Summertime
Summertime summertime sum sum summertime….
What did you do while on summer vacation?
Go to the beach, take a trip, go camping, go to Cedar Point?
Well, the Mold Guy went up into people’s attics. The temperatures outside this summer were in the 80s and 90s. Add 20° to 60° to that and you’ve got the attic’s temperature. That means it could be 140° or more up there. That is for a typical attic space here in Michigan.
And on top of that, I would be wearing a full-face mask and a Tyvek suit.
While this may not sound like fun to you, it is a typical day for the Mold Guy.
Why do it, some might ask?
It’s not that it’s particularly fun, but mold cleanup is something that I feel I was born to do, and I am good at doing it.
But the real reason is that I really am passionate about helping people,
probably because my mother taught me to be that way, and I always will be. I guess it’s my nature now.
It is important to have an attic inspection done in order to discover moisture issues and correct them before they lead to costly repairs.
Improper ventilation is a primary cause of increased moisture in the attic, leading to potential insulation damage, mold, mildew, and dry rot. Fiberglass loses up to 40% of its labeled R-value when outside temperatures fall to 20º F, and it loses 50% of its labeled R-value when outside temperatures exceed 85º F. On top of that, research shows that as little as a 4% increase in moisture/humidity will reduce the effectiveness of fiberglass insulation by as much as 80%, that means it costs as much as $367 annually ($5,505 over the life of a 15–year mortgage), not to mention the cost of mold remediation, poor indoor air quality, and the possible replacement of the roof deck.
Improperly vented and overheated attics are a primary cause of premature aging of roofing materials, which can be costly. Prolonged exposure to extreme heat accelerates the aging of asphalt roofing products.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development indicates that “inadequate ventilation will lead to fungus growth and very costly repairs.”
If a roof’s life is 15 years instead of 30 due to improper ventilation, and the average cost of a new roof is $9,360, shingle replacement will cost an average of $312 annually, or $4,680 over 15 years.
Proper ventilation of attic space
Reduces the temperature in the attic
Prolongs the life of your roof
Reduces energy costs, and
Can help improve indoor air quality