How to Identify Common Types of Basement Mold

As a precaution, whenever you get up close to look at a patch of mold, don't inhale too deeply or touch the mold whenever you look at it up close. Many kinds of mold are poisonous and are chief causes of allergies and headaches.

Consider the color of the mold. Basement and bathroom mold can range in color from light gray to black, and have green, blue, or brown tinges.

Dark colored mold that you find in your home may likely belong to either the Stachybotrys or Cladosporium genusus

Lighter mold patches are likely colonies of Aspergillus or Fusarium molds. These two genuses also cover the most common types of outdoor plant molds.

Examine the texture of the mold. If your basement mold is growing in streaks and looks slimy, it is probably Strachybotrys. This is commonly called "black mold" and is a leading cause of mold related allegies.

If it has a fuzzy, or matte texture, it is probably one of the other three varieties.

Extemely fuzzy mold may actually be a variety of food mold, such as Mucor, that has somehow spread to the walls. This can occur in kitchens.

Look at the growth pattern. If the mold is growing in disjoint circular patches, it may belong to the Aspergillus genus. Other kinds of mold will typically grow along a water stain on your basement walls

If you have excessive mold growth in your basement, or what appears to be combination mold, you can get it tested in a lab. Call a home inspection company, or a special mold lab for a quote.