The picture of this ceiling shows uniform black stains every 24 inches. This is called thermal bridging. These stains are a result of heat transfer from the attic space and truss structure, due to inadequate or missing insulation. The client feared there was a mold problem in the attic, which there was - just keep reading.
Thermal bridging stains are a result of heat transfer from the attic space and truss structure, due to inadequate or missing insulation.
The lack of insulation not only lead to thermal bridging evident in the living room ceiling, but also appears to have lead to the biological growth in the attic. The attic also didn’t appear to have enough ventilation. Ventilation is essential for an attic to function properly as one of the systems in a home. The lack of insulation and ventilation in an attic, can cause living space air temperatures to affect the air temperatures in the attic. This can cause condensation to form, and can possibly cause mold growth in an attic - which in this case, was tested by a third party lab and found to be cladosporium. This type of mold is a common allergen, producing more than 10 allergenic antigens and a common cause of hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
Inadequate Insulation in the Attic
The house was also in the woods, and was shaded. All of these things together appear to have lead to the current state of the client’s attic. These items are fixable, but this is a reason to get a home inspection!
Cladosporium (pictured above) is a common allergen, producing more than 10 allergenic antigens and a common cause of hypersensitivity pneumonitis.