When you notice a dark spot from mold or mildew slowly growing over time on your wall or ceiling, your first instinct may be to paint over it. But does painting over mold eliminate mold? Not exactly.
Painting over mold is just putting a Band-Aid over a much larger, potentially hazardous problem. You must find the source of the mold growth and eliminate it in order to stop mold from growing in your home or office.
In this guide, the experienced painters at
VanDerKolk Painting will walk you through what to do if you see mold growing on your walls and how to properly paint the area in a safe and effective method.
No, painting over mold does not get rid of mold. The paint will simply cover the visual presence of the mold, such as the spores and dark spots that it leaves as it grows.
The mold will never be eliminated when you throw a coat of paint over it. Instead, it will keep growing and eventually reappear through the paint. If you notice a mold spot, avoid painting over it without removing it and cleaning the area first.
Maybe you painted over mold in the past before you had a chance to read this article, and you’re wondering what happens now.
Painting over mold does not eliminate the mold. Instead, it simply covers the sight of it. Over time, if the source that caused mold to grow isn’t remedied, the mold will grow through the paint, and you’ll be able to see it again.
The paint will also start to bubble and peel due to the moisture in the room and the mold growing behind it. While it is tempting to cover that dark spot with a fresh coat of paint, there are extra steps to take to ensure proper removal and coverage so you never see it again.
It is not safe to paint over any type of mold, especially black mold. Mold can cause serious health consequences, including respiratory tract infections, exacerbate asthma, and irritate allergies causing itchy eyes and difficulty breathing.
Black mold, specifically, can be more irritating to those with mold allergies or immunocompromised. If you paint over black mold on drywall or wood surfaces, it will not remedy the problem. Household members will still experience the negative health effects of this dangerous fungus.
When you have mold or mildew in your home or office building, you must take a few extra steps to properly and safely paint over it.
Before you pick out your paint color, you must focus on removing the mold from the area and finding its source.
Since mold is a living organism that grows in
damp and humid environments, you must kill it to ensure it doesn’t return. You can usually do this with bleach or vinegar.
Pro Tip: Never
mix bleach and vinegar, as it creates a toxic chlorine gas. Use one or the other to kill and remove the mold.
If the mold is too much for one person to remove, you may consider calling a mold removal professional.
Finally, you will have to remedy the cause of the mold. Whether adding a dehumidifier to the room, fixing a leaky pipe, or other solutions, this extra step will ensure the mold will never grow back.
After successfully removing the mold from the wall, make sure that it is clean and dry before adding your coat of primer and paint.
If the wall still holds moisture, the paint won’t allow it to dry fully, putting your home at risk for mold once more.
While no paint products kill mold, mold-preventative products can be used on mold-prone surfaces.
Before adding your
first coat of paint, painting a coat of primer will help the paint adhere to the surface better and cover any bold colors underneath.
If painting over a surface that has experienced mold growth and has since been removed, it’s important to be cautious about the type of paint you use.
Most latex and water-based paints are mold-resistant, making them ideal for this particular project.
Avoid using oil-based paints, as they contain an ingredient that can feed mold growth if the paint is used in a humid environment or if spores are not fully removed.
Whether you need interior painting to remove mold and apply a new paint coat or a large office space, no job is too big (or small) for VanDerKolk Painting!
Serving the Grand Rapids area, our team of painting professionals can handle a wide variety of residential and commercial painting tasks, including removing and painting over surfaces that have mold. We will take the necessary precautions to prepare the surface properly and use select paints that won’t exacerbate the mold growth.
Once we’re finished, you can feel relieved to look at your wall, knowing the mold is gone, and you never have to see that sore-sighted dark spot ever again! We offer free estimates, so you have nothing to lose in contacting us about your painting project. You can request a free estimate by filling out a
contact form, or by calling
616-202-6570.
We provide quotes at absolutely no cost. Requesting a quote gives you an opportunity to meet with one of our team members, better understand our process, and explain the details of your project. You can request a free quote by filling out the form, or by calling us at 616-202-6570.
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VanDerKolk Painting - Grand Rapids Painting Company
225 Graham Street SW | Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503
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