Mold on Common Building Materials

Q: 🔍 Mold Detection by Material

🟤 Drywall Drywall is the #1 most mold-prone material. Its porous paper face is a food source for Stachybotrys chartarum (toxic black mold). 👉 Learn how to identify and remove mold on drywall 🟤 Inside Walls Mold hidden inside wall cavities is often caused by roof leaks or plumbing issues and can go undetected for months. 👉 Find out how to spot mold inside walls and what to do about it 🟤 Baseboards MDF and wood baseboards often harbor mold behind them, especially when water gets trapped between the trim and the drywall. 👉 Here’s how to check for and clean mold on baseboards 🟤 Plaster Mold won’t feed directly on lime-based plaster, but can grow on the paint, dust, or glue on its surface when exposed to moisture. 👉 Learn what to look for and how to handle mold on plaster 🟤 Ductwork Mold can grow inside HVAC ducts or on the outside due to condensation. This can spread spores throughout your home. 👉 Discover the risks and solutions for mold on ductwork 🟤 Windows While mold doesn’t grow on glass, it commonly appears on wood frames, caulking, or sills where condensation collects. 👉 Learn how to detect and clean mold on windows 🟤 Floors Wood, laminate, carpet, and even concrete can harbor mold after water damage. Some molds here may release mycotoxins. 👉 Get expert advice on dealing with mold on floors 🟤 Basements Basements are ideal environments for mold due to humidity, poor airflow, and foundation leaks. 👉 Here’s how to prevent and detect mold in basements 🟤 Attic Insulation Fiberglass insulation doesn't grow mold, but the paper backing and wood around it will if there’s a roof leak or poor airflow. 👉 Learn how to spot and deal with mold on attic insulation

Updated November 5, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

Mold can grow on just about any surface — but how it grows, and how dangerous it becomes, depends on the building material.

Some materials allow mold to dig deep, others only support surface-level growth. On this page, you'll learn exactly where mold grows most often inside homes — and get links to deeper guides for each specific surface.

Use the quick links below or scroll to learn more about each type of material.

🧪 Want a broader understanding?
👉 See how to detect mold
👉 Explore mold types & colors

🔍 Mold Detection by Material

🟤 Drywall

Drywall is the #1 most mold-prone material. Its porous paper face is a food source for Stachybotrys chartarum (toxic black mold).
👉 Learn how to identify and remove mold on drywall

🟤 Inside Walls

Mold hidden inside wall cavities is often caused by roof leaks or plumbing issues and can go undetected for months.
👉 Find out how to spot mold inside walls and what to do about it

🟤 Baseboards

MDF and wood baseboards often harbor mold behind them, especially when water gets trapped between the trim and the drywall.
👉 Here’s how to check for and clean mold on baseboards

🟤 Plaster

Mold won’t feed directly on lime-based plaster, but can grow on the paint, dust, or glue on its surface when exposed to moisture.
👉 Learn what to look for and how to handle mold on plaster

🟤 Ductwork

Mold can grow inside HVAC ducts or on the outside due to condensation. This can spread spores throughout your home.
👉 Discover the risks and solutions for mold on ductwork

🟤 Windows

While mold doesn’t grow on glass, it commonly appears on wood frames, caulking, or sills where condensation collects.
👉 Learn how to detect and clean mold on windows

🟤 Floors

Wood, laminate, carpet, and even concrete can harbor mold after water damage. Some molds here may release mycotoxins.
👉 Get expert advice on dealing with mold on floors

🟤 Basements

Basements are ideal environments for mold due to humidity, poor airflow, and foundation leaks.
👉 Here’s how to prevent and detect mold in basements

🟤 Attic Insulation

Fiberglass insulation doesn't grow mold, but the paper backing and wood around it will if there’s a roof leak or poor airflow.
👉 Learn how to spot and deal with mold on attic insulation

🛠️ Not Sure What You're Dealing With?

If you're unsure what material you're seeing mold on — or how far the problem goes — get help now:

👉 Explore the Mold Inspection Guide
👉 Explore the Mold Remediation Guide

Explore Related Topics:

Meet the author

Brad Fishbein is an ACAC council-certified Microbial Investigator. In the fall of 2012, he became a Licensed Mold Assessor in the State of Florida through the Department of Business & Professional Regulation. Brad has helped homeowners with over 5,000 successfully completed Mold Inspections since 2009.

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