Difference Between Mold And Mildew In Attic

The most common cause of attic mold by far is blocked or insufficient ventilation of the attic space.

Difference between mold and mildew in attic.

It can be many different colors including blue green yellow brown gray black or white. In nature however mildew can be very destructive to plants and food crops. Mildew is a surface fungi that can easily be identified as a patch of gray or even white fungus that is lying on the surface of a moist area. Mold is usually fuzzy in appearance.

White mold tends to grow in high humidity environments rather than areas suffering from total saturation. The vast majority of attic mold is caused by humidity which is why white mold growth is common here. Powdery mildew usually starts out white and may later turn yellow brown or black. But mold and mildew also have striking differences when it comes to size color and texture.

Mildew usually grows in a flat pattern and may appear either powdery or downy. This tendency to grow on flat surfaces is one of the main differences that can exist between mold and mildew. While mildew can cause damage to a home the damage is usually more cosmetic. Mildew refers to certain kinds of mold or fungus.

Molds include all species of microscopic fungi that grow in the form of multicellular filaments called hyphae. The key difference between mold and mildew is that the mold has a fuzzy appearance and often appears as black green red patches that penetrate beneath the surface while the mildew has a powdery appearance and often appears as grey or white patches that grow only on the surface. This is why it s less common to see mold growth on base trim after a flooding event. Moldis usually fuzzy or slimy in appearance.

Attic sheathing and framing. It appears as irregularly shaped spots that can have different colors. The term mildew is often used generically to refer to mold growth usually with a flat growth habit. Mildew can grow on a variety of surfaces including food paper and wood.

As we discuss in this article mildew a sub class of molds is an obligate parasite that grows only on living plants and is generally white in appearance. Mold is more dangerous and difficult to manage. Finding either one in your home s attic is cause for concern and can be a sign of faulty roofing system. This article explains the difference between mildew and mold or other forms of mold.

Attics usually have a passive ventilation system in which outside air comes in through the soffit eave vents at the bottom warms up in the attic and escapes through the can or ridge vents at the top because hot air rises. What is the difference between mold and mildew.