Inspection & Writing Assignment:
During an inspection of a vacant home, upon entering the property there was a strong musty odor. After ruling out any active leaks, I entered the garage and discovered the source of the odor. Below the platform of a leaking water heater was apparent evidence of black mold growth. Client was informed.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Mold inspections in conjunction with thermal imaging technology are the best combination of tools to utilize when the client suspects a mold problem. The walls are scanned and any moisture is tested with a moisture meter. If apparent mold is found, a sample will be taken and submitted to Pro-Lab for analysis.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This picture shows one location of apparent mold growth in a crawlspace on one floor joist. The apparent mold growth covered every joist and beam within the crawlspace, despite the home having been built this year. This demonstrates how mold can grow very rapidly under the right circumstances.
Research & Writing Assignment:
The article “Mold Testing for Home Inspectors” reports that air sampling is not as common a method of determining mold contamination as surface sampling. One reason that this may be the case is that inspectors must be be cognizant of possible conditions that may artificially increase or decrease the sampled mold spores. Such causes may include snow cover on the exterior or high winds.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This is an attic inspection, about the finding of dark spots on rafters. the attic sheeting attached to to the top of it is clean and there was no coloring or unusual look to it, the first step to start is to measure the humidity in the attic and humidity range was of the normal,the second step is to look on the roof where the rafter area located, to see if there was any signs of missing shingles or any evidence of water penetration from top, and I didn’t find any,
at this point we have to make a swap test for that dark spots area on the rafter, and send it to the lab to make sure that is not mold or to confirm if it was.
Research & Writing Assignment:
mold is not always visible, it can be hidden behind walls, wallpaper, top-side of ceiling tiles,inside ductwork, or the underside of carpets and pads, and the smell of mold is not existed but what we see is the people who living in the house start to show health problems.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Moisture intrusion is one of the main causes of mold growth so when I inspect the house I start up on the roof and I go through the roof thoroughly checking for any areas that water can get in check the shingles to make sure they are proper and in good condition check all venting to see if there is any flashing that’s not proper any chimneys that are exposed check to see if there’s areas of flashing or areas of cracked cement for water could be getting in check the rain gutters if they’re backed up that can be a water intrusion problem make sure to downspouts flow away from the house
Research & Writing Assignment:
Mold needs water at needs food at needs temperature to grow so if we can eliminate the water we can control mold so inside the house areas to look for would be your plumbing is one area where you may have leaky sinks faucets drains toilets wax rings
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Area in photo is north side roof sheathing. At time of inspection, this inspector observed newer vinyl cladding and aluminum trim/soffit/fascia with no apparent in flow air venting for proper attic venting. During the attic evaluation, it was noted that a mold like growth was observed on north ish facing roof sheathing. It was also noted that the gable venting that this house was designed with was covered over by the newer cladding. The report suggested that attic be evaluated for proper air venting and repaired as needed. It was also suggested the mold like growth be evaluated and remediated as deemed necessary.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Gallery Collections Indoor Air QualityMoldoptimum-conditions-mold-growth-attic.jpg
Attic ventilation is one of the most often overlooked aspects of home maintenance. Attics need a constant free flow of air, preferable coming in as low as possible and leaving as high as possible in the structure. All too often homeowners will fail to properly maintain vent screens. This allows for dust accumulation which impedes air flow. Once the air is not allowed to get into the attic you create a negative pressure situation in the attic. Nature abhors a vacuum. Air from house will be drawn into the attic space. Air from the living space will more likely than not contain higher elevations of moisture. This moisture then may be allowed to condense on cooler materials in the attic space. This moisture accumulation can then lead to mold growth. Proper periodic personal precautions prohibit problems.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This is an area of suspected microbial growth of some kind on a basement floor.This is a good example of the aesthetically unpleasant side of microbial growth.This area has been cleaned several times with very little positive result.When mold or apparent mold is left untreated it can do a lot of damage visually ,and also structurally.
Research & Writing Assignment:
The most important thing to do with regard to mold growth control is to control the moisture.Mold is everywhere but when given the proper growing conditions it can become quite severe and maybe even deadly.People with compromised immune systems should be especially careful around mold.Mold should never be ignored .It will only get worse if it continues to have the proper growing conditions.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
I preformed a mold inspection and this photo of visible wall growth from a recent moisture penetration is noted. This growth is a potential sign of hidden water damage that may be present in the wall assembly. Further investigative evaluation of the potential water source and sampling of the fungi is recommended as potential hidden damage and moisture issues may exist. The potential off gassing effect also gives me reason the recommended air sampling in this area of growth and one other area away from the damage to determine any cross contamination that may be present at this time. This sampling would also require outdoor controls samples to be collected for cross comparison to fully determine mold types and airborne spore levels.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
One common place that mold can grow in the home is an enclosed air handling closet. Often times the condensate drain pipes are not insulated and can cause condensation build up on the outside of the pipes which can be a perfect opportunity for mold growth since mold is very dependent on a moisture source of some kind.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Mold, moisture and your home. What I’ve learned from this article is that mold can be controlled but not eliminated and there are several things to consider when trying to confront a mild problem. One such issue is finding the source or sources of excess moisture. There are a number of components in a home that can be the culprit such as roof leaks, damaged gutters, and condensing pipes to name a few. Some small mold problems can be remedied by a homeowner with a little care and caution while larger jobs should be left to the pros.
Research & Writing Assignment:
During the mold inspection my review of the plumbing system under the home revealed a leaking galvanized water line. This leak has allowed water to spray into the floor system wetting the structure and insulation creating damage. Visible organic growth that may be mold but must be tested and analyzed by a certified lab to determine the type of growth that is present. Possible hidden damage in the area may be present as the fungi is growing up into the floor structure. A qualified plumbing contractor should evaluate and take a necessary course of action to repair the leaking galvanized water line. A qualified contractor should repair all damages and work with a qualified mold remediation contractor to correct the visible mold issue and possibility screen the interior of the home to insure no mold spore elevations has developed in the living area of the home.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
I was performing a home inspection, for a client, and noticed a musty odor in the basement. Upon further investigation I found apparent mold growth in multiple areas. The water intrusion was coming in through the basement door from the stair well. The floor drain, in the stair well, was plugged preventing the water to drain properly. The window wells were also allowing water to enter the basement. Advised the client to fix the drainage problem(s) and have a licensed mold remediation contractor evaluate and eliminate the mold issue. There was enough evidence of apparent mold for the client that a mold test, at this point, would be a waste of money.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Every home owner should be able to perform simple tasks such as unplugging a toilet, turning off a water or gas valve etc. In order to perform these tasks, the home owner should have certain tools. Things like a toilet plunger, adjustable wrenches, pliers and a flashlight. Having these simple tools can prevent further damage to the home.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Mold does not grow on tile or grout in the shower. Instead, it grows on the soap scum or other particles attached to the tile or grout. Mold grows on many other items that are porous in the home. Is important to be able to decipher what items can be cleaned and which ones may need to be discarded.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Is important to develop a hypothesis. One that assumes there is no mold in the structure. There is mold everywhere and if you go in trying to find the mold you will certainly be able to find mold. If you go in assuming theres no mold and find some, that is the proper protocol. One that assumes there is no mold in the structure. There is mold everywhere and if you go in trying to find the mold, youll certainly be able to find mold.
