If you’ve ever pulled back carpet, vinyl, laminate, or hardwood flooring and found mold growing underneath, you’re not alone. Believe it or not, mold under flooring on slab foundations is common and I want to show you exactly where the problem starts.
It’s likely happening at your foundation.
Today I’m filming on location in Bloomington, Illinois to point out a drainage defect you’ll recognize once you learn to spot it. This is a real-world example of how poor grading and drainage around your foundation leads directly to mold growth under your floors.
How does this happen?
Water collects against your foundation (often because the grade slopes toward the building instead of away from it).
Your foundation is concrete, which acts like a sponge and absorbs that water.
Here’s the critical part: concrete always tries to dry toward the warmer, drier side. Guess where that usually is? The interior of your home.
That moisture migrates up through the slab or from beneath it, trying to escape to the interior. When it meets carpet, padding, vinyl flooring, laminate, or hardwood, it gets trapped. The flooring and pad act like a moisture barrier, preventing the water from evaporating. Result? High humidity and mold growth directly under your flooring. Where you can’t see it until it’s too late.
In this video, I’ll show you:
- Real examples of poor grading that funnel water toward foundations
- How to check your own property’s slope (simple tools like a marble or level work great)
- Why downspout placement and connection quality matter
- The hidden danger of “low spots” in your yard
- How moisture migrates through concrete and under flooring
- Why it doesn’t matter if you’re on the first or second floor—the risk is still real
- What to look for before buying, renting, or building a home
Watch the full video for my on-site walkthrough and practical inspection tips you can use immediately at your own property.
Take time to examine the ground around your foundation’s perimeter. Make sure water slopes away from your home, not toward it. This single detail prevents one of the most costly and difficult mold problems to remediate.
▶️ To learn the critical fundamentals of building ANY kind of home safely with moisture management for mold prevention, see my “Building A Safe Home” interactive online program!
📲 For more education on how to get rid of, remediate, and prevent mold find my online classes at https://avoidingmold.com/education
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Get Your Questions Answered By A Building Professional
Cheryl Ciecko is an ALA, LEED AP, Licensed Architect who helps homeowners and building professionals create safe homes through online education to prevent mold, water damage, and poor indoor air quality.
ONLINE CLASSES & PROGRAMS
You can find her video masterclasses, online programs, and education subscription options at https://avoidingmold.com/education .
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REQUIRED DISCLAIMER
The information contained in this presentation is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure any disease, ailment or injury to the body. It is not medical advice. FDA regulations prohibit the use of medical claims in conjunction with the sale of any product not approved by the FDA. Statements made herein have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Any products, techniques, and/or personal usage tips referred to are not suggested as a replacement for proper treatment from a licensed health care professional. I am not a licensed health care professional and the decision to use or not to use any of this information is the sole responsibility of the listener and/or reader. Everyone is an individual with different body types, different blood types, different body chemistries, and it is important to remember that what works for one person may not work for another person.