What's Hiding Behind Your Wood Paneling
If your home has a basement that was finished in the 80s or 90s, there’s a good chance that you have wood paneling on the walls. After all, it was “the look” for quite a while, and it does lend a comfy lodge-like atmosphere to a room. But there are a few problems with wood paneling in a basement; it both harbors and hides mold.
As we’ve discussed before, mold needs two things to grow: water and organic material. Basements are prone to water problems, or even just high humidity. When you fill that wet basement with wood paneling (wood is an organic material), you’ve created perfect conditions for mold.
An even bigger problem that wood paneling growing mold is that it hides it. Mold often grows between the wood paneling and the walls, since moisture often comes in through cement walls. This means that while you’re going about your daily life, mold is taking hold of your basement, unseen and unchecked.
If you have wood paneling and you’ve noticed any of the following in your basement, it’s time to call us to schedule a free inspection:
- Musty smells
- Visible water damage or warping of wood panels
- Water stains on the floor (if concrete) or noticeable dampness of carpet
- Humidity
- Water stains or efflorescence (white residue) on unfinished sections of the wall
