Research & Writing Assignment:
Mold,
Mold can grow on on virtually any surface if the right amount of moisture is present. Any water damage should be cleaned up within 24 to 48 hours to help reduce the risk of mold growth. If no mold can be seen but a moldy smell is present then you could have hidden mold. You should hire a professional for any mold area over 10 square feet.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
he tips and techniques presented in this section will help you clean up your mold problem. Professional cleaners or remediators may use methods not covered here. Please note that mold may cause staining and cosmetic damage. It may not be possible to clean an item so that its original appearance is restored.
Fix plumbing leaks and other water problems as soon as possible. Dry all items completely.
Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely.
Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be thrown away if they become moldy. Mold can grow on or fill in the empty spaces and crevices of porous materials, so the mold may be difficult or impossible to remove completely.
Avoid exposing yourself or others to mold.
Do not paint or caulk moldy surfaces.
Clean up the mold and dry the surfaces before painting. Paint applied over moldy surfaces is likely to peel. If you are unsure about how to clean an item, or if the item is expensive or of sentimental value, you may wish to consult a specialist. Specialists in furniture repair and restoration, painting and art restoration and conservation, carpet and rug cleaning, water damage, and fire or water restoration are commonly listed in phone books. Be sure to ask for and check references. Look for specialists who are affiliated with professional organizations.
What to Wear When Cleaning Moldy Areas:
Avoid breathing in mold or mold spores. In order to limit your exposure to airborne mold, you may want to wear an N-95 respirator, available at many hardware stores and from companies that advertise on the Internet. (They cost about $12 to $25.) Some N-95 respirators resemble a paper dust mask with a nozzle on the front, and others are made primarily of plastic or rubber and have removable cartridges that trap and prevent most of the mold spores from entering. In order to be effective, the respirator or mask must fit properly, so carefully follow the instructions supplied with the respirator. Please note that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that respirators fit properly (via fit testing) when used in an occupational setting.
Wear gloves. Long gloves that extend to the middle of the forearm are recommended. When working with water and a mild detergent, ordinary household rubber gloves may be used. If you are using a disinfectant, a biocide such as chlorine bleach, or a strong cleaning solution, you should select gloves made from natural rubber, neoprene, nitrile, polyurethane or PVC. Avoid touching mold or moldy items with your bare hands.
Wear goggles. Goggles that do not have ventilation holes are recommended. Avoid getting mold or mold spores in your eyes.
How do I know when the remediation or cleanup is finished?
You must have completely fixed the water or moisture problem before the cleanup or remediation can be considered finished, based on the following guidelines:
Research & Writing Assignment:
The key to mold control is moisture control.
If mold is a problem in your home, you should clean up the mold promptly and fix the water problem.
It is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth.
Why is mold growing in my home?
Molds are part of the natural environment. Outdoors, molds play a part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter, such as fallen leaves and dead trees. But indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air. Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet. There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture.
Can mold cause health problems?
Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants and, in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis). Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold. Research on mold and health effects is ongoing. This article provides a brief overview; it does not describe all potential health effects related to mold exposure. For more detailed information, consult a health professional. You may also wish to consult your state or local health department.
How do I get rid of mold?
It is impossible to get rid of all mold and mold spores indoors. Some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in house dust. Mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present. Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. If you clean up the mold but don’t fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will recur.
Who should do the cleanup?
This depends on a number of factors. One consideration is the size of the mold problem. If the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet (less than roughly a 3-foot by 3-foot patch), in most cases, you can handle the job yourself, following the guidelines below.
If there has been a lot of water damage, and/or mold growth covers more than 10 square feet, consult with an InterNACHI inspector.
If you choose to hire a contractor (or other professional service provider) to do the cleanup, make sure the contractor has experience cleaning up mold. Check references and ask the contractor to follow the recommendations of the EPA, the guidelines of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygenists (ACGIH), or other guidelines from professional or government organizations.
Do not run the HVAC system if you know or suspect that it is contaminated with mold. This could spread mold throughout the building.
If the water and/or mold damage was caused by sewage or other contaminated water, then call in a professional who has experience cleaning and fixing buildings damaged by contaminated water.
If you have health concerns, consult a health professional before starting cleanup.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
The enclosed photo shows the rear wall of a two-car garage with noted moisture intrusion due to a known lot grading defect. During a visual inspection of the premises, apparent mold was located. Lack of air circulation due to a malfunctioning HVAC likely contributed to this condition.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Reviewed an article that advised of the needed educational requirements to become a 203(k) Consultant. The program is administered through the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and requires at least 3 years of experience in a field related to construction.
Research & Writing Assignment:
For my essay I chose the article, Mold, Moisture and Your Home, in this article mold causes, health concerns, as well as remediation. Moisture control is the key to preventing mold growth. If there is mold in your home the source of the moisture problem should be address as soon as possible to prevent further growth of the mold.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Visible, apparent signs of mold was discussed with the client. Area of concern is the main bathroom around the joints of the shower walls. Upon further visual inspection what appears to be mold was observed and a swab sample was taken to verify the presence of mold.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Underside of a toilet flange. No doubt leaking but from the bathroom above one would not ealily notice. Mold like substance can grow quickly and queitly in a crawlspace. Smells that would normally give warning signs are not a apparent. Yearly or more frequent visits into to ones crawlspace is something I always recommend.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Fungi is a substance that can cause fear in many and terminate an otherwise successful home sale. Quick and proactive responses to cleints concerns can alleviate much of this. However, as an inspector one must stay well within the confines of the SOP.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
The “5-liter by five-minute” air-sampling cassette is made by ZEFON. The Z5 sampling cassette is a first-line mold-screening tool that efficiently and reliably collects mold. It can be used by home inspectors to collect preliminary information on whether a mold problem may exist and further investigation is warranted.
