Can a Roof Leak Cause Black Mould?

When you own a house, you want to make sure it’s always in impeccable condition. You take every measure possible to prevent significant damage, hoping your property looks good and is safe to live in.

Roofs represent one of the most important parts of the house because they offer you protection, but they should also be maintained properly. So, you must look after your roof if you want to make sure that it stays in good condition. Otherwise, you may experience water leaks, which could lead to various issues.

Black mould is one of the biggest worries for homeowners. But can humidity and roof water leaks cause black mould, though? Keep on reading to find out.

In order to offer your roof the right maintenance and prevent leaks, you must know what causes leaky roofs, to begin with.

Over the years, your roof is exposed to all sorts of weather conditions. Australian weather fluctuations can have a higher impact than you can imagine.

Hot and cold temperature changes can have a bad effect on the protective coating of the roof over the years, eroding it. Not to mention that some days bring high winds and hail, which can cause shingles to loosen.

Stepping on the roof too often might also be a bad idea because if you step in the wrong place, the roofing materials may break. So, unless you have a valid reason to climb on the roof, you should not do it.

Although the damage may not be visible right away, it will gradually accumulate and get worse. That’s when your home will deal with increased moisture due to water leaks, which can pose health risks.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t take too long for black mould to settle in your home. In the right conditions and with the water leak already in place, spores will begin to multiply. On average, it takes about 24-48 hours for mould to form.

For this reason, you must act quickly, before there is too much damage, and before health risks get worse for you and other people in the house.

Ideally, you should dry all materials that were exposed to moisture. Professional intervention is also encouraged if you don’t want your walls to get ruined. If you are worried about the costs of repairs, most can be covered by your home insurance.

Mould on the ceiling is one of the biggest signs that your roof is leaking. If you see any moisture, rot, or mould on the ceiling, chances are that your roof must’ve experienced some damage, leading to water leaks and wall humidity. Humid conditions are ideal for mould growth.

It’s not always easy to find the troublesome spot, though. Luckily, there are some signs to look out for.

A good indication that you are dealing with a leaky roof is a water stain on the ceiling. This will usually have a slight brown colour. However, because some small leaks occur in darker areas of the house, it is not always that easy to spot them.

When there is a leak in the attic, mould can begin to form due to condensation. When there’s too much moisture, the spores will reproduce, spreading to other parts of your home within days. This means that the ceiling could also be affected by mould very soon.

While mould on the ceiling is one of the most common signs of roof leaks, this is not always the reason. Wet ceiling insulation can also cause roof mould. Therefore, you should inspect your house and find the culprit.

How can you tell that you are dealing with a potential roof leak? If you don’t notice mould on the ceiling, there are other telltale signs that there is too much humidity in the house which is possibly caused by a leaky roof.

Here are some things that point to a roof leak:

• Condensation-based damage around the windows
• Increased moisture in bathroom tile
• Increased moisture in kitchen and/or bathroom cabinetry
• Moisture and heavy water damage in sheetrock and carpeting
• Ceiling panelling damage
• A bad exhaust fan
• Obvious leakage in various house areas

Roof mould is considered a real health hazard in any home, as well as a danger to any house’s structure.

Mould can lead to home structural damage, which means that the building will weaken. Over time, mould leads to rot and house disintegration.

What’s worse is that black mould can have serious consequences on your body. For instance, you may experience breathing and respiratory issues if you are exposed to mould spores. Some of the most common mould exposure symptoms include skin and eye irritation, wheezing, and a blocked or runny nose.

People who deal with asthma may experience attacks related to mould spore inhalation. In some cases, lung mould infection cases may also appear.

Over time, if the problem is not taken care of, mould can cause permanent body damage. This is why cleaning the affected parts of your property is of utmost importance.

Roof maintenance and prevention are essential if you do not want to deal with leaking and black mould. Over the years, leaks can cause mould and mildew, which cause damage to the house. So, you must always make efforts to discover the problems early on – otherwise, you might be dealing with roof issues without even knowing it.

To prevent roof leaks, you should have a professional roof plumbing contractor come to your property to thoroughly inspect the roof. The expert will let you know about any broken or damaged roofing materials, allowing you to fix them before any leaking appears.

On top of that, if any tiles and shingles become loose, a roofing expert will quickly repair and replace them, preventing leaks.

For better leak prevention, you should also use high-quality roofing materials. This way, you’ll enjoy better durability and protection against leaks and mould.

If there is already some black mould growth in your house, you should take the necessary steps to remove it before it causes more damage to the building or your health.

First things first, you should assess the damage. Find all the areas that have been affected by mould. Look at the ceiling and on the walls in every area of the house, such as the bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, and attic.

Then, you can use a HEPA filter vacuum on the problem areas. Once you do this, you can use diluted vinegar to clean the mould. Also, use a microfiber cloth to rub mould patches, then rinse in a different bucket each time to prevent cross-contamination.

Since black mould is such a serious problem, it’s always best to have a mould removal company handle the issue.

Roof leaks can cause black mould in various parts of the house. This is dangerous both for your home and your health, so it should be addressed immediately. Reach out to a reputable roofing company to fix the roof damage and prevent mould growth.