The Mold/attic condensation image correctly illustrates a common issue in Florida where people often vent bathroom and even dryers into the attic rather than outside. In such instances, it is very common to find black mold coating the attic side of the roof deck. Fortunately, Florida is warm enough even in the winter that the moisture is generally vented to the outside before significant damage from wood destroying organisms (WDO) can occur. But in attics where there is insufficient ventilation and air movement one might find bracket fungi growing or other WDO where there is missing insulation on a knee wall resulting in condensation on that surface.
This is an image of moisture we detected in a wall using a thermal camera. The moisture that is inside the wall is not visible to the naked eye. If we have not found this, the homeowner would be dealing with a bigger mold remediation job later down the road.
In this picture, there is mold near the bathtub on the right. Because the mold was very clear, a mold sampling test was not required since it was already visible. This is the case for many other inspections where mold is unarguably clear and present.
When inspecting a Flood damaged building the first thing you want to do is inspect the exterior of the building. If you see downed power lines or smell gas, do not go inside. Wear suitable clothing for the job, good boots, gloves, and a face mask. Do not use appliances that could be wet. And remember to bring a HEPA-rated respirator with you in case you detect there might be mold already there.
I picked the garage inspection article and what I learned from it was how easy it really is to spot an issue/ problem area from even a few feet away. These defects include improper alterations and improper bearing points.The defects you actually have to look for are inadequate metal connectors, inadequate fasteners and
improper fastener installation.By carefully looking and being observant, small issues can lead to discovering major structural problems.
This a photo of an interior closet housing an Air-Handler portion of the HVAC system. A type of mold was observed on the plenum. This condition may have been caused by possible air duct leakage and is in need of attention to eliminate and prevent growth of mold.
As the area in question is less than 10 square feet, it is recommended to have a certified mold Remediator review further and advise client of necessary mitigation required. All (PPE) Personal Protective Equipment required should be used for safety of Remediator and Occupants of dwelling.
Inspector recommends having a licensed HVAC contractor review further and make corrections necessary after the project has been remediated so that it is reasonably certain that the mold will not return from that same cause.
I studied the Efflorescence for Inspectors portion of the articles. This an indication of the presence of moisture in porous materials via capillary action. These areas generally show a white chalky and sometimes bubbling effect on porous and or painted porous materials. Further evaluation of plumbing and or foundation drainage systems ie water proofing should be conducted by a qualified licensed contractor.
Extensive fungal growth found under kitchen sink. Visible evidences continued behind removable drawers, behind range, behind refrigerator and dishwasher. End caps and kickplates were also delaminated indicating concealed damages and/or growth. We always state type and extent of growth is unknown, remediation required.
The image illustrates the second law of thermodynamics. All home inspectors should be very familiar with the concept of how water moves. From a warmer area to a cooler area, from a higher concentration to a lower concentration, from a higher pressure to a lower pressure. Understanding this helps the inspector to solve many indoor air quality issues.
Mold moisture in your home - moisture control is the most important step in controlling mold in your home. In the event of water damage quickly drying the affected area may reduce mold growth. If the affected area is larger than 10 SF a professional drying and mold remediation should be done.
Photo of water damaged subfloor below sheet vinyl floor. Damaged was caused by a broken ice maker supply line. Plywood subfloor has visible mold growth and staining in the crawl space below the kitchen. Mold protocol was written to remove vinyl sheet, dry affected subfloor above in kitchen and below in crawl space.
This is an image of a 2nd story bathroom with mold. I was asked to evaluate this after mold remediation was done on the 1st floor from a very neglected roof leak that spread throughout the whole living room eventually throughout the entire 1st floor. Due to the extent of the problem, I recommended removing the mirror and additional wallpaper to see if more mold was prevalent. My thoughts are that the mold might be pervasive, so the drywall should be replaced, air scrubbed and further monitoring/evaluation will need to be done.
I chose tape sampling for mold. As a home inspector I have never done this because I thought it was always in my best interest as well as the customers to use a third-party. After reading this, I might just try it and mail it away to the laboratory myself because I didn’t know it was so simple; however, if the results were serious, I would always recommend further testing by a third-party and then proceed with remediation.
This is a picture of base trim removed by workers from a rental company in one of their occupied rental homes. It was initially left in the closet a few feet from the bed of a tenant suffering severe allergies for months. I don’t think the workers realized mold is not always black or green, but can be white and chalky.
Brittany Moser - mold remediation license MRSR2484- cont ed writing assignment
Above is a photo of plywood roof sheathing that has moisture staining present. The area directly above lost shingles due to hurricane Irma. There was no secondary resistance barrier. The water penetrated the sheathing and soaked the area below. The drywall that has visible mold growth is directly above the master bedroom. This area had to be remediated.
The photo I have chosen to study shows the downspount ending too short. This allows for water to pool around the foundation areas. The gutter downspout should extend at least 4-6 feet from the house to prevent pooling around the foundation.
Water stains & damage noted on ceiling in bedroom. This damage was caused from a leaking roof. The roof has missing shingles and exposed nails throughout. The roof has been leaking for quite some time and has caused severe water damage that will lead to mold growth.
Purchasing a commercial vehicle was a major decision that was made for my company. Just because I knew it would be major factor in growing my business. I made the decision to purchase a new truck and have it fully wrapped with all the services my company provides because I knew it would catch peoples attention to call my company to inquire about the services my company provides.
Mr homeowner ran his own electrical wiring for lights in the kitchen, garage and bathroom. Recommend an electrician to figure out what supplies what and where the wiring goes, what junction boxes are needed and where they should be mounted.
Mold, Serious or not. When moisture is elevated in your home mold will grow. It is important to clean up problems from leaks and moisture damage before the mold gets out of control. Monitor the major water components in your home.
