MDF board mold inspection

Molds can grow on MDF, plywood and structural lumber.  It eventually depends on the how porous the materials are and how long the moisture content has impacted the materials.  With MDF boards the fibers are semi-porous and the glue and/or compressed materials begin to expand, and as a result, mold will grow outside and inside the MDF board. If it is identified during an inspection, FUNGUY can help indicate mold removal recommendations during the  inspection.  Most cabinets in the kitchen or bathroom are now constructed with mdf board and are susceptible to the water damage problems.  Once the materials are compromised it is difficult to understand the extend of damage.

Mold growth on furniture/Wood/MDF Boards:

Mold growth on furniture is white, green or even black. In many cases, mold on the furniture can grow due to excess moisture level or humidity.  In humid conditions, mold grows on leather or wood and reduce the specialty of furniture and also provide an unpleasant odor. It is necessary to prevent or clean the growth of mold, in advance.  Once mold begins to develop it is important to understand why the moisture or humidity is entering the building. 

Damp spaces may include closets or even rooms that are no in regular use on a day to day basis.  This causes the air to become stagnant and stale causing the air turn over rate to be reduced.  With this situation at hand materials may develop a cooler surface and begin to condense the relative humidity in the air.  The condensation of mold on almost any surface can create mold to grow.

Temperature changes:

When temperature changes, mold can also grow because the temperature of the air cannot be uniform. When the air of both temperatures meet, they cause condensation of water on the surface of furniture, and as a result, mold growth occurs. This problem is critical for detection, so FUNGUY hires an expert for home ventilation for assessing the temperature of the home and also offering potential solutions. If the climate of your area is humid, you should purchase a high-quality dehumidifier so you can check the growth of mold on your furniture in the future regularly.

Cleaning process:

Mold can grow on porous surfaces and can rarely be cleaned efficiently.  With that in mind, mold can be cleaned off of non-porous surfaces easily. The old wives tail leads us to believe that bleach will kill mold, but this is a major myth when determining what type of materials can be cleaned correctly. It is best to understand that MDF board are semi-porous and all the surface cleaning that can be completed will not impact the inner layers of the compressed wood where mold may form as a result of water damage

Hard / non/ semi-porous surfaces:

Here we can compare the difference between structural lumber, that is solid and semi-porous and the mdf board  that is compressed with glue and wood chips.  While the industry standard indicates that structural lumber can be sanded of wiped with an anti-microbial solution, MDF board is constructed differently.  Water can impact the interior structure of the materials and if not dried correctly, can have long lasting visual problems.  As MDF boards are impacted by moisture the ability for mold to grow increases readily.  Even if mold growth can be prevented by proper drying, sometimes the expansion of the materials may results in permanent water damage.  This can be seen often below kitchen or bathroom sink when water intrusion has impacted the materials.

Medium-density fiberboard (MDF):

It is an engineered product of wood that is made by the breakdown of the residuals of hardwood and softwood into fibers of the wood.

In a defibrillator, you can combine the wood fibers with wax or other resin binders, and you can form panels by applying temperature and pressure that can be very high.

Mold growth on MDF boards:

Mold will grow either outside or inside the MDF boards that are porous. Due to high moisture content mold growth on MDF boards, that can be very strange. Mold will grow between the layers of wood. Water damage is responsible for expanding materials and creating gaps.

MDF stands for Medium Density Fiber Board that promotes the growth of mold in your homes, including your furniture. The damaged materials can be removed and replaced by experienced inspectors allowed by FUNGUY.

The mold inspector can be able to recognize the structural integrity, humidity level and the composition of that materials can be compromised. In the space between materials and between the layers of wood, there are greater chances of mold growth. The area is dark and humid for the mold to grow.

Materials:

In your home the materials made up of MDF boards are the following:-

  • Baseboards
  • Cabinets of bathroom
  • Dressers
  • Cabinets of kitchen
  • Crown moldings
  • Window moldings
  • Exterior plywood
  • Sub-floor

Comparison of MDF boards with plywood:

MDF can be much denser than plywood. It is made up of the fibers that are separated, and it can be used as a material for buildings that can be similar to plywood in an application. It can be stronger and much denser as compared to particle boards.  Most cabinets of kitchen and bathrooms are constructed from these materials.

Plywood can be made up of layers of wood in which glue is present that can alternate the grain of the wood for stability, while particleboard is known as a furniture board that can be made up of fibers of wood that are glued and pressed together.  It can be a better product in case of building the cabinets. It has superior construction, and its mechanical functions are more efficient. It can bear the weight that we can say tensile and shearing characteristics. It has less weight than particleboard, and it holds joints of glue better than the particleboard and has more resistance towards dents and scratches.

Particleboard has more excellent stability than plywood. It also costs less than plywood. Particleboards are made up of the leftover materials that are considered as waste materials. It is less expensive so that people can save money. The best kind of particleboard is a medium-density fiberboard (MDF) that has high quality and is protected by laminate.

Prevent mold on MDF boards:

Mold loves the MDF, so this is the reason it grows on the surface. As a result, green, grey or black mold can cover the wardrobe and drawers. You can prevent the growth of mold on MDF boards by sealing the wood or particleboard means you can cover both outside and inside of the MDF furniture that will protect the wood from absorbing continuous moisture . 

Furniture mold removal:

You should use Disposable gloves, N-95 masks for dealing with mold spores, and you can also use a package of anti-bacterial wipes. You should also have garbage bags so you can throw the used wipes, masks, and gloves in it. You can use spray that controls the growth of mold. You must have liquid wax and other sealers that resist water.

Process:

  1. First, wear the mask that is N-95 that will protect you from allergens that result in coughing, asthma, or inflammation in the lungs.
  2. Then wear disposable gloves and make sure that you are not touching the mold spores because, in this way, many diseases can spread. If you accidentally touch sit, then use the wipes to clean the gloves.
  3. You should throw the used wipes, and you should take care of the area that is not affected yet. You can fold a wipe for giving a clean surface.
  4. Use the garbage bags when you want to throw some waste.
  5. You should use a new wipe when you are cleaning the areas that are not affected.
  6. You should clean the whole backboard even in those areas where you do not see any mold or mold spores for killing them if they already present there.
  7. You should use disinfectant wipes, not any wet cloth, because we want to avoid moisture. That is the main reason for the mold.
  8. When you are done with cleaning the whole surface and boards, then throw the gloves and wipes in the bag and take outside to dispose of in the trash.
  9. Use the spray over wooden surfaces for killing the mold spores.
  10. Wait until the area gets dry, and then put the furniture back into use.

Conclusion:

When the damage occurs, FUNGUY can inspect the surfaces and and determine if mold growth is present on the MDF board of the cabinets within your home. Mold can be difficult to identify so the first step is to identify of water damage is present and if the leak is active or from a previous moisture intrusion.  F