Is There Mold in Your Carlsbad Home?

Homeowners - Is there mold in your Carlsbad home or do you suspect there may be?

Buyers - Did the home inspection for the house you are trying to buy reveal possible mold?

It's possible the answer is YES.

We’ve been told mold is very common both indoors and out, and molds provide a useful service by destroying dead or decaying plant matter. But mold can also cause problems indoors - destruction of wall, ceiling, roof or floor surfaces, and may pose a health hazard for some people.

I have seen a number of short sales and REOs in my area where it was disclosed that mold was an issue based on inspections…not just supposition.

If you suspect or are concerned about mold, due to peeling wall paper, staining, musty odor, a rotting roof, poor drainage, or cracked exterior walls, or it is noted on a home inspection, a more formal MOLD INSPECTION is a prudent thing to do.

VM3 Environmental, Inc. is a mold inspection service, located in Carlsbad, that covers the Southern California region (Orange, Los Angeles, and San Diego Counties). They do not provide remediation services, to avoid any conflict of interest.

Having been through a couple of these, here is the general process:

• A VISUAL INSPECTION is done to determine if suspect conditions are present, including using a moisture meter; photos are used to document
• If recommended, an AIR SAMPLE is taken and tested through independent lab analysis to assess the level and type of mold present
• A WRITTEN REPORT is provided within 48 hours or so
• If needed, a list of qualified remediation services will be provided so the client can obtain estimates of the work needed and subsequent costs.

When you consider the potential impact of mold, particularly as a buyer, the cost for these inspections is relatively low. A visual inspection with moisture meter and photos is $195 for up to 1000 SF ($100 for each additional 1000 SF). Each air sample that is taken for lab analysis is $99 to $125 (this varies regionally depending on the lab). NOTE: Rates may have changed since this article was written

VM3 Environment in Carlsbad – (760) 273-9728 or (866) 513-MOLD [6653]; Los Angeles (310) 295-1099 or (866) 513-MOLD; Orange County (949) 269-3073 or (866) 513-MOLD.

VM3 Environmental also provides mold inspection services in Central NJ (Union, Middlesex, Somerset and Monmouth Counties). They can be reached at (866) 513-MOLD or (732) 667-1921.

Stay tuned for a series of articles on mold written by Andy Konopaki, Founder and President of VM3 Environmental.