black mold pictures

We’d like to show you some black mold pictures so that you can see what black mold looks like and also so that you can understand just how serious a problem black mold can become. You’ve probably seen mold in a shower or around a window sill, but some of these pictures of black mold may surprise you.

Black mold spreads rapidly and a small amount of mold can quickly grow to encompass an entire wall or ceiling or more. Addressing black mold early is important because once the problem grows so large, it is difficult, time-consuming and costly to address. Unchecked, black mold can cause serious damage to your home. Follow this link to read about the ways mold can damage your home.

What Does Black Mold Look Like?

When people talk about black mold, they are usually referring to a specific strain of mold, stachybotrys chartarum. Stachybotrys chartarum is also sometimes referred to as toxic mold. That’s because it produces chemicals called mycotoxins, which are toxic and can cause serious health problems. You can learn more about health problems related to black mold here.

Stachybotrys chartarum is usually black in color, as you’ll see in these black mold pictures, although sometimes it looks sort of greenish-black. It usually has a slimy appearance, although that may vary somewhat depending on the amount of mold and on the surface on which it is growing. In small amounts, it may look patchy or streaky.

You should know that many types of mold are black in color and it is not possible to determine the type of mold you have just by looking at it. If you want to know for certain what type of mold you’re dealing with, you’ll need to have the mold tested. You can learn more about mold testing here. You should be aware, though, that all types of mold carry health risks and all can damage your home. Regardless of what kind of mold it is, you’ll need to have it removed.

Black Mold Pictures

In these pictures of black mold in homes, you can see just how extensive the damage from black mold can be. This should help you understand how difficult and costly mold removal can be.

Black mold under carpet

Black mold on ceiling

From these photos, you can see how black mold looks on different surfaces. Mold grows best in damp locations but it can grow on all sorts of materials, including wood, metal, glass and fabric.

Black mold in ceiling from leaking pipe

Black mold on books

Mold on wooden surfaces can be particularly tricky to deal with, since it’s hard to completely remove mold from porous or semi-porous surfaces like wood. In some of these photos, the wood will need to be removed and replaced. In instances when the wood cannot be removed, like when wooden studs in a wall are moldy, the wood must be sanded and then sealed, encapsulating any mold that can’t be removed.

Black mold in crawlspace

Mold can also grow inside your heating, ventilation and air conditioning ducts, where it is difficult to remove. Mold in HVAC systems easily spreads throughout the entire house when you turn on your heat or air conditioning.

Black mold in HVAC ducts

Removing Black Mold

As discussed above, if you’re got mold like that shown in these black mold pictures, you need to have it removed as soon as possible. You may be able to handle the removal of small amounts of mold on your own, but if you’ve got mold covering an area greater than about 10 square feet, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends calling in a professional. The Environmental Protection Agency also recommends calling in a professional if there is mold in your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system or if mold develops after flooding with water that could be contaminated with sewage or other hazardous substances.

In addition, you should have someone else handle the mold removal if you’ve been experiencing health problems related to exposure to black mold or if you have any disorders of your respiratory or immune systems. The process of removing mold exposes you to many health risks and it may not be safe for you to handle the mold removal on your own.

Consulting a Mold Removal Professional

If you’d like to consult with a mold removal professional, you can do so in your own home at no cost to you. Even if you plan to do the work yourself, you can benefit from some advice from an expert in the field. There’s no obligation and nothing to lose. Follow the link to find experienced mold removal professionals offering free in-home consultations in your town.

Return From Black Mold Pictures To Our Main Black Mold Health Page

Ref: EPA