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Attic ventilation and mold.t

last year

Hello,

Living in a cape cod style home in the New England area. The house was built in the late 90's and the roof was replaced 6 years ago(sheathing and shingles with continous soffit and ridge vent.

Last spring I noticed mold throughout the attic. From outside I removed some of the soffit vents and could not see much so stuck up my Iphone and also felt up to the bay and could feel the batts and baffle. From the attic there are baffles in most bays but not all of them and I am not sure if that is because of the dormers(2). I selected 1 bay and removed 2 batts that is as much as I could reach and pull them out, as the pitch is steep maybe 20' plus. I noticed that far down the bay there was also mold. So I think it is a lack of ventalation, but just a guess. Any thoughts on what is causing the mold and roof shingles are also dark.*posted pics

Thank you

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Comments (2)

schreibdave
last year
I see evidence of water/moisture/condensation on your framing lumber. Assuming that water isn't leaking in from above, I assume that warm moist air is moving up from the living space below, finding a cold surface and causing condensation. The damp materials then host mold. That would be my theory.

If that was my house I would buy a case of cans of spray foam, the $50 gun to apply it, and go to town filling every nook and crany where warm air can move from below into the attic. If you start moving insulation around you may find wet or discolored insulation indicating where the big streams of air are coming through. If you have a door or hatch to the attic, those would be prime culprits but so would any opening in the sheetrock ceiling.

I did this in my last two homes while they were being built which was a lot easier than after insulation was installed. Good luck.
Mac Mac thanked schreibdave
Mac Mac
Original Author
last year
Thank you very much for your advise Schreibdave.
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