Having barely moved into the apartment of Oksana Schmidt (39) from Flawil SG, mold was very common. It’s not an isolated case. “Mold is a huge problem in Switzerland,” says Franc Zaccaria. According to statistics, about every fifth house is more or less affected. The managing director of painter Langhart GmbH in Zurich specializes in mold infestation. He explains to Blick what to look out for in the event of an infestation and how to detect mold early.
“You should check the backs of furniture, especially furniture placed in winter and on exterior walls,” she says. Tip from the pro: You can measure humidity by purchasing a hygrometer. Ideally, the humidity in winter should average 50 percent.
How can you tell if the mold is painted or not?
As soon as you enter a home, you can identify possible causes of mold. A secret tip: crumbly plaster. If you notice cracks in the facade, this may be a sign of damp walls, which are the perfect breeding ground for mold. You should also check the window frames. The fungus usually first forms on the silicone seals and remains unnoticed at first glance.
Particularly bad: Any molding is usually painted over so that you don’t have to pay for the damage yourself. “As an layman, you can hardly tell unless the painting is done properly and you don’t see a changing surface texture or color differences,” says Zaccaria. A mold specialist, on the other hand, can usually determine this with various measurements.
Darker, more dangerous
There are about 200,000 different types of molds. “There are about 20 really bad ones. The darker the mold, the more dangerous it is,” explains Zaccaria. The causes of a mold infestation can be very diverse. The expert summarizes that in most cases the problem is caused by both structural defects and the usage behavior of the residents.
The best way to prevent mold is to ventilate properly: Open the window fully two to four times a day, for five to ten minutes at a time – just don’t tilt it.