Do You Need Our Mold Investigation and Analyical Services? ... Maybe YES and Maybe NO!
- there is a complex problem with mold infestation,
- the mold infestation is large,
- you have a legal problem with structural mold (either as plaintiff or defendant), and need legal evidence (data),
- you need proof
(certification) that your remediation project was completed
correctly and completely,
- you are buying/selling a home or business office and need to know if it has problems with mold,
- you suspect that continual exposure to mold has damaged your health, or
- you need to address special mold-related health risks.
Our website, however, is designed to provide you with sufficient information to decide for yourself if you need our help. We believe that self-help is not only less expensive, but also enables you to be in control. In many cases you may already know enough to perform your own inspection, and with a little more information (provided here) you can evaluate your particular situation. Knowledge is power!
Pages 1 through 4 will lead you through various topics:
- How Can I Detect Mold In My Home or Office?
- What is Mold and How Does It Grow?
- Structural Mold versus Health Risks
- What Should I Do About My Home's (or Office's) Mold Infestation?
How Can I Detect Mold In My Home or Office?
Often homeowners are often concerned that they may not be able to recognize mold when they see it. Sometimes this can be tricky, since there are numerous colors and shapes of these fungus colonies, and can be miss-categorized as simply a dirty surface. However, essentially everyone has seen moldy bread, fruit and spoiled food in the refrigerator. With a little practice in observing naturally occurring molds, and then remembering these visual characteristics, homeowners are generally rather keen in seeing moldy building surfaces.
As discussed in the section, What is Mold?, its growth requires an abundant, sustained source of water. This information can be applied to your detective work in locating possible sites of hidden infestation, particularly if you know the history of leaks and spills in your home. Infestations are most likely to occur where at sites water is used in the home (e.g. sinks, toilets, tubs/showers, washers, ice making refrigerators, water heaters, and water pipes). Other less obvious sources of moisture intrusion are roof leaks, over irrigation of exterior plants and problems with ground water infiltration into the concrete slab or the crawl space below the house. An inspection for mold that is exposed to the living space air should always include observations in these areas.
Because mold is always associated with water, the tell-tale signs of structural damage by water are very indicative of likely infestation sites. Look for discoloration or staining patterns on carpets, walls and ceilings, rippling surfaces of hardwood flooring and cabinets, and lifting of vinyl flooring.
Often, the first signs of hidden water problems will be the smell of a moldy odor. When it is actively growing, it produces various gasses as a metabolic by-product. These gasses are a combination of volatile, low molecular weight organic chemicals (aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, and organic acids); the odor of which most people can detect at low part-per-million concentrations. These gasses are easily dissipated with adequate ventilation, but when a room or whole house has been kept closed, the gasses will accumulate, making them more detectable upon first entry to that site. After the excessive structural moisture has dried, the mold will die (or sometimes become dormant), and then eventually the moldy smell will go away.
Because structural cavities (e.g. inside walls and ceilings, toekick spaces of base cabinets, etc.) are poorly ventilated, they are excellent incubation sites for mold as well as bacteria, dust mites, termites, etc. When you realize that a flood or major spill has occurred, ventilate these wet cavities quickly by allowing air to get inside. A $10,000 suggestion: although it seems destructive and somewhat expensive to repair, drilling one inch holes into drywall near the floor to facilitate desiccation. prevent mold growth will actually save thousands of dollars by eliminating the need to have professionals to remove the hidden mold infestation later.