Mold
Inspections
Mold inspections are
done before and after mold remediation. Mold inspections
should be done by Certified Mold
Inspectors.
Initial Mold
Inspection
(Assessment)
Mold inspection
and testing begins with a visual assessment of the property.
Before starting one, any sudden flood or plumbing leak needs to be taken
care of. Mold Inspection
Purpose. A mold assessment is
about finding all the possible sources of moisture and determining the
present condition of the house. The most important thing to do
stop the moisture. It doesn't make sense clean up the mold
until it is because mold will come right
back.
Mold Inspection Process. A mold
inspection is a modified home inspection of the house focused on
moisture control, plumbing leaks, floods, and storm water
drainage. Before starting, there is a client interview and
tour of the property.
Information gathered is
critical to understanding how the house may be performing.
Part of the process is determining how occupants make use of the
moisture control features of the house. If the house is under
contract, the home inspection report is
reviewed.
Outside Inspection. After the tour and
interview, a mold inspection begins with a full review of roofing, attic
ventilation, siding, utility penetrations, windows, doors, foundation,
crawlspace, gutters, and grade drainage. A check is made to
see if all components are installed and sealed
properly.
While outside, the size of the air
conditioning system is noted and compared to the heated square feet of
the building. For an average house, there should be 400-700
sqft per ton of cooling. Energy efficient houses my have
around 1000 sqft per ton.
Inside
Inspection. Once inside, the moisture control features of
the house are observed and may be operated. Key features
include ventilation, temperature control (with the heating and cooling
system), and humidity control.
Moisture vapor levels
are measured and compared to expectations, given the season, time of
day, occupant use of moisture control features, and building
construction. Relative humidity should be less than 50%, where
35-40% is ideal.
Components of the air conditioning
system are checked for a reasonable match. If warranted, a
comparison of the supply & return ductwork is checked against to
the capacity of the equipment it is attached to.
Stopping the Water.
The value of a mold assessment is figure
out how to stop the water an start the process for cleaning it
up. As a home inspection service company, we specialize in
identifying where the water is coming from and making recommendations
for making repairs.
Sometimes, repairs need to be made before
calling in mold remediators. Other times, contractors and
mold remediators need to work together. It depends on the
situation.
Mold Clearance Inspection
(Assessment)If the client
requests it, a mold inspection with mold testing is made with the goal
of obtaining a clearance letter. This is done verify mold
remediation is complete. First a home inspection is made of
the areas expected to be repaired and cleaned. If water is
managed, moisture is controlled, and visible mold removed, mold
clearance testing is
performed. Cautions about Certified Mold
InspectorsA Certified Mold
Inspector (CMI) should be expected to do both both parts of a mold
assessment: mold inspection and
mold testing.
Beware of
Mold Testing Only! Ask the person who you're
considering how the mold inspection is done. Often, many home
inspectors, professing to be a Certified Mold Inspector, only do mold
testing--the tests you tell them to do!
Beware of Mold
Remediators Doing Mold Assessments! A Certified Mold
Inspector should do independent mold inspection and testing.
Home inspectors trained in home performance issues are better qualified
to the mold inspection because they have to know how and why every
system in the house works together. Understand that most home
inspectors are not trained in home performance. Their
contracts usually specifically exclude it.
Most
remodelers and builders are not building scientists either, so they end
up doing what the they know and ignore what they do not
understand. Finding a mold remediation company who understand
the moisture control principles of building science are rare, but there
are some.
Mold testing should also be done by a
disinterested, independent third party. Initial tests should
be taken and interpreted by an independent mold inspector to avoid
scams. It's okay if a mold remediator wants to take mold samples
themselves to determine their own work performance before clearance
testing. Just be aware of the "fox guarding the hen
house"!
More
Mold Removal & Mold Cleanup Information
This website only covers mold inspection
& mold testing. Our other website, Metro Atlanta
Area Mold Assessments, discusses the mold remediation process
and the professionals who do them in greater detail.
Mold
Assessments | Mold Remediation Process |
Mold Inspection
| Mold Testing
Mold Report
| Mold Inspector |
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