I am buying a home. Do I need a mold inspection?

DON'T SAY SOLD UNTIL YOU CHECK FOR MOLD!

A mold inspection is recommended for every home purchase. The mold inspection is different from a home inspection. The mold inspection is designed to find not only mold, but equally important, any sources that could potentially cause mold (sources of water intrusions, excessive moisture and/or humidity).  We think you will agree that it is better to find out if there is a mold problem before you close on a home. While most building inspectors will look for mold, they do not test for moisture content of walls, floors, joists and other structures in the house. Improper grade of the property near the house, as well as landscaping issues may also contribute to a mold problem. If the mold isnt obvious, it will likely be overlooked.

I am buying a new home. Do I need a mold inspection?

YES! See the answer above. Many home builders will continue to build houses despite the weather. Rain, snow, sleet - builders are becoming more and more like the postman! Unfortunately, most builders will not take steps to protect the wood under the siding during periods of wet weather. The siding, more often than not it is vinyl, goes on over wet plywood or chip board. It seals in the moisture. Once the house becomes heated, this space makes a perfect environment for mold growth.

Why do I need an inspection if I already know where the mold is?

This is where the expertise of a mold inspector is invaluable when evaluating a mold problem. A certified mold inspector will not only perform a visual inspection of all areas that are likely to induce mold growth, but he will also perform moisture measurements, measure temperature and humidity levels, and will look in areas that are hard to look at using a specialized vision aid called a borescope. Mold that is visible to the lay person may just be the tip of the iceberg as far as potential mold problems are concerned.

In addition, a certified mold inspector can obtain samples that may be able to determine if your problem is localized or more widespread. The samples can be cultured to determine exactly which molds you have in your house, which is crucial in determining a course of action to take.

I use bleach to clean mold in my house. Is this OK?

If you don't mind cleaning the mold over and over again, use bleach. However, bleach does not penetrate the pores of the material that the mold is growing on. Thus, the "roots" of the mold survive the cleaning. When excess moisture is present again, the mold will grow back. Bleach also will not kill mold spores. The EPA discourages the use of household bleach for cleaning mold. 

I see ads for mold testing for $79. Is this a good deal?

That depends on what is meant by "mold testing". We perform various types of "mold testing" for prices starting at $49. You should ask questions and be certain that the "testing" will accomplish all that you need it to. The most commonly performed test is an air sample that is not cultured, and we perform that for $78. But that is not the same as having a mold inspection. A thorough mold inspection will determine the need for further testing. Air sampling may confirm the presence of mold growth, but you will still need to find out where it is and why it is growing. The term "mold testing" usually refers to an air sample performed in the area where one already knows they have mold and is not usually necessary unless you are having mold related health problems. Afterall, if you know you have mold in an area, you would be ill-advised not to remediate it as soon as possible. Testing may also take the form of a tape lift sample of mold growing in a particular area, or a swab of the mold growth that is then cultured in the lab. See our Mold Services section for more details.