Apparent mold growth a the exterior HVAC drip line.
Conducted a mold inspection on a neighbors 17 year old home and identified multiple areas of concern.
The attached picture doesn’t show any mold, but there was rain penetration through the crack during a heavy downpour yesterday. There is also a musty smell in an upstairs bedroom directly above this window which indicates apparent mold in the area.
I also read “Abrasive Blasting for Mold Remediation” and “Air Sampling for Mold Inspections.” The first article described the benefit of using abrasive dry-ice or soda blasting coupled with HEPA filter vacuuming to remediate mold. The second was a rehash of the basics of when and when not to air sample.
Here is the nasty mold, Hopefully it can be contained and removed.
Apparent mold growth on roof sheeting. My moisture meter confirmed a high volume of moisture present. The water intrusion is believed to be coming from several missing singles.
Apparent mold growth visible on roof sheathing. Moisture levels were normal when tested with a moisture meter. This section of sheathing was at the north part of the home (which the roof faces north), and it was right above the 2nd story bathroom which had a shower/tub and no ventilation fan. This combination could lead to issues where moisture from the bathroom could be entering the attic and condensing on the interior of the roof sheathing. The roof shingles in this area of the roof appeared to be in serviceable condition. The inspector highly recommends installing a bathroom ventilation fan and an exhaust duct which terminates at the exterior.
Visual only inspection -
Conducted on a 1565 Sq.Ft. two story seasonal use mountain cabin built in 1983.
Some issues found which could lead to microbial growth:
1 - Untreated wood siding in direct contact with soil.
2 - Fire wood and other wood debris were in contact with the exterior wood siding.
3 - Roof shingles were weakly bonded.
4 - Wood framing was in direct contact with soil in the crawlspace.
5 - Possible microbial growth noted. Lab analysis would be needed to determine the substance. The two likely causes are: moisture from the upstairs bathroom which condensed, and the affected sheathing was the north facing facet of the roof which would get less sun in the winter. Or possibly a combination of the two factors. Corrective action should be taken to limit moisture in the attic space. If you elect to have the substance tested and it is identified as microbial growth, it should be removed in a way that is safe for both occupants and the persons actually removing/cleaning the affected areas as there can be health risks associated with microbial growth.
6 - A faucet supply pipe connection beneath the kitchen sink was leaking at the connection. This is a condition conducive to microbial growth.
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In this bathroom, the toilet was loose at the floor indicating that either the fasteners were not adequately tightened or the fasteners designed to secure the toilet to the floor have pulled loose. This may indicate the presence of advanced decay in the subfloor (usually a result of water damage). A variety of solutions may be available, depending on the exact nature of the problem.
The Inspector recommends re-attached by a qualified contractor. -
The shower tiles had sections with deteriorated or separated grout. This should be sealed with an appropriate sealant or repaired by a qualified contractor.
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It appeared that the windows installed in the basement area were installed after the exterior walls were finished. It was possible to see the behind the trim in a few places. The sealant was detached and loose. This could allow moisture and weather to enter. The decorative trim should
be removed so new sealant can be applied and the flashing and instillation practices should be reviewed by a qualified contractor.
I read the article “Carpet Mold”. The main points of the article is that carpet can be susceptible to mold growth. Once there is major mold growth, removal and replacement is usually required. The second article was “Moisture Intrusion”. It talked about the many ways moisture can enter the home…leaking roof, plumbing leaks, even over watering house plants. It also had a short review of some of the problems with moisture intrusion to both the structure and its occupants.
Advanced Mold Inspection Training
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The picture above shows excessive apparent microbial growth in the kitchen cabinet. This has most likely occurred due to the poor connections visible in the drain pipe and the negative slope of the drain itself at the joint.
Recommend sampling be done to confirm the suspicions of microbial growth in order to move forward with the appropriate remediation of the cabinet as it is well past the point of repair.
Requirements for Advanced Mold Inspection Course
Report & Comment
Moisture Penetration
Accept Not Not Margin Defecti able Inspect Presen al ve
ed t
Previous moisture build up/ penetration was observed during the inspection. The renovations seem to have corrected the issues causing apparent microbial growth but recommend testing to confirm and remedation
8.1. A qualified mold remediation specialist is required to review and remediate the apparent microbial growth on the attic trusses and sheathing
8.2. Apparent Mold is present and is a potential health concern. Removal and/or correction is required
Requirments for Advanced Mold Inspections
Read 2 Articles Relating
- Air Sampling For Mold Inspections
This article was very helpful and informative, it covered a lot of the points covered in the videos and literature required for this course. It was great to completely understand everything that was being explained based on the previous training I had done.
- Mold, Moisture and Your Home
Another great article explaining what mold is and what it does! Also why it should not be growing indoors. It goes over the health effects, how to get rid of mold and proper PPE required for remediation.
Visible moisture and apparent mold growth in the crawl space due to condensation from HVAC cooling lines.
Picture was taken during the summer in Virginia with very high humidity levels outside.
Mike Henke
Lotus Home Inspections, LLC
Richmond, Virginia
the brick is 5 thick. built in 1840. these fiber tiles were covered with qtr in. wood panels. the place went without heat for several years in ohio. tiles are moist and indeed condusive. musty and all the above. apparent mold is black.
complete remediation is planned. sorry for the pic. rotate 90 deg
Looking forward to learning more about mold inspections.
Looking at the freezer door of the refrigerator I had noticed something black. Looked like dirt at first. After further investigating I found it was what looked like black mold. This was coming from a bad seal coming from the freezer. With the cold from the freezer and the humidity from the room temperature it allowed mold to start growing.
Mold:
I had no idea that mold could grow a fast as it can. I have heard of people getting sick from mold but did not really understand how it got into an area so quickly. I also found it interesting to find out that once a mold spore attaches itself to a wall, dust, or anything as that its life span is very short.
I know that roofs leak around penetrations. I often thought that since it is usually so hot in the attic that any leaks would dry very quickly. Since reading about mold, I can see now where a leak can penetrate to lower levels of a house cause immediately growth of mold. I thought mold needed about 7 days to start growing. Now I know differently. Any leak in a home is a positional immediate growth for mold.
This picture was taken in a crawlspace of a home built in 2014. There is black staining, apparent microbial growth. In the crawlspace there had been past water entry, the ground around the foundation sloped towards the house and partial gutter system. This particular picture was taken near a vent that was blocked by insulation.
