How to Get Rid of Mold on Walls in Alvin, TX

Short answer: mold on a hard, sealed wall surface can be cleaned. Mold that is growing in drywall, or that appears where a wall is soft, stained or has been wet for days, means the drywall should be cut out and replaced after the wall cavity is dried. Always trace the moisture.

Start by Finding Why the Wall Is Damp

Mold on a wall is a symptom. Before you clean, look for a reason. Is there a bathroom or kitchen on the other side? Does the wall sit under a roof valley or a window? Is it an exterior wall that gets rain? Is there an air vent blowing cold air nearby? A moisture meter, which costs little, tells you whether the wall is still wet.

If the Wall Is Painted Drywall

Painted drywall is porous. Surface mold on the paint can often be damp-wiped, but if the drywall is soft, bubbling, stained from within or has been wet for more than a couple of days, mold has probably grown into the paper and gypsum. In that case the affected section is cut out, usually at least a few inches past the visible growth, the cavity is dried and new board is installed.

Do not sand or scrub dry mold. It sends spores into the air. Wet wiping and bagging the waste is safer.

If the Wall Is Tile, Glass or Another Hard Surface

Mold on grout and tile in a shower is common. Scrub with detergent and a stiff brush, rinse and dry. Improve ventilation by running the fan during and after showers. Re-caulk cracked seams, and check the wall behind the tile if grout cracks or tiles feel loose.

Cutting Out a Wet Wall Section

1. Wear a respirator, goggles and gloves.
2. Turn off power to outlets in the wall and check for wires and pipes.
3. Mist the area lightly to reduce dust.
4. Cut along a line a few inches past the visible damage and bag the removed pieces.
5. Remove wet insulation.
6. Dry the cavity with a fan and dehumidifier until a moisture meter reads normal.
7. Install new drywall only when the studs are dry.

Humidity in Alvin Homes

Walls in Alvin homes face a humid climate for most of the year. An air conditioner that is oversized for the house can cool quickly without running long enough to remove moisture. A dehumidifier, steady AC operation and keeping furniture a few inches off exterior walls help. If walls were wet after a leak, see wall and drywall water damage repair and water damage restoration in Manvel.

Preventing Wall Mold

• Keep indoor humidity under 60 percent.
• Fix plumbing and roof leaks at once.
• Ventilate bathrooms and the kitchen.
• Leave a gap between large furniture and exterior walls.
• Check behind appliances and under sinks twice a year.
• Use mold-resistant drywall and paint when you rebuild a damp area.

Tools and Materials for Small Wall Jobs

A small cleanup does not need much equipment. Gather everything before you start so you do not track spores through the house.

• N95 respirator, goggles and rubber gloves.
• Plastic sheeting and painter's tape to seal off the area.
• Detergent, water, a stiff brush and rags.
• Heavy trash bags.
• A moisture meter if you have one.
• A fan and dehumidifier for drying afterward.
• Mold-resistant primer and paint for the finish.

Painting and Finishing After Cleanup

Once a wall has dried and the moisture source is fixed, you can prime and paint. Use a stain-blocking primer so old marks do not bleed through. Mold-resistant paint adds some protection in damp rooms, but it does not replace ventilation and humidity control. Do not paint until the wall reads dry, since paint over damp drywall bubbles and can trap moisture.

If you replaced drywall, finish the joints, prime and paint in the usual way. Check the wall every few weeks for a season to confirm the problem is gone.

What to Do About the Smell

A musty smell can linger even after the visible mold is gone. Often the cause is damp insulation or wood behind the wall. Opening the cavity and drying it usually solves it. Air fresheners hide the smell but do not fix it. If the odor persists after you have dried and cleaned, a licensed assessor can find the source.

Walls in Bathrooms and Laundry Rooms

Bathroom walls are the most common place for mold. A shower produces a lot of moisture, and a small exhaust fan may not clear it. Run the fan during the shower and for twenty minutes afterward. If your fan is noisy or weak, replace it. Wipe down walls and the shower door when you finish.

Laundry rooms have a similar issue. A dryer vent that leaks into the room or a washer with a bad pan can wet the wall bottoms. Check that the dryer vent goes outside and that the washer drain connection is tight.

Exterior Walls and Cold Corners

In Alvin the problem is usually warm, humid air meeting a cool wall in an air-conditioned room. Condensation forms and feeds mold behind furniture. Moving furniture a few inches from the wall, improving airflow and lowering humidity reduces it. If a corner keeps growing mold, look at insulation and at the roof or window above it.

Crews cover more than Alvin. The service area includes Manvel, Liverpool and Pearland.

Wall Mold Questions