Our Mold Assessment provides you with specific guidance for addressing potential mold-related issues in your home.
Our assessment includes interior/exterior inspection of the home for mold and conditions conducive for growth, interior infrared scans, air sampling for airborne spore levels, and laboratory testing. Our comprehensive report includes laboratory data and analysis on the types and quantity of mold spores in your home.
Molds are microscopic organisms present everywhere, indoors and outdoors. Molds are fungi which are needed to break down dead material and to recycle nutrients in the environment. To grow and develop, molds need moisture and an organic food source (e.g., wood, paper). Molds grow by digesting organic material, gradually destroying whatever surface they grow on. Visible mold growth is typically discolored green, gray, brown, or black.
The problem isn’t just that molds grow on surfaces, it’s that molds release countless tiny, lightweight spores, which travel through the air. If indoor mold contamination is extensive, it can cause high and persistent airborne spore exposures. Persons exposed to high spore levels can become sensitized and develop allergies to the mold or other health problems. For some people, a relatively small number of mold spores can trigger respiratory issues; for other persons, symptoms may occur if exposure levels are higher. Whatever the effect, indoor mold growth is undesirable and potentially dangerous.
Molds produce health effects via inflammation, allergy, or infection. Allergic reactions (e.g., hay fever) are common threats of mold exposure. Typical symptoms that mold-exposed persons report (alone or in combination) include respiratory problems (e.g., wheezing, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath), nasal and sinus congestion, eye irritation (burning, watery, or reddened eyes), hacking cough, nose or throat irritation, or skin rashes/irritation.
Mold testing, combined with infrared scans and visual inspection methods, is the best non-invasive method to assess the extent and types of mold in your home.
Most people test for mold when they smell an unusual odor, see discolored spots, or become sick for no apparent reason. Because mold growth often is caused or accelerated by moisture, many people also test for mold after a significant water-related property issue, e.g., heavy rains cause water penetration in the basement, dishwasher floods the kitchen, washing machine floods the laundry room, etc.
Testing before remediation helps to establish baseline conditions and the scope of any possible remediation; testing after remediation ensures that the mold has been properly mitigated.
Our Mold Assessment gives you a comprehensive understanding of the types and extent of mold in your home. We employ a multi-faceted approach to mold testing, including visual examination, air sampling, infrared inspection and, in some cases, surface sampling; we ship samples to a qualified lab for results and analysis, which we include in our Mold Assessment report. Our hygienist reviews results and, if we identify issues, we provide you with specific recommendations and next steps.