Great course. I recently saw a high level of mold in a basement on a recent inspection. Seller tried to get rid of it by power washing it 2 weeks prior which made it all worse.
My visual mold assessment was of a duplex that was vacant and has major water and mold issues.
Possible fungal growth was found under multiple sinks, and in the basement both on the walls and especially under the stairs and on the ceiling joists. Negative grading was present around the entire house which was leading to active basement moisture. High efficiency furnace did not have any drain lines which was leading to a lot of moisture on the basement flooring.
Seller attempted to power wash the entire basement which just led to more moisture and more growth.
Remediation was recommended right away due to the large amount of mold growth present.
When taking a mold air sample, under closed building conditions, how long prior to the test should the building closed house conditions be maintained? Is it like radon where it is 12 hours prior or is it just during the testing with a short period before hand?
Mike
This is a photo from a recent home inspection. There is a small leak in the plumbing underneath the kitchen sink. I tested the area and the wood contained about 49% moisture in this area. This area is conducive to potential mold growth.
Hi everyone,
I found this course to be very dry. some useful information in it. Here is a photo I took at on inspection it has been raining a lot here in Colorado so it has made me start using my Thermal camera a lot more. I saw that they had tried to bring the shingles up to and over the edge of the built in flashing for this sky light. When I checked it from the inside it was freshly painted. So I decided to hit it with my thermal camera. I don’t now why anyone wouldn’t have one of these after this I had just bought it and was wanting to use it for work. I know its not going to be as useful when things are dry this summer for now I will use it when ever its raining.
I found this course very dry. There was some good information presented however. I think it could have been scripted better and with more flare to keep the class engaged.
Hello,
here is a picture of apparent mould growth in an attic. A broken exhaust line from the bathroom ventilation is the suspected cause of this issue.
Jamie Ferguson
Hi everyone:
Crawlspaces :
Wet insulation, wet or moist bare ground ,electrical wires and debris are just some of the things encountered in crawlspaces. One other item that might be a tip for inspectors is not just looking , but listening. Wildlife or domestic pets like cats or dogs can sometimes go in and out of crawlspaces. I always look and listen before entering. If you see or hear something moving, be very careful about proceeding, or don’t proceed at all.
thanks,
Nat
I just finished up this course and just wanted to say “Job well done” to all involved in the development of this course.
Mold isn’t a problem, it’s a fungi…
http://tokoriinc.com/home-inspection-blog/26-primary-causes-of-mold-in-annapolis-homes-rental-property
Limited Mold Inspection
The home inspected was a condo unit located on the first floor over a concrete parking garage. This image shows a wet floor with apparent mold growth that was noted under the bed in the master bedroom. Moisture and apparent mold growth was noted on the walls, floor and on client’s personal possessions in the closet areas.
Other conditions noted:
A laminate floor covering was installed over the concrete floor. The master bathroom exhaust fan was inoperable; no kitchen exhaust fan over the electric range and the buildings hot water boiler was set on high producing water temperatures at the shower head exceeding 160 degrees.
Assumptions:
Condensation is occurring on the cool floor surfaces in the unit creating conducive conditions for mold growth.
Recommendations:
Install insulation under the floor covering to stabilize floor temperature.
Inspect bathroom venting system to ensure unobstructed air flow to the exterior and install a larger exhaust fan. Attach fan’s power source to the light switch. Recommend spring closures be installed on the bathroom door.
Install a kitchen range exhaust fan and duct it to the exterior.
Adjust boiler temperature down to a lower, safer limit. This lower temperature will produce less steam.
Looking forward to adding mold testing to my tool box! Love this training!
Mold Article: Abrasive Blasting for Mold Remediation
Baking soda and dry ice air blasting to remove mold without damaging the substrate. Area encapsulation and air scrubbing during the remediation process I’m sure will be the next article.
Attached is an image of a skylight in a bathroom. These are notoriously a source of moisture intrusion, although this one had no observed concerns.
Mobile Home Inspection for mold.
- Roof seams deteriorated and signs of patching were present
- Gap at junction of roof and flashing above entrance door
- reverse flashing found at west rear corner of home
- exterior light at entrance had a large gap between the fixture and the home for water infiltration - elevated moisture content in are directly behind and below this location in the inside of the home
- window flashing
- signs of rust under kitchen floor under home
- musty smell in bathroom
- elevated moisture content next to shower walls
- musty smell under kitchen sink, warped cabinet particle board and stains
- there were no observed indications of leaking plumbing
Carpet Mold: Identification, Prevention, and Removal was the article I chose.
Basements with high humidity or large temperature differences are never a good location for carpet.
Unless the issue is caught and remedied quickly, carpet replacement or removal is likely.
Ben,
Great course, the video was a big help vs. reading all the material
Thanks again
A very informative course, thank you. As part of course requirements I have attached a photo of an “apparent” mold source. While what is visual is a concern the bigger issue may be what is not seen. I would recommend further evaluation by a licensed contractor.
The mold inspection checklist is a great guideline. I agree with Dr Shane that Home Inspectors are not experts. When certified it will be my goal to inform the client that the I am an “inspector” the lab is the “expert”. Thank you
The image attachment button is missing from the posting window. I find mold underneath sinks often and I always note any limitations presented by the owners items being under the sinks.