What Causes Mildew?

Mildew is a type of airborne fungus, capable of living on and/or under many surfaces. It requires moisture, warmth, a food source, and a surface in order to thrive. Warm, humid conditions, low air-circulation, and darkness will accelerate the growth of mildew.

Mildew looks like accumulated dirt on the surface of walls, floors, baseboards, etc. and may be green, brown, gray, or black in color. Before any painting project, it is important to remove all mildew from the work surface. If the existing mildew is not taken care of, the fungus can grow and start new colonies in other areas.