It is what it is. Call it out as what it is and suggest it be Remediated.
You might want to stick the word “properly” in front of remediated. Remediated just means “removal of” which can cause more harm than good if it is not done properly.
Unless you’re qualified as a mold specialist, you probably shouldn’t ever suggest “remediation”. Rather, suggest they “consult” with a mold specialist or mold remediation specialist. There is a difference.
Bingo
I would simply state that " a potential biological material was observed in … Recommend futher evaluation by a qualified mold inspector". Obviously, if you are a qualified mold inspector suggest that you perform a mold inspection. Don’t call it mold until a lab has identified it.
Damn…don’t call it mold. What would you call it? Staining? Unknown Substance? Greenish growth of unknown origin? why are people so damn scared? Call it what it is! If you don’t know its mold then get out of the inspection business. I call concrete - concrete, I call a chimney a chimney, I call a fireplace a fireplace. Do you call leaks under the sink a fluid like manner that is consistent with hydrogen and 2 part oxygen under the sink and to call a plumber for further evaluation? Why would mold be any different? Or can you tell me that its H2O without lab testing?
I get so frustrated. Many people call me to look over the home inspection they received. Many times I see, 1972 house has staining on the interior sheathing of the roof call a licensed roofer to evaluate the entire roof all it components to determine the exact condition of the roof. Then I see, there is a minor leak at the kitchen sink. Call a licensed plumber to evaluate the entire plumbing system of the house for further evaluation. Just frustrates the hell out of me that people look for any simple reason to disqualify the entire subsystem and to pass the buck. Just venting I guess, so many people make our profession look incompetent. Say what it is and stand behind your word.
I did not vote. I would have said that mold is on the attic trusses and it appears to be present from original construction when the roof trusses were exposed to the weather. There are no signs of outside influence that would be conducive to mold growth at the present time. Call a licensed remediator to have the trusses cleaned. DONE, why make it a freakin mystery? Why freak people out?
Thank you! and welcome to my world. I see 85 page reports that say nothing, full of long winded disclaimers that ramble on making little or no sense, all in an attempt to straddle a fence or avoid making a statement that could “come back and bite me”. Reports that come with a decoder ring so you can decipher the dozens of abbreviations which again stands for nothing or statements like " no dishwasher in kitchen / not observed" what the hell does that mean and where the hell else would it be? If there isn’t one there and no big gapping hole in the cabinetry, don’t frigging report it as not being there. I get frustrated by all these comments about mold but won’t really say “hey, its frigging mold”. I don’t know what kind, I don’t care what kind, but its MOLD. I don’t do environmentals, if you want to know what kind of mold it is, hire someone else to come take the necessary samples, tests or whatever so you can be satisfied.
What I would have done is called out the concern to my client, asked them if they wanted me to do a sample (for an extra cost).
If they wanted the sample, do it and have the lab take the heat. (If mold, which it is, have the bulder and Realtor argue with the lab. You just took the sample and have no liability, if you are certifed for mold.)
If the buyer does not want a sample taken, report as “visable organic growth consistant with mold. Recommend sampling by a licensed industrial hygenist before closing.”
Simple, really.
You saw it, so you have a responsibility to your client to inform them.
If you do sampling, then let the lab take the heat. If you are not mold certifed, put the burdern of proof on the builder and Realtor to prove you wrong. All you did was say that it looks like mold (which it does and is). How can you be held liable for that.
You didn’t build the POS and you are not, specifically, calling it out as mold. You are merely saying that it looks like mold and either doing a sample (and have the lab say it is mold) or you are referringt it to a specualist.
Either way, you are gold.
Hope this helps;
Why are you concerned about mold in the attic?
All homes have mold.
The reason is not having mold spores, but having VISUAL MOLD. There is mold everywhere, but there is not visual mold everywhere. The reason that I mention it is because there could be elements within the attic that is causing mold growth. If something is causing mold to grow in the attic do you not think it should be mentioned? If it starts to grow on the trusses it will begin to grow on the sheetrock that surrounds the residence.
Another reason I mention it, is because of the previous threads. Image you do the home inspection and the people have a family emergency and 4 months later decide to sell. the next home inspector comes in, and BOOM - FREAKS them out! OMG you have mold in the attic…RUN RUN RUN, YOUR GONNA DIE!!! Guess who gets the next call?
Most molds in attics are nothing to worry about. Most of the molds in attics are nontoxic, but a lot of considered toxic molds hang around nontoxic molds. I guess it is like a beautiful woman who has all ugly girlfriends.
