Like most people, you take pride when you manage to keep your home all spic and span despite a busy schedule. After all, a clean home is not only visually pleasing, but more importantly, it's linked to the family's health and well-being. However, with all the care you put into scrubbing and washing, as the Wall Street Journal reports, it pays to know the other threats lurking between your walls.

Jenny Guinness of McLean, VA waited as men in moon suits cut away chunks of drywall in two-foot increments. They would bag and seal the material, and start again. Soon they had removed the walls of an entire room. A mold remediator sat her down and said: "I have really bad news for you. This looks like it goes in every direction…I think you need to have a demolition company come in and start removing whole walls because I can't see an end to it anywhere."

In 2008, Ms. Guinness and her husband, Os, discovered that their townhouse in a suburb of Washington was contaminated with stachybotrys—also known as black mold. That launched a painstaking five-year renovation that cost the couple as much as the original price of the house. The work involved ripping out walls, replacing many of the finishes, and sterilizing nearly every surface and item they owned.

The article adds that while most US homes experience at least a little mold, 47% of them have more serious cases of mold and dampness. Apparently, building practices like using dry wall or installing air conditioning units are making houses more susceptible to molds than ever.

Molds in the house can be a serious health problem. Inhaling their spores can cause a host of illnesses such as allergic reactions, aggravated asthma, skin rashes, and eye irritation. Some species also produce toxins that can cause headaches, nausea, and fatigue.

One safeguard against mold infestation is to check your roof for leaks. Because molds thrive in moist places, the rainwater or melted snow that leaks through your roof can make your home a hotbed for them. A Northern California roofing company can help you repair or replace your damaged roofing to prevent such an occurrence.

Your home should be a safe haven for you and your family. Be alert for any signs of mold infestation and get expert roof repair in Northern Virginia as a precaution.