Mold Inspections and Testing

Most customers opt for the mold test and mold inspection combined as both are equally important to get a clear picture of the presence of mold and water damage in a home. The visual inspection portion is scanning the entire home for previous or active water damage and leaks. Its important to check all areas under roof, around windows and doors and anywhere there is plumbing or HVAC as these are typically where you will have moisture issues and consequently.... Mold. 

The mold testing part of your mold inspection includes sampling with either air or tape lift and swab samples. Most of the time 3 air samples are taken including one outdoor sample to establish a control or baseline. The outdoor sample represents what we would expect to find some of indoors (although indoor samples should have less). The samples are delivered to a third party accredited laboratory where they are examined under a microscope. The lab identifies what types of mold are found as well as counts the actual spores in the spore traps. The lab then issues a written report which is emailed to you. We have a phone call to discuss the results and give our recommendations. 

If the mold inspection and test prove positive the mold is in the home in unacceptable levels and the customer will be using a mold remediation company to perform the work or and insurance company is involved we will write a protocol or a written scope of work necessary to remediate and remove the mold. The protocol details steps that need to be taken to clean and remove the mold safely. Once this scope of mold remediation work is complete it is advisable to have a PRV (post remediation verification) test performed. The PRV mold test is another round of air sampling to prove the mold remediation has been completed and is acceptable.

Many different types of mold are commonly found during mold detection. Black mold testing is often what consumers are most concerned with but as you can see from the types of mold found in homes below... Many types of toxic and allergenic molds are commonly found. While mold testing is an important part of the mold inspectors job it is equally important to detect mold and moisture during the mold inspection. Black mold is not always black and laboratory testing is essential to determine what types of mold are present.