The Z5 is a spore-trap impactor that uses slit impaction as the collection mechanism. It works with any pump set at a flow of 5 LPM.
Research & Writing Assignment:
The “5-liter by five-minute” air-sampling cassette is made by ZEFON. The Z5 sampling cassette is a first-line mold-screening tool that efficiently and reliably collects mold. It can be used by home inspectors to collect preliminary information on whether a mold problem may exist and further investigation is warranted.
The Z5 is a spore-trap impactor that uses slit impaction as the collection mechanism. It works with any pump set at a flow of 5 LPM.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
A mold inspection is a visual, noninvasive investigation for signs of and conditions that promote mold growth. Additional senses such as smell (of musty or moldy odors) may be used to detect the presence of mold growth. When these primary observational tools come back positive, more complete mold testing and remediation may be indicated.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Moisture intrusion is a very common occurrence within crawlspaces and subfloor areas, especially when exposed to dirt or organic materials. Mold or fungi can grow on any organic surface and controlling the moisture content (MC) and relative humidity (RH) surrounding these environments is paramount for mold prevention.
Research & Writing Assignment:
The article I read was titled Mold, Moisture and Your Home, the article went over everything from identifying mold, testing for mold and cleaning mold. To me, the most important part of the article was how to prevent mold altogether. Mold is all around us at all times you can’t get rid of mold but you can control the condition that makes it suitable for mold to grow. With the use of a dehumidifier, you can reduce the humidity in your home which is the most important part of mold control. Keep gutters clean, and keep water from pooling next to your foundation to help with water penetration into your basement, any water inside the house should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
I inspected an older home in Oregon. The owner was concerned about a musty smell in the basement and had been quoted many thousands of dollars to water proof it from the outside. My moisture meter indicated fairly high amounts all around the perimeter of the finished basement and I found microbial growth on floor moldings. Possible sources of moisture could have been ground water, downspouts, or a sprinkler system, but I also found a water supply valve for a toilet in the basement that had a slow leak and the water appeared to follow the concrete wall (behind the sheetrock). I couldn’t tell how much water or how far it was traveling. I shut it off and made my report. Owner let me know later that fixing that valve dramatically reduced water through the meter and resolved the odor issue.
Research & Writing Assignment:
I inspected an older home in Oregon. The owner was concerned about a musty smell in the basement and had been quoted many thousands of dollars to water proof it from the outside. My moisture meter indicated fairly high amounts all around the perimeter of the finished basement and I found microbial growth on floor moldings. Possible sources of moisture could have been ground water, downspouts, or a sprinkler system, but I also found a water supply valve for a toilet in the basement that had a slow leak and the water appeared to follow the concrete wall (behind the sheetrock). I couldn’t tell how much water or how far it was traveling. I shut it off and made my report. Owner let me know later that fixing that valve dramatically reduced water through the meter and resolved the odor issue.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Missing covers on junction boxes, switches and outlets expose energized circuits, creating arc flash, shock, and electrocution hazards. In addition, missing covers provide a path of entry into the interior of the enclosure, allowing dust, dirt, and debris to accumulate. Missing covers could allow metallic objects to fall into the circuits that could arc or lodge in a way that presents a hazard when the enclosure is opened.
Research & Writing Assignment:
As cool air flows through the vents on hot days, the moisture in the air can condense inside the air vent. Spores can enter the duct work by simply blowing in from another area of the home, or from outside. Moist environments are ideal for mildew spores to grow.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This image shows signs of an apparent moisture intrusion along the basement floor joists by water stains and a black substance near the stain. There was no musky or mold odors detected. There was a PVC drain pipe near the joist that showed signs of a repair. Previous moisture intrusion resulting from this leak was confirmed by the home owner. Although there was no apparent odor that would indicate mold, the visual signs of possible mold growth were present and I would recommend testing for mold.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Mold
Mold is found naturally in the outdoors as mold helps breakdown dead organic matter. Mold will be inside your home naturally however mold cannot grow unless there is sufficient moisture. Since mold can grow on almost any substance in your home it is extremely important to control the moisture levels inside. This can be done by proper ventilation and humidity control.
Water spills or leaks should be thoroughly cleaned and dried within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. There are a number of mold species and some contain mycotoxins that could potentially cause health problems. People who suspect health problems due to mold contamination should consult a Heath Professional.
Small areas of mold, less than 10 square feet, can usually be cleaned by the home owner or occupant using water and detergent. The area must be dried completely and any porous material should be discarded. If there are any signs of structural damage to an area where a mold infestation has occurred then a licensed contractor should be consulted for the remediation work.
If the home owner or occupant is cleaning the area then they should wear the following personal protection equipment: non-vented goggles, a N-95 mask or respirator, and long rubber gloves that go to mid arm.
Any repairs that are required to be done to prevent any further moisture intrusion should be completed as well. If the home owner or occupant suspects areas where there is hidden mold, they should consult a licensed certified mold inspection contractor.