Like Russel says it can still spread into the living areas, and there is no way of controlling which mold will take over. Molds are basically just fighting over feeding grounds. They are just trying to survive like you or me. All mold needs to be removed rather it is considered toxic or not. Let me put it simpler, no mold in attic good; visible mold in attic is bad.
Monday morning, great to get back at it.
Toxic molds, don’t think I’ve ever told anyone they had “toxic mold”. I would suggest inspectors leave that term alone. You could argue mold are not toxic but produce mycrotoxins. We average about a thousand inspections each year ( Job #1024 this morning) and rarely talk about “toxic” molds.
Mold in the attic, in the south the HVAC ducts are in the attic. Any souuthern mold inspector should have a lot to say about that when they have mold in the attic. More reading would be a good idea.
Have a great week, gotta run 1st job hour away at 8 am.
Please read more carefully: I did not say “toxic mold”, I said “considered toxic mold”.
Mycotoxins definition: Secondary metabolites produced by microfungi that are capable of causing disease and death in humans and other animals. Hence the word toxic is in the name. So whoever is agruing that needs to do more reading.
Also mold spores can cause reactions or even growths inside lungs and nasal cavities, when the spores are inhaled. I have seen both instances with my clients, first hand. For example read this from the Mayo Clinic
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/aspergillosis/DS00950. Now is that is a considered toxic mold.
I do agree that most people are poorly informed about mold. Sad but true.
](Aspergillosis - Symptoms & causes - Mayo Clinic)[/FONT]
Good article, same thing has been said many times before in other articles, didn’t see the term toxic mold in it though.
“non toxic” or toxic, I just don’t see the need to call it that way. Right conditions / client and the “non toxic” can cause serious problems too. Many Aspergillus species produce mycotoxins consistently but some do not, but could. If you want to label molds non toxic or “considered toxic” go for it, I just don’t see the need.
My post was not to [FONT=Verdana]criticize but bring attention to the term “toxic mold” or “non toxic mold” and that there other reasons attic mold can be a real problem for homes in the South.[/FONT]
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IMHO the very word “Toxic” is way overused whatever the context.
It is too easy to use the word to scare the crap out of clients and into mold testing as a stand alone service which is inadequate to deal with the real problem.
We all consume toxins everyday unawares but with out considering personal sensitivity and dose just the fact that we are exposed is meaningless.
Think about it this way. What is the definition of toxic?
After you have that answer, then ask what does mold do to the human body?
Then you will have your answer.
James, I have a great deal of respect for how you handle mold but using toxic with out considering dose is irrelevant.
The Dose Makes the Poison
http://learn.caim.yale.edu/chemsafe/images/dot.gif
[size=4]A substance can produce the harmful effect associated with its toxic properties only if it reaches a susceptible biological system within your body in a sufficient concentration (a high enough dose). The toxic effect of a substance increases as the exposure (or dose) to the susceptible biological system increases. For all chemicals there is a dose response curve, or a range of doses that result in a graded effect between the extremes of no effect and 100% response (toxic effect). All chemical substances will exhibit a toxic effect given a large enough dose. If the dose is low enough even a highly toxic substance will cease to cause a harmful effect. The toxic potency of a chemical is thus ultimately defined by the dose (the amount) of the chemical that will produce a specific response in a specific biological system. "All substances are poisons; there is none which is not a poison. The right dose differentiates a poison….
" Paracelsus (1493-1541)
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I am using the words “considered toxic” instead of just “toxic” when it comes to mold, “considered” as in considered by the mold industry. Two different meanings.
As far as dosage is involved, that is how the mold industry determines if mold is considered toxic are not. A high count of Aspergillus has contributed to deaths in adults, while just one spore of Stachybrotys caused deaths in infants in one study conducted in Pennsylvania. In these cases the ortospy showed that mold had a toxic effect on their bodies which killed them. Not calling mold toxic in these cases would be a disservice.
I take it, Micheal, that you call mold, a biological growth. Why not just call it for what it is?
Right on!! Right on!! Right on!!
I rarely refer anything out…only larger repair jobs that I know would be out of my league to guesstimate.
Did an inspection yesterday in which the client (a TRANE certified HVAC tech) did not call any of the 3 inspectors suggested by his agent. His wife found me on the web and hired me after about a 10 minute conversation. Found a couple of major items that may break the sale as well as many small items. Gave a price bracket on the re-wiring and said he should check with an electrician (of which he knows a few due to his job) before he moves ahead…I was within the electrician’s price bracket.
This was a 35 year old, 1800 sq ft home with partially finished basement…took 4 full hours. This agent, new to myself, had 10 years in RE. At the end of the inspection, he said he had never seen such a comprehensive inspection. The buyer, also the fire captain of the local volunteer fire brigade, said he will surely recommend me whenever he has a chance.