Have you recently noticed a little patch of black mold growing on the ceiling of your bathroom? Rather than wondering about how you are going to remove it, your first question should be "is black mold dangerous?" Here are three points that you need to know about the presence of mold in your home.

Mold can involve larger areas and can be a big problem. If you need to remove or clean mold, you want to see the articles 'How To Remove Moldy Drywall?' and 'How To Disinfect Moldy Drywall'.

Check out this government website before you mess with mold. A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home, it will give you some insight and safety tips. Another good article is Mold, on the CDC website. The EPA states that repairs of less than ten square feet can be performed by a homeowner, as long as they follow the guidelines.

DID YOU DO SOMETHING WRONG?

The first thing you need to know about mold growing in your home is that it didn't occur because of something you did or didn't do. Mold spores move through the air, and can easily enter the home through any opening. They could have easily wafted in on the breeze when you were carrying your groceries in from the car, or piggybacked in on the fur of your pet.

Once inside the home, if mold meets the right growing conditions, then the spores will begin to reproduce and grow bigger colonies. It can take as little as 48 hours for mold to begin growing if it hits just the right spot.

WHAT DOES MOLD NEED TO GROW?

So what are the right spots for mold to grow? The three main ingredients that mold needs to grow are food, moisture, and humidity. When it comes to moisture, there is a ready supply of that already in your home. From the steam that is created by your hot showers, to that insignificant leak dripping from your pipes, the first item mold needs is not hard to locate.

Bathrooms are one place where mold can grow rapidly due to the heat that is generated in there. If you are not regularly using your ventilation fan, the heat from the shower steam has nowhere to go. This builds up until the air molecules are filled with water, and this is the cause of your humidity.

As for food, the particle board that is covering your bathroom walls and ceiling is all the food mold spores need. These products are made from cellulose materials which contain sugar. Mold has a sweet tooth, so fiber boards, wallpaper, and wood particles are all the perfect diet for your mold.

WILL THE PRESENCE OF MOLD CAUSE ILLNESS?

Now that you have noticed the problem growing in your bathroom, it is time to answer the question of "is black mold dangerous?"

The short answer to that question is yes, it can be.

The problem with black mold is that it does not affect the health of every person in the same way.

Some people may not experience any direct reactions from being exposed to black mold. But those who are sensitive to allergies, have respiratory illnesses such as asthma, or who are very young could be susceptible to bigger problems.

Medical reactions that may occur after being exposed to black mold include skin irritation, breathing issues such as wheezing, runny noses, and irritated eyes. Prolonged exposure to mold by those already sensitive to it could result in a constant shortness of breath, or lung infections.

Once mold has been noticed in the home, it needs to be removed immediately. For all of the mold that you can see, there may be more lurking beneath your wall or ceiling coverings that you cannot see. If you feel the health of a home dweller is being affected by black mold, then you must remove them from the home until the mold is completely removed. Respiratory problems can quickly develop into severe medical conditions, so it is not worth the risk of prolonged exposure.

Testing Moldy Drywall

You may be concerned that the mold that you have is the dangerous 'black mold' that everyone is afraid of. There are many thousands of types of mold that you could have in your home. Only a few of them are toxic and not all of the toxic ones are black.

There has been overactive use of scare tactics with regard to mold. Some of this comes from the media, and some of it comes from companies that want to sell expensive remediation services.

How can you tell what type of mold you have? You cannot tell by the naked eye. The only way to tell is to have it tested. With that said, testing can be expensive.

There are some relatively inexpensive test kits that can tell you whether or not you have a dangerous problem. You can find 'Test Kits' for purchase at the 'My Mold Detective' website. If you want to put your mind at ease, test the mold before you attempt to clean or remove it.

Conclusion

So is 'black mold' dangerous? It can be, but many times it is not. However, it is dirty and smelly so getting rid of it makes sense. See the articles 'How To Remove Moldy Drywall?' and 'How To Disinfect Moldy Drywall'.

One could probably write an entire book on all of the different types of drywall texture that one might encounter. We will try to address the common ones.

The names below may vary from area to area and even between those who install the texture. Hopefully the descriptions will help you identify what type you have.

Stipple Textures - This type of texture is done by rolling or spraying on a layer of drywall compound and then 'stippling' it with a brush. The pattern may be round, oval or monolithic.

Knock Down Texture - This is often accomplished by adding a third step to the stippled texture. When the texture is partially dry a plastic or rubber trowel is dragged over the stipple to achieve the 'knock down' look.

Roll Textures - This type is done by applying drywall compound to the wall or ceiling with a paint roller. This type is typically used in closets and garages. It is the easiest of all of them to match.

Trowel Texture - These textures are a carry over from the plastering era. As the name implies they are done with a trowel. Spanish texture, the fan pattern on other similar patterns are done in this manner. Sometimes sand or other aggregates are added to the mud or plaster to give the texture a grainy look.

