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Mold Testing

By
Home Inspector with HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC
Some have questioned the need for mold testing as part of a mold evaluation and resolution.  I would like to respectfully disagree.  Those who have been through a mold training program (as have the Inspectors at HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC, 615-376-2753) have learned that there are different sources for different molds.  For example, a common source for stachybotrys, a highly toxic mold, is decaying yard debris such as leaves and mulch.  Should leaves be allowed to accumulate on the roof or in the water management system of a structure they could easily produce stachy in a "mold soup".  If this material finds its way into the structure you could have a serious mold problem.  Finding mold-like stains in the attic may have started from such a source.  Simply removing the mold may not prevent the mold from re-occuring.  If you can determine through testing that the mold is stachy then a reasonable approach to prevent the mold from re-oocurring would be to look for the source of the mold on the exterior of the building where leaves have accumulated and started to decay.  As usual, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, and mold testing provides the knowledge!

Comments (5)

Joan Snodgrass
Midamerica Referral Network - Kimberling City, MO
Veddy interesting. Let me ask you what kind of mold might grow on ceiling tiles of a doublewide, at the center beam.  Roof replaced and no sign of mold in attic when roof opened up?
Dec 28, 2007 02:06 AM
Robert Dirienzo
HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC - Franklin, TN
Home Inspections - Nashville TN
Without testing it is difficult to say.  It sounds like it may be related to the HVAC system.  Is there a register close by?
Dec 28, 2007 11:09 AM
Robert Dirienzo
HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC - Franklin, TN
Home Inspections - Nashville TN
Hopefully you saw my earlier response.  I was asking if there was a register close by for the HVAC system?
Dec 28, 2007 11:12 AM
Vincent Coccia
Construction Services Integration - Paoli, PA
Thank you for the information.  Working with mold in a real estate transaction is very difficult. I had to in one instance and it worked itself out but was tricky.  The seller of course thought it was not a problem and I had to keep convincing them it was. Thanks.
Dec 28, 2007 01:46 PM
Robert Dirienzo
HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC - Franklin, TN
Home Inspections - Nashville TN
You're welcome Vincent.  At HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC, we have worked with mold issues in numerous real estate transactions, as well as with homeowners who find a situation in their house that they think is suspicious.  We have found that most homeowners are not aware of the depth of the issue or the significance.  Ours is as much a process of education as it is solution.  The homeowners are usually relieved when HABITEC can lay out a path of resolution so they can get beyond the mold issue.  Knowing how to evaluate for mold following established protocol is key to a successful start to the process.  We do not offer mold mitigation as we feel to do both is a conflict of interest.  If a mold mitigation company comes in to test for mold, declares mold to be present, then lays out an expensive mitigation, there is too much opportunity for misrepresentation of the facts.  HABITEC recommends that one company should evaluate for mold, another should mitigate, if required.  Good luck going forward!
Dec 29, 2007 01:06 AM