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What is a Mold Assessment?
In short, a mold assessment is the visual inspection of the property or home in question. A visual inspection is the most important initial step in identifying a possible contamination problem. The extent of any water damage and mold growth will be visually assessed. This assessment is important in determining remedial strategies and will help you to identify the problem area(s) as well as identify those areas where you should focus your repair efforts. A mold assessment of the home is required PRIOR to any consideration of air or bulk/surface sampling. Sampling without an initial assessment will only provide useless information to the client at a cost not likely to be recovered.
Air sampling for fungi should not be part of a routine assessment. Decisions concerning appropriate remediation strategies can usually be made on the basis of a visual inspection. In addition, air-sampling methods for some fungi are prone to false negative results and therefore cannot be used to definitively rule out contamination.
During a mold assessment, ventilation systems are visually checked, particularly for damp filters but also for damp conditions elsewhere in the system and overall cleanliness. Ceiling tiles, gypsum wallboard (sheetrock), cardboard, paper, and other cellulose based surfaces are given careful attention during a visual inspection. The use of equipment such as a boroscope, to view spaces in ductwork or behind walls, or a moisture meter, to detect moisture in building materials, is often helpful in identifying hidden sources of fungal growth and the extent of water damage.
A mold assessment from BC Warner Home Inspections will include a written report complete with photos and helpful resources. Sampling recommendations are issued as a result of the initial assessment results. Typically when visible growth is present, sampling is not required.
Can I clean and remediate mold in my home?
Mold can be safely cleaned or remediated for small isolated areas (10 sq. ft or less) by individuals with little significant cost or effort. For larger areas, a professional abatement company should be considered. Personal protection equipment (PPE) is recommended regardless of size of area. PPE includes a respirator (N95 disposable respirator recommended), gloves, and eye protection. Many biocide products are available commercially in home imporvement and hardware stores. Biocides should only be considered as a last resort as they can prove to be as (or more) harmful to the user than the mold being cleaned.
Porous surfaces (wall board, insulation, carpet, ceiling tiles, wood, etc) should be removed and destroyed or disposed of when possible. Those items and objects which cannot be removed (framing members, etc) should be dried thoroughly and sanitized with a detergent solution. Once cleaned, adequate and proper repairs can be made to damaged areas and components such as framing repair, carpet cleaning or replacement, and wall board replacement.
The work area should be unoccupied. People with sensitivities to allergies and dust should be vacated from the property. Contaminated materials that cannot be feasibly cleaned should be carefully removed from the home in a sealed plastic bag. All areas should be left dry and visibly clean from debris and contamination.
In all situations, the underlying cause of water accumulation must be rectified or fungal growth will recur. Any initial water intrusion should be stopped and cleaned immediately. An immediate response (within 24 to 48 hours) and thorough clean up, drying, and/or removal of water damaged materials will prevent or limit mold growth. If the source of water is elevated humidity in the area, relative humidity should be maintained at levels below 60% to inhibit mold growth. Emphasis should be on ensuring proper repairs of the homes infrastructure, so that water damage and moisture buildup does not recur.
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