The most direct way to stop mold and mildew from growing on your home in Metairie and the New Orleans area is to control moisture and make sure your house’s exterior materials are not feeding the mold. Our local climate is famous for its high humidity and heavy rainfall, which create the perfect conditions for mold spores to grow on everything from siding to fences. The average relative humidity in New Orleans sits at an average of 76% throughout the year, making moisture management the biggest challenge for homeowners.
At Capital Improvement, we understand this battle. We help homeowners win the fight against dampness by upgrading their homes with two powerful, low-maintenance defenses: vinyl siding and seamless gutters. These products are designed to shed water, resist moisture absorption, and starve mold of the wet environment it needs to thrive, ultimately saving you money and protecting your home’s value.
- Why is Mold and Mildew Such a Big Problem in New Orleans?
- What exactly causes mold to grow on my house?
- How Does Vinyl Siding Help Fight Mold and Mildew?
- How Do Seamless Gutters Stop Water Damage?
- FAQs: Protecting Your Home from Dampness and Mold
Why is Mold and Mildew Such a Big Problem in New Orleans?
Mold and mildew thrive in places that are warm, wet, and dark, which perfectly describes many exterior walls, especially those that are shaded by trees or face the north. Mildew is a type of mold that appears as a flat, dusty growth, often gray or white. Mold, which can be green, black, or dark brown, often looks fuzzy and can grow deeper into porous materials.
What exactly causes mold to grow on my house?
Mold spores are always floating in the air, but they only start to grow when they find a few key things: moisture, a food source (like dirt or wood), and the right temperature. Since the New Orleans area has an average high humidity of around 76% year-round, moisture is almost guaranteed. When rain hits your house, and the water isn’t properly drained away, it soaks into the siding and stays damp for hours or days. Over time, this constant wetness, combined with dirt and organic matter on your siding, creates a thriving home for mold.
How Does Vinyl Siding Help Fight Mold and Mildew?
Vinyl siding is an excellent choice for preventing mold growth because it is non-porous and does not contain organic materials that mold can use as food. Unlike traditional wood siding, which is porous and can absorb moisture like a sponge (leading to rot and mold growth inside the wood), quality vinyl is simply a protective, non-absorbent shell.
Does vinyl siding ever get mold on it?
While the vinyl material itself is mold-resistant (meaning mold can’t grow into it), mold or mildew can still grow on its surface if the surface is dirty and constantly wet. However, this surface growth is far easier to remove and manage than mold that has penetrated wood.
- No Food Source: Vinyl siding doesn’t rot or decay, so it takes away the main food source for mold that is built into wood.
- Easy to Clean: If mildew does appear (usually as a result of poor drainage or shade), it can easily be washed off with a simple mixture of water and mild soap or vinegar. You don’t need to repaint or reseal, unlike wood.
- Moisture Barrier: When properly installed by professionals, vinyl siding acts as an essential moisture barrier for your home’s frame, protecting the structural wood underneath from external water. This stops deeper, more serious rot and mold from happening within your walls.
For example, if a wood-sided house and a vinyl-sided house are both shaded by an oak tree, the wood house might develop mold that eats into the wood and requires scraping and costly chemical treatment. The vinyl-sided house will likely only develop a surface layer that can be gently washed away, leaving the material underneath unharmed.
How Do Seamless Gutters Stop Water Damage?
Seamless gutters are one of the most effective tools for preventing exterior moisture problems because their design eliminates leaks and directs high volumes of water far away from your home’s vulnerable walls and foundation. When gutters are clear and working right, water goes where it should—not down the side of your house.
What is the problem with old, sectional gutters?
Traditional gutters are made from several short sections connected with joints and seals. These seams are weak points that are prone to wear out, rust, or separate over time. Every seam is a place where water can leak out and spill down your fascia board and siding. Even worse, these joints are where debris often gets caught, leading to a clog.
- Clog Prevention: A clogged gutter forces water to overflow, pouring directly onto the ground next to your foundation and soaking your lower siding. Seamless gutters have a smooth, continuous interior, which greatly reduces places where leaves and debris can snag and cause a blockage.
- Eliminates Leaks: Because our seamless gutters are custom-made from a single piece of aluminum to fit your home’s exact dimensions, they have no joints or seams along their length. This almost eliminates the chance of leaks that soak your fascia board and the top edge of your siding, where moisture damage often starts.
- Reduces Maintenance: Homeowners with seamless gutters and leaf guards often report spending 30% less time on gutter maintenance compared to those with traditional systems, according to industry reports. Less time cleaning means less chance of a clog causing damage.
FAQs: Protecting Your Home from Dampness and Mold
Does painting over mold on wood siding fix the problem?
No, simply painting over mold on wood siding does not fix the underlying issue; it just hides it temporarily. Mold will continue to grow beneath the paint layer and eventually cause the paint to peel or bubble. To solve mold on wood, you must first remove the mold completely, let the wood dry fully, and then repaint—a cycle that repeats every few years. Vinyl siding eliminates this costly and time-consuming cycle.
Can I install a simple, cheap gutter guard to solve clogs?
While a cheap gutter guard is better than nothing, many low-quality guards can actually trap debris on top of the screen, causing the water to run right over the gutter and down the side of your house anyway. A complete, effective solution involves a seamless gutter system combined with a high-quality, professional-grade gutter protection system designed to shed water and debris efficiently.
How often should I clean my vinyl siding?
For a high-humidity area like Metairie, we recommend cleaning your vinyl siding once a year or at the first sign of any mold or mildew streaks. A simple spray with a garden hose and a soft brush with soapy water is usually enough to remove the surface dirt and spores before they can take hold. This minimal effort protects the look and lifespan of your siding.
Will a new siding and gutter system prevent foundation issues?
While new siding and gutters are not a guarantee against all foundation problems, they are essential preventative tools. Seamless gutters ensure that the large volume of water from your roof is directed away from the soil around your foundation. New vinyl siding prevents water from soaking into your home’s structure. By managing the water above ground, you greatly reduce the risk of soil erosion and water saturation near your foundation, which are major causes of expensive structural damage.
Conclusion
Stopping mold and mildew in the humid New Orleans climate requires a smart, proactive approach. You need exterior materials that resist moisture absorption and a drainage system that prevents water from ever touching your home’s most vulnerable areas. Investing in high-quality vinyl siding and custom seamless gutters from Capital Improvement is the best way to eliminate the maintenance cycle and protect your home’s value for decades.
Don’t let the dampness of the Gulf South wreak havoc on your property. Stop cleaning and start living!
Ready to beat the damp and give your home the low-maintenance protection it deserves? Contact Capital Improvement in Metairie today for a free, no-obligation estimate! Call us or visit our website to schedule your consultation.
