How to Know If You’ve Got Wood Rot or Mold in Your Crawl Space

You may be wary about going into your crawl space. Unfortunately, this makes it hard to keep on top of crawl space issues like mold and wood rot.

But crawl space experts can do the dirty work for you. Here, we will take a look at what wood rot and mold are, how experts can tell them apart, and some common symptoms you can look for in your home.

Wood rot and mold are similar in that they are both forms of fungus. They both thrive in damp, dark crawl spaces for that reason. Still, there are some differences—how can you tell them apart? 

The key difference between the two is that mold grows on any surface made with organic materials (think fabric, dead animals, wood, or drywall), while wood rot only appears on damp and damaged wood.

Both are dangerous to the structural integrity of your home home but mold can be toxic and may hurt the health of your loved ones. Wood rot, on the other hand, spreads quickly in a crawl space as it digests wooden joists throughout the space. Both cause a lot of damage, warranting expensive and extensive repairs. 

Sagging Floors 

As mold and wood rot eat away at the wooden support beams in your crawl space, they have a direct impact on the floors in your home. Without strong support, the floors will begin to sag and become bouncy as you walk on them. If you hear creaky sounds and feel a bounce as you walk around in your home, or see a slant in your floor, you probably have mold and wood rot in your crawl space.

Musty Crawl Space Odors

Weather in Florida is humid and wet; there’s plenty of rain and the occasional tropical storm that causes flooding and standing water in the crawl space. It’s these conditions that make it so easy for mold and wood rot to take hold in the crawl space.

Eventually, as the fungi spreads, it releases spores into the air and decays wooden structures. These emit smells that travel up into your living space and may make your home smell like a musty lake house. If you often smell musty odors in your home, it’s probably due to mold and wood rot in the crawl space.

Both wood rot and mold can be prevented, but you need to work with a professional with the right tools. Alpha Foundations has provided crawl space encapsulation services to homeowners in Florida since 2002.

With our waterproofing tools, you can keep your crawl space dry and controlled, preventing mold and wood rot from taking hold. To find out about mold, contact Alpha Foundations today to schedule a free inspection and take the first steps toward a healthier crawl space.