Would it surprise you to learn your home can make you sick? Well, it can.

Everything from toxins to gases and pesticides contribute to what is known as sick house syndrome, and one of the biggest problems is hidden mold and mildew growth in your attic. It can affect your breathing and even your skin, and people with allergies, asthma and respiratory issues are particularly affected.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mold can cause nasal problems, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, and eye and skin irritation. For people with mold allergies, the reactions can be extremely serious.

Couto Construction prides itself on being “experts from the attic up,” including installing attic insulation, roofs, gutters and gutter guards. If you think you’ve got a sick house, you’ll want these experts to fix it.

How do you know if you’ve got a sick house with hidden mold and mildew? Your attic may look this, with mold staining the wooden beams and plywood:

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Couto Construction
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The mold and mildew hides in your attic or crawlspace, and a bad roof with poor ventilation is usually the cause. Your home and its occupants create roughly five gallons of moisture a day. That moisture can creep into your attic and it attaches in the form of mold to areas such as the plywood below your roof or the framing in the attic.

After a treatment from Couto Construction, your attic could look like this:

Couto Construction
Couto Construction
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Proper ventilation, air sealing and insulation can heal a sick home.

Your roof may not have vent pipes or proper ridge vents. Here’s what the ridge of your roof should look like:

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Couto Construction
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Poor insulation creates ventilation problems as well. If your attic looks like this, you need more insulation:

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Couto Construction
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Trust in Couto Construction to fix your problems once and for all. The perfect time to insulate and treat your attic is just before installing your new, properly vented roof. Within days, Couto Construction will have both jobs done and your home will have more curb appeal, be comfortable, be healthier and more energy efficient!

Do you have more questions about how mold and dampness affect your health? This CDC link will help: https://www.cdc.gov/mold/dampness_facts.htm

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