What Happens If You Paint Over Mold?

Many homeowners have had to deal with mold under their cabinets and on their walls or ceilings. Sometimes, it appears right when you’re ready to repaint your walls, which puts you in a tough predicament. So, what happens if you paint over mold?

Painting over mold is a temporary solution, as it covers the mold but does nothing to kill it. The paint will trap moisture beneath the surface, which can feed the mold and cause it to grow. You must treat the mold with a commercial mold killer, bleach, or white vinegar and let it dry for 48 hours before painting the wall.

It’s worth calling a mold remediation specialist if you’ve never before treated your walls for mold. That’s especially true if you’re prone to allergies or you have respiratory problems, such as asthma and COPD. Follow along as we explore everything you must know about what happens if you paint over mold.

Is It Safe To Paint Over Mold?

Painting over mold isn’t safe, as you can inadvertently spread mold spores throughout your house. You can also make the existing mold patch grow if you trap moisture on the wall under the paint. Covering mold is ineffective for many reasons, such as:

1. Masks A Larger Problem

If you paint over mold, all it will do is delay the inevitable. Mold isn’t just a stain on your wall. It’s a living organism that is determined to grow. This organism thrives on moisture, and painting over mold and mildew will just cover it. You may think that will kill it, but that’s not the case, and in fact, you may make the problem worse.

That’s why you’re supposed to treat mold and mildew before painting over affected walls. A few patches of mold can quickly turn into an outbreak if you just cover it. The sooner you address the it, the less likely you are to experience the many harmful side effects. Don’t paint over mold without first treating it or hiring a mold remediation specialist.

2. Exposes Yourself To Mold Spores

Are you aware that scrubbing mold is dangerous? Doing so can release spores into the air, which will then help spread mold throughout your home. As the spores release, you can also inadvertently inhale them, which is dangerous for those with respiratory problems. Painting over mold isn’t much different than scrubbing mold, as you can easily release spores into the air.

You should already wear a mask to protect against volatile organic compounds when applying paint in your home, but not everyone thinks to do that, especially when it’s a simple job or a mild touch-up. That said, the risk of irritating asthma, COPD, or allergies isn’t worth it. Inhaling mold spores is also dangerous for people who are immunocompromised.

3. Hides Potential Problems

The mold on your wall most likely points to a larger issue. That’s especially true if the mold is accompanied by musty odors, wet spots, and bubbling or cracked paint. These are signs of a leak, which is among the biggest cause of mold outbreaks. You won't know if there is a bigger issue if you paint over mold. You won't be able to tell if and when the mold spreads.

Eventually, the mold will crack and peel the paint as it grows, but that may take a long time. By hiding the mold under paint, you are unable to track its growth and trace what caused it in the first place. A leak behind your wall can contribute to dangerous structural damage, so you must address it as quickly as possible. 

4. Wastes Paint

Painting over mold is a temporary solution, as the mold will continually grow and release more moisture, which will damage the paint. Why go to the trouble of painting the wall if it will be ruined by the mold? Eventually, you’re going to buy more paint or hire someone else to paint your wall again. Even worse, you must also pay for mold remediation, which is quite expensive and difficult. You can save a lot of money by removing the mold, making sure it’s gone, and then painting the walls.

How Soon Can You Paint After Removing Mold?

You must wait until your wall is dry after removing the mold before painting the wall. Otherwise, the paint won’t properly adhere to the surface, and moisture can get trapped. Ideally, you should treat the wall with a commercial mold killer or a household product, such as bleach or distilled white vinegar.

Never scrub mold without first treating it with a mold killer, or else you’ll disperse dangerous mold spores. Closely follow the product instructions, as the key is to get it right the first time. Wait up to 48 hours, or until the wall is dry, before you can safely prime and paint the wall. Run a fan to speed up the process. Look for mold-resistant paint, which contains biocides and other additives, if you're painting a wall that was previously had mold.

Can You Tell If Someone Has Painted Over Mold?

You can tell someone has painted over mold if you find discolored patches that look like they’ve suffered water damage. Sometimes, the damage can appear as dark spots. In other cases, you’ll notice bubbles and cracked or peeling patches in the paint. When you're near the wall, you may notice a musty odor coming from the spot. Don't sniff too closely, so you don't inadvertently inhale mold spores.

You can touch it to see if you can feel any moisture. This can be a common experience for renters, as some landlords focus on temporary solutions. You’re more likely to find mold on walls in the laundry room, bathroom, or kitchen. However, mold can grow on any wall in your home due to leaks, poor ventilation, and excessive indoor humidity.

What Instantly Kills Black Mold On Walls?

You can quickly kill the black mold on your walls using distilled white vinegar, bleach, sodium hypochlorite, or bio-enzymatic products. It’s worth noting that each of these mold killers can stain and damage the wall if you’re not careful. That’s why so many people contact mold remediation professionals to mitigate risks while addressing the issue.

Summing It Up

Painting over mold is dangerous, as it will linger on the wall and continually grow long after the paint dries. That’s because mold and mildew trap moisture, which can get stuck under the paint and eventually weaken it. You must treat the affected area with distilled white vinegar, bleach, or a commercial mold killer, then let it dry before painting.

Related Guides:

• How To Tell If Mold Has Spread
• Eleven Signs Of Mold In The House