A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home - Virginia ...

HIDDEN MOLDMold growingon the backside ofwallpaper.Suspicion of hidden mold You may suspect hidden mold if abuilding smells moldy, but you cannot see the source,or if you know there has been water damage and residentsare reporting health problems. Mold may be hidden inplaces such as the back side of dry wall, wallpaper, orpaneling, the top side of ceiling tiles, the underside ofcarpets and pads, etc. Other possible locations ofhidden mold include areas inside walls around pipes(with leaking or condensing pipes), the surface of wallsbehind furniture (where condensation forms), insideductwork, and in roof materials above ceiling tiles (dueto roof leaks or insufficient insulation).Investigating hidden mold problems Investigating hidden moldproblems may be difficult and will require caution when theinvestigation involves disturbing potential sites of moldgrowth. For example, removal of wallpaper can lead to amassive release of spores if there is mold growing on theunderside of the paper. If you believe that you may have ahidden mold problem, consider hiring an experiencedprofessional.14