Mold Testing
REMEDIATION COST $1,500-$3,000+
“The average cost of mold remediation is $2,325, with most homeowners spending between $1,500–$3,150 or $15 to $31 per square foot.” – Homeguide
MOLD IS USUALLY CAUSED BY A WATER INTRUSION PROBLEM
“Molds are part of the natural environment, and can be found everywhere, indoors and outdoors. Mold is not usually a problem, unless it begins growing indoors. The best way to control mold growth is to control moisture.” – EPA
CAN CAUSE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE
“