Where's mold coming from?

12 years ago

Hello.
I recently found mold in my bedroom at the top of one wall and farther down the same wall, as well as on my floor. I'm thinking moisture is getting in at the top of the wall. I thought the moisture might be coming from one of three sources:
1. From a leak in the new roof I had installed last January. It's made of a white rubberized material. I have a flat, sloped roof that's surround by a parapet with roof tiles along the edge. I've checked for breaks in the material and along seams, but haven't seen any.
2. From roof tiles being removed from the parapet, causing water to run straight down the side of the house instead of dripping 3" outside the edge of the house. But all the roof tiles are in place.
3. From gaps in the mortar of my brick house. I didn't see any gaps.
4. From my window. But the mold is above the window. I would expect mold to appear only below the window if the window were the problem.
I've included photos. Any ideas as to what the source of the moisture might be?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

User
12 years ago
Can you show a picture of the outside of this area?

Water can run horizontally quite a ways before heading down, so anywhere along that wall and roof is a possibility.

It could be getting in at the top of the slope, running along UNDER the roof and then down the inside of the wall.
Deb
Original Author
12 years ago
You may have a point. It looks like the mold starts at a front wall and turns the corner to a side wall. Here's a photo of the front of the house. You can see the slope from the peak.
Related Professionals
Jacksonville Home Remodeling · Abilene Home Remodeling · Omaha Home Remodeling · Santa Maria Home Remodeling · Ogden Home Remodeling · Ottawa Home Remodeling · Mount Vernon Home Builders · Clarksburg Home Builders · Kalamazoo Home Builders · Yuba City Home Builders · Gloucester Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Flagstaff Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · San Luis Obispo Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · El Paso Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Calgary Kitchen & Bathroom Designers
User
12 years ago
My first suspect would be the flashing and stuff for the roof at the right.
Deb
Original Author
12 years ago
OK. I'll get up there and take a look. Thanks, lazygardens!
worthy
12 years ago
Exactly it.

A kickout flashing would help. Also, reslope the eavestrough towards the downspout, rather than leaving it level as it appears to be. Finally, when you're up there check that those remnants of awning supports are sealed.
Deb
Original Author
12 years ago
Good ideas. Thanks, worthy!
Deb
Original Author
12 years ago
Hello again, lazygardens and worthy. More news on the mold front. I inspected the flashing on the auxiliary and found that there was a gap between the flashing and the wall, and that the flashing was sealed along only half its length. My roofing guy is going to seal it. The bigger issue, however, may be that my roofing guy installed a TPO roof last February to replace the modified bitumen roof I had before. My roofing guy came out today and, in the course of our conversation, he mentioned that TPO roofing doesn't breathe, and perhaps that could be a factor in my mold problem. I then went online and found two articles indicating that condensation buildup can be a problem with TPO roofs. Both articles recommended installation of insulation above the roof deck before applying the TPO. Have you heard anything about this?