Mold and Fungus

• While mold does not necessarily present a problem to the structural integrity of wood, certain types of fungus and fungus-producing environments can lead to wood decay. Moisture and warm air are key ingredients for mold and fungal growth on wood, and decay fungi will cause wood to rot over time. These decay fungi are known as white rot and brown rot, and are very recognizable when they begin to deteriorate wood. White rot robs wood of its natural color, giving it a bleached-out appearance and leaving the wood spongy in more advanced stages.
  
  

Common Household Mold

• The white mold that is most present in a household environment is likely to be mildew. Mildew by itself does not cause destruction to wood floors, and is easily cleaned up with soap and water. White mold can be produced in a laboratory setting by saturating wood samples and storing them overnight. Although this type of mold growth does not decay wood, it is an indication of high humidity or excessive moisture problems, which can be corrected by improving ventilation in the room to dry out the wood.
  
  

White Spots on Wood Floors

• Another source of white spots on your wood floors may be ordinary water spotting, which is not fungal growth at all. This can result from residue left after cleaning the wood floors, or may be caused by constant high humidity in the room. Wood floors with a wax finish are especially vulnerable to white spots other than fungal growth. These white spots usually show up after cleaning, and any buildup over time can be removed by rubbing the spots with mineral spirits and fine steel wool.
  
  

Fungal Growth on Wood Floors

• If you do, in fact, have verified fungal growth on your wood floors, you have some serious air quality problems in your home. Mold, mildew and fungus can be the cause of respiratory inflammations that are health risks, especially to those with asthma and allergies. Official health agencies, construction contractors and even professional mold remediation companies are sources of information for addressing and correcting fungal white spots on wood floors in your home.