Acoustic Texture - This type is done with special equipment and looks like small beads sprayed onto the ceiling.

Orange Peel - Or spattered textures are also done with spray equipment.

Texturing drywall is an art that is shrouded in mystery, the secrets passed on for generations in quiet whispers. Not really, it just sounded good. Repairs can be made on drywall texture. Read on and see if you want to try.

Drywall textures are most commonly used to give ceilings some visual appeal and hide imperfections on a surface that is prone to showing the seams. When done correctly a textured ceiling does not need to be painted initially, thus saving on construction costs.

There are many types of drywall textures. For each type there are numerous variations. The pattern and the thickness of the drywall compound used affect the final appearance. To make it worse, drywall texturing done by two different installers, using the same type and pattern of texture will have a different look.

Texturing is another 'touch' or 'feel' trade that allows for some individuality. Don't worry, often with a little experimenting you can imitate the texture you have.

Texturing Drywall - Information

Texturing drywall is usually the last step in the drywall repair process. A drywall finisher will charge between twenty-five and fifty dollars an hour, perhaps more. They may quote you a price of $75 and get it done in fifteen minutes. Depending on how much work is needed you could save anywhere from $25 to $200, doing it yourself.

Due to the learning curve we are classifying texturing drywall as a more difficult task.

Texturing drywall is both simple and difficult at the same time. For a homeowner there is some experimenting to do. For a small area you may be able to dab some compound onto the surface and blend it in with your finger.

When you are all done and get the area painted you may find that you can tell that it was patched. Texturing drywall is also messy. Use drop clothes and plastic to protect the area. Try not to track the mud through the house.

Texturing Drywall – The Steps Involved

• Step One -This section provides a description of the various types of texture that are common in most homes.
• Step Two - For Stipple Textures take a look at at this segment.
• Step Three - Knock Down Textures are covered in this step.
• Step Four - Roll Textures are discussed here.
• Step Five - Go to this article for information on Trowel Textures.
• Step Six - In this article we deal with Acoustic Texture.
• Step Seven - Finally there is orange peel or spattered texture.

One other option for a texture repair is to redo the entire area. If the ceiling or wall is small you may want to consider this. For a spot in the middle of the living room ceiling this probably is not practical.

For the best results, experiment on a piece of drywall or other surface. Adjust both the thickness of the mud and the pattern until you feel you have the 'look'. Practicing and experimenting ahead of time will help you to blend the texture in, thus achieving a patch that does not look like a patch. Texturing drywall when you are trying to match something takes a little more patience.

Summary

The 'Introduction' to this series on 'Texturing Drywall' provided you with an idea on what the cost might be to get someone to fix this for you. We also provided some tips on simple ways to fix your problem and information on the problems you could encounter.

'Types of Drywall Texture' is and article on the various types of texture you might encounter. Different parts of the country favor some over others.

Dealing with repairing 'Stipple Texture' was covered in this step.

Another type of stipple texture is the 'Knock Down Texture'. Matching this texture will require one extra step.

'Roll Texture' is the easiest one to repair. We told you how to go about doing it in this step.

'Trowel Textures' require additional skills to duplicate. They are a throw back to the plaster textures of years gone by.

'Acoustic Textures' are a popular spray applied texture that include a particulate in the drywall. It is possible to repair them as described in this segment.

Another popular spray applied texture is 'Orange Peel Texture'. It is also possible to repair this one.

There are a lot of different textures that you may encounter. They are mostly variations on a few different types. With a little patience you should have been able to repair or patch your area. Texturing drywall is not that hard, it is just a different type of skill.

The old proverb 'practice makes perfect', applies to texturing drywall. Trying out your skills on a scrap piece of drywall will go a long way toward getting a good match. The right mud and additives are the other part of the equation. Hopefully you were successful in your endeavor.

Drywall taping tools include pans, knives and sanding heads. Drywall knives come in a lot of sizes. Unfortunately, you need at least a few of them to be able to do a taping job. A 4”, 6”, 8” and 10” will take care of the majority of the situations you encounter.

For a one time repair, there are plastic knives that will do a passable job. Remember they are plastic and will break easily. A plastic drywall pan is quite useful. They're not that expensive. A bread pan will work in a pinch. Don't buy a sanding pole unless you have a lot of repairs to do.

If you only want to buy one decent knife, make it a 6”. I would venture to say that I do about 65% of my drywall repair work with a six inch knife. Of course I must admit that the other thirty five percent comes up regularly and having multiple knives is important.

You can equip yourself with a basic set of drywall taping tools (shown in the picture), for less than a hundred dollars. They will last for years. You'll be all set for your next taping mudding drywall experience.