How Does Mold Grow on Concrete?

Most people have the impression that since mold is a living thing; it can grow only on mud or in water or other similar places, but not on concrete surfaces. The fact is, mold can grow anywhere where a suitable living environment is available. The environment we are talking about is a combination of various factors like temperature, food and moisture - the three main things that any living thing needs to survive. So if your concrete surface as an abundance of these, it is very possible that it is mold that is growing on it. However, be sure to check first, as in many cases, a mixture of salts and minerals that form on the concrete can give an appearance of mold, often letting people into making wrong assumptions. Once you've confirmed it's actually mold, you can go about removing and cleaning it.

How does mold grow on concrete anyway? When concrete is left to dry, more often that not, it attracts dust and other particles that support mold. This cannot be prevented effectively, as dust travels through air and the only way to prevent it would be to create a vacuum, which is not possible. Thus mold begins to take root at this stage, which provides the food part of the living conditions mold requires. The moisture part is provided by humidity. You must have noticed mold usually grows on concrete in the basement. This is because moisture content in the air, in terms of humidity, is greatest under the ground, which supports mold growth. Also, temperatures under the earth's surface tend to be warm, which facilitates the temperature part of favorable conditions of mold growth.

Additional factors that cause mold growth on concrete are bad air circulation and poor lighting. The concrete that mold grows on need not necessarily be a wall or a floor. The organic particles that concrete attracts while drying can travel to other parts of the wet concrete, and spread to furniture, decorative pieces, attics, basements and other parts of the house, thus providing ample space and opportunity for mold to grow. It should be remembered that while mold spores are always present in air, they do not actually grow until they find a suitable living environment. The most common areas where you might find mold growth are the ones that do not receive enough natural light and are very humid. Places that are consistently wet, like bathrooms, water tanks, etc are also highly prone to mold growth. Concrete surfaces that receive a lot of water flow over them also come under the same category.

So should you be worried about mold growing on your concrete? Yes, you should. Mold is not only smelly and unpleasing to the eye, but can also cause problems in healthy people. The common effects that mold has on people is related to the respiratory system, like coughing and sneezing. Irritation of the eyes is also an effect of mold exposure. Make sure to observe the necessary precautions, or call in an expert when cleaning the mold on your concrete.