White Powder On Attic Rafters

Several of the rafters running along the edge nearest to the felt have a white residue.

White powder on attic rafters.

Although it can look similar to mildew at first white mold is more harmful since it can grow within organic materials not just at the surface. In the attic photograph at left we show a mix of green gray and white attic mold. Attic sheathing and framing. The mold usually presents as a white powder or film and many people will not realize that it is mold growth at all.

This lack of pigmentation is caused by the type of material that the mold is growing. When looking for attic mold trace both leak. The client will certainly expect an explanation for this white material on the roof rafters in the attic. White mold tends to grow in high humidity environments rather than areas suffering from total saturation.

It is quite moist and is easily wiped off leaving a black mark on the cleaning cloth. This seems to have appeared only recently. It is difficult to declare this one substance over another simply based on one s senses of sight or smell. The house is late victorian and the roof was re slated and felted etc about three years ago.

White mold will remain white while other types of mold get darker over time. The vast majority of attic mold is caused by humidity which is why white mold growth is common here. After reading your article regarding mold i checked out my 36 year old home and found very little except in the attic. Have just started boarding out my loft.

The white color is caused by a lack of spore pigmentation. Below is a photo of white mold growing on wood rafters in an attic. This is why it s less common to see mold growth on base trim after a flooding event. The spots can be powdery and filmy in nature.

I found approximately 10 percent of the roof rafters covered in spots with a white powdery substance which i assumed to be mold.