All the Reasons Why Mold Shouldn’t be Painted Over

Mold is unsightly and dangerous for the health of the home and family. It is a fungus type that commonly thrives in dark, warm, and moist home spaces and can become widespread if ignored. Mold is a common household issue across the country, especially if the house has recently experienced leaks, flooding, or other water damage. 

Several people discover mold during the process of giving their walls a facelift with a fresh coat of paint. Their first thought usually is to paint over it to cover up the nagging issue. Painting over mold seems like a quick and easy fix to hide the unsightly appearance that it gives to the walls. But, almost every professional painter recommends against it. It is only a temporary solution for a more severe problem.  

Reasons to not paint over mold

• The biggest reason for not applying paint over mold is that it only defers the inevitable. Painting does not stop or gets rid of the root cause, and mold continues to thrive and starts to reappear through the newly painted walls after some time, creating the same issue. The problem persists even after applying multiple coats of paints as it is not effective in preventing the spread of mold spores.

• It wastes time, money, effort, and resources, as mold growth does not stop.

• Continued mold growth in the home is a health risk. It triggers allergies, causes breathing issues, eye and skin irritation, coughing, and respiratory infections. 

• Mold, when left untreated, can cause severe property damage and incur high repair costs.

• There are legal repercussions when someone sells or rents a home after painting over mold instead of removing it. As mold is a health issue, the buyer or tenant can sue the seller for negligence or covering up the problem instead of informing them.

Tell-tale signs of paint over mold

It is not tough to discover when someone painted a wall with mold. Some evident signs include:

• Cracked, chipped, warped, or bubbled paint

• Musty smell

• Bubbled or bowed out walls and ceilings indicating water damage

• Dark-colored spots on the wall

• The white color turns yellow

These signs indicate unremedied water damage requiring immediate attention.

After discovering mold on the walls, analyze and find the root cause of the problem and eliminate it to prevent further issues. Call a mold remediation expert to get to the mold source, fix it, and treat the affected area to remove it before painting.

How to prevent mold for a long-lasting paint job

After the professional has fixed the mold problem, it is safe to paint the walls. However, it is essential to adopt measures to stop mold reappearance. 

• Apply a mold-resistant primer on the walls, especially in rooms with more warmth and moisture. Several primers and paints for mold prevention are available in the market. 

• Use dehumidifiers and take other steps to control the home’s humidity levels and ensure it is dry and well-ventilated.

• Attend to and fix leaks and water damage immediately.

Fix your mold issue the right way

Painting over mold is only a temporary fix and can have more damaging effects later. Eliminate it first to make the walls paint-ready. Contact a professional painter if you are unsure of going ahead with the painting process. He will ensure that the house is mold-free and flawlessly painted for a beautiful look.