You may think that mold on your siding is merely cosmetic. On the contrary, it can pose serious health risks and damage the property value. First, we’ll discuss what causes the mold in the first place, then we’ll discuss the problems that it can bring.

 

Causes/How to Prevent It:

     Mold grows best in dark, moist areas. Additionally, it can feed on organic materials, such as dirt from outside and sugars released from nearby trees onto the siding. Because of this, the side of the house that is in the shade (usually the north side) will typically grow the most mold, and there isn’t much you can do to change that. However, several other conditions relating to the mold growth are within your control. Excessive moisture can be caused by numerous things; clogged gutters, leaky faucets, poorly placed sprinklers, and vents in enclosed areas can all cause extra humidity and should be avoided as much as possible. Gutters should be cleaned at least twice throughout the year, and sprinklers should be set so that they don’t get water on the siding (especially the north side, as the water will likely take longer to evaporate). Furthermore, vegetation should be trimmed back so that the trees don’t release too many organic materials that end up on the siding. This also often has the added benefit of having less shade on the siding.

 

Health Effects:

     Putting off cleaning the outside of your house can have many serious health effects. The mold spores on your house are airborne and can enter your house in various ways. One way is that they can simply enter through windows or doors. Also, if the mold is near the vents, then the spores can enter through there and then into the whole heating and AC system, affecting the air quality of the entire home. Lastly, they can expand through cracks in the butt-joints in the siding or through window headers. Once this happens, the mold can begin to eat into the insulation and drywall.

     Once you begin to breathe these in, this can lead to a compromised immune system, worsening allergy symptoms, respiratory problems, or asthma flare-ups. These are the worst among children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions, but anybody can be affected, especially if they are exposed to it for long periods of time.

 

Home Damage/Resale Value:

     The mold on your siding can damage your house and lower its resale value in many ways. First, the mold can eat away at the siding directly and cause it to deteriorate over time. Once this happens, the siding will be more susceptible to damage from wind and other weather. Second, if the mold enters through the butt-joints in the siding or window headers, it can begin eating away at the insulation and drywall, causing serious damage. Lastly,  an experienced home inspector will be able to find mold or other debris on your siding even if it's not plainly visible, so it’s important to make sure that you keep it clean.

 

All of this demonstrates that the mold and dirt on your siding is not merely an issue of appearance; it is actually damaging to the house and your health. So make sure you get your siding regularly power washed by a professional to protect your biggest asset.