Bathroom Mold Removal in Stamford, CT

Bathrooms are the wettest rooms in any house. Every shower puts a load of steam into a small space, and if that moisture isn't pulled outside, it settles on the ceiling, the window, the grout lines and the cold exterior wall. In Stamford's older homes, plenty of bathrooms were built without an exhaust fan at all, or with one that vents into the attic or just recirculates the air.

Surface Mold vs. Hidden Mold

Spotting on the ceiling paint, black lines in grout and pink or black staining in caulk are surface problems that can usually be cleaned and corrected. Hidden mold is different. A failed shower pan, cracked grout or a slow leak at the tub drain lets water into the wall or floor behind the tile, and the first sign may be loose tiles, a soft spot in the floor, peeling paint on the other side of the wall or a stain on the ceiling below.

Older bathrooms in Stamford homes, especially those with plaster walls, original cast iron tubs and tile set decades ago, can hide moisture damage for a long time because the materials are so solid. Newer renovations have their own weak spots, such as niches and benches in tiled showers that were not waterproofed properly and slowly let water into the framing.

What We Do

• Check moisture levels behind tile, around the tub and under the vanity
• Clean surface mold on ceilings, walls, grout and fixtures
• Remove mold-damaged caulk so it can be replaced
• Open up and remove moldy drywall or backer board where water has gotten behind the surface
• Clean and treat framing and subfloor before the room is repaired

Ventilation Is the Real Fix

A bathroom that keeps growing mold almost always needs better ventilation. A fan sized for the room, ducted to the outside and run during the shower and for a while afterward, solves most recurring problems. A timer switch helps because most people turn the fan off too soon. We point out fans that vent into the attic, since those can create a second problem up there; see our attic mold removal service.

Daily Habits That Help

• Run the exhaust fan during every shower and for twenty minutes after
• Squeegee or towel off tile walls and glass doors
• Hang wet towels and bath mats where they can dry fully
• Repair cracked grout and failing caulk promptly

If a bathroom leak has spread into the ceiling or walls of the rooms below, our full mold remediation process covers the larger area.