing that the fundamental source of the problem has been eliminated, as well as any future mold issues.
Alternative Of Painting Over Mold
Painting over mold isn’t the best solution; removing as much mold as possible from the surface is. Keep the surface clean using an antibacterial cleaner and a brush.
If removing mold from porous bases proves to be difficult or impossible, specialists may sand the wood in an effort to remove as much mold as possible.
It is, however, dangerous to sand moldy wood, since it discharges thousands of tiny mold spores into the air, hence it is not recommended for the untrained to do so.
Call a professional if you think a top layer needs to be sanded to eradicate all indications of mold. If you don’t like their work, there’s no harm in asking.
Simply take benefit of some expert guidance on this issue. Apply a mold sealer to a surface before painting if you cannot eliminate all evidence of mold.
Encapsulation is a procedure that seals in any mold that is impossible to be removed, stopping it from spreading. It also acts as a barrier against future mold growth.
The mold sealant should be entirely dried before painting. When it comes to removing and replacing moldy materials, mold remediation experts recommend encapsulation as a last resort if they cannot be fully cleansed.
If you use this approach, apply it sparingly and only in small places where mold is present.
Process Of Painting Over Mold
After you have eliminated any mold growth and given the area time to dry, you should then remove any paint flakes that can still be lingering in the region.
Before you begin, make sure the surface is clean, dry, and clear of any flakes.
Mould Resistant Paint
To get started, use a brush to apply the mold-resistant paint you purchased. Cover the stains completely by applying a layer that is sufficiently thick but uniform in appearance, and then let it dry.
If another layer is required, apply it in the same manner as the first, and then wait for it to dry as directed by the manufacturer.
Add A Layer Of Oil Paint
As soon as the paint that resists mold has completely dried, use a brush to apply a layer of oil-based paint such as Dulux Trade White Undercoat or any other oil-based paint, and then allow it to cure.
This helps to build a layer that is water-resistant, which will add even more to prevent mold from developing.
Add The Top Layer
At long last, using either a paintbrush or a roller, apply your topcoat, which is often an emulsion. In an ideal world, one would use a roller to achieve a better and more equal finish.
If you are going to be hanging wallpaper, give it a full day to thoroughly dry before painting the ceiling or walls with the paint of your choosing once you have finished hanging the wallpaper.
Remove Mildew & Mold
Using bleach on the problem area and watching for fading or discoloration is an easy approach to determine whether or not you’re dealing with mildew.
Only if the mold or mildew is non-hazardous can painting over it be considered. If you don’t deal with the source and secure its removal, this is only a short-term workaround.
If you don’t take care of the mold initially, even if you paint over it, it will remain. As a result, you’ll have a tough time applying the paint and the stains will reappear.
The fungus will continue to spread and become more airborne if you paint over the mold. The drywall should be replaced if the damage is more than just washing the bleach off, priming it with a moisture-resistant paint primer, and using moisture-resistant paint as a sealant.
It’s usually after you’ve hired a professional to discover the mold issue.
Final Verdict
You are welcome to make an appointment for a free consultation with a mold remediation professional if you feel that you require assistance with mold remediation, or if you feel that you require assistance sanding a moldy surface.
At no cost to you, a highly qualified and experienced specialist will come to your residence, evaluate the situation, and offer guidance on how to proceed with moving forward.
Even if you want to conduct the work on your own, you will still be able to benefit from some free advice from an expert.
Of course, if you prefer, you can then employ a professional to take care of the project for you if that is what you want to do.
