The scenario is surprisingly common: a large family, a small house, multiple showers every single day. Moist interior air, from the showers, the washer, the dishwasher, and the staggering amount of cleaning that happens every day contributes to what can be a potentially devastating problem: mold and mildew growth on the walls.
Walls aren’t the only place mildew and mold grow. Some homeowners have reported mold growth on interior window frames — growth that can’t be addressed with bleach, cleaning, or even refinishing the frame.
What can be done? Replacement vinyl windows may be the answer. Unlike wood replacement windows, which offer a potential host site for mold and mildew growth, vinyl replacement windows resist mold.
Continual exposure to moisture can cause wood windows to rot. This is not a problem with vinyl replacement windows, such as Alside’s solid vinyl windows. Solid vinyl windows do not rot.
Often, moisture is often most problematic in two rooms: the bathroom and the kitchen. These are the rooms where the most water is used. Laundry rooms are also sometimes plagued with this issue.
Vinyl replacement windows are available in a variety of styles, many of which will work in bathroom, kitchen, and laundry or utility room applications. Double hung windows, casement windows, and awning windows are often used in these areas. Some homeowners have successfully used vinyl bay windows and vinyl bow windows in kitchens and baths, as well.
Maintaining vinyl windows in a high moisture environment is easy. Regularly wiping down the window frames will keep them clean. Mold spores can’t gain a foothold on the vinyl surface.
Controlling mold growth is essential for family health. Mold and mildew are very common allergy triggers. Toxic mold can even cause fatal reactions: not a chance any homeowner wants to take. A year doesn’t go by without news stories detailing the tragic demise of people who had black mold growing in their home — always a needless death. This can be avoided.
Mold needs three things to grow: oxygen, moisture, and a food source. Obviously, you can’t eliminate oxygen from your living environment. Moisture control is problematic: dehumidifiers and adequate venting can be helpful, but it is difficult to perfect moisture control in a residential setting. However, homeowners can affect the amount of food the mold has available to it. Replacing wood window frames with vinyl replacement windows eliminates the organic material mold uses as a food source.
It’s also important to consider the role of replacement window installation in moisture control and mold elimination. There are two options when it comes to replacement windows: the stock replacement windows available in home improvement stores, and the custom-sized windows available from manufacturers like Alside. Custom vinyl replacement windows fit better, eliminating penetration points for both air and moisture. Achieving the same result with stock windows often requires extensive and expensive retrofitting and carpentry. This may make custom vinyl replacement windows the more cost effective ways to improve your home.
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