Molds can look different depending on the type of mold and the place it began to grow. Maybe you’re wondering, “what does mold on brick look like?” First of all, molds grow in dark damp places and where there is a possible food source to sustain the mold colony.
Mold is a type of fungus that can grow indoors and outdoors. As any type of fungus molds has spores that spread and grow on contact on any surface and feed off the object they attach to. Outdoor bricks that are subjected to moisture contact due to rain and some occasional water splashes can be a good spot for a mold colony to grow.
Tips On Spotting Molds On Bricks
Identifying the mold that grows in your walls is something that you must know to deal with them efficiently. So, here are some of the things that you must be looking out for.
1. Discoloration
When looking for molds, you can always look back to the source. Mold is a by-product of water damage and with water damage often comes discoloration. You can check in this article about tips on how to remove mold from water damage.
The discoloration is a result of weathering due to water exposure which is partly the same with mold growth. When you see spots in your bricks that are lighter or darker than they should be then it is a good place to start looking for a mold colony.
2. Identifying a mold colony
One of the most important hints to know is the type of fungal colony is currently growing. The thing is, molds thrive on organic materials, and bricks are inorganic material. The time molds can grow on bricks is if there is something organic attached to it in the first place.
However, there is another type of stain that grows on bricks that are often mistaken for molds, which are efflorescences. Efflorescence is a type of stain that persists on bricks. Efflorescence is salt deposits left by evaporated water and can appear to be some type of mold but it’s not.
3. Odor
Odor isn’t a visual clue, but it is probably one of the first things that you can discern. A musky smell is something that a moldy object would have. Air from a moldy object is not something that you would miss easily and it can probably cause some health issues.
Why do bricks go moldy?
Molds are a type of fungus and fungus grows on organic things which a brick isn’t classified to. As mentioned before, the moment that a mold could possibly grow in an inorganic brick is when all the necessary components for a mold colony to grow is present.
A damp place and possibly dark enough, but most important of all is an organic material to leech off. A dead weed, for example, would be an ideal organic material to thrive on for a mold that grows on bricks.
What kills molds?
Killing or cleaning up a mold colony can be done in many ways. There are a lot of chemicals out there in the market that offer a solution to a growing mold colony, such as Mold Armor. Besides the market chemical products, some home remedies can be used to solve a mold colony.
As for the chemicals in the market aside from the specific ones out there, bleach and hydrogen peroxide. Bleach is a known mold killing chemical, but it cannot penetrate porous materials. This is why a proper mixture is required so that a mold problem can be efficiently solved.
As for hydrogen peroxide, its chemical properties are known as antifungal and anti-bacterial, which works well against molds overall. Hydrogen peroxide both work on porous and nonporous materials, making it an effective solution to molds.
As for home remedies, there are quite a few on the list, but the most used ones are probably vinegar, baking soda, lemon, and some essential oils. Home remedies are effective especially if you know what to do and how to do it effectively.
Vinegar is a common home remedy for mold. It can be made as a direct substitute for bleaching agent and the process is most likely the same as with the bleach. Just as how bleach works, vinegar can’t penetrate porous materials.
The next one would be baking soda. For it to work as a mold cleaning solution it must be brewed to an extent first and by brewing it means to add a sufficient amount of water first. Not only is it a good solution to a mold colony, but it’s also harmless and safe for pets and children.
The last home remedies include lemon and some essential oil. These kinds of things are natural deodorizers and antiseptics that can remove mold on any kind of surface.
Conclusion
Molds can grow on any type of surface as long as the necessary means are needed. If you are keen on knowing “what does mold on brick look like”, we hope that this has provided great help to you. If there is still something that you think is missing and can find the necessary solution, you can always seek the help of a professional that would set you on the right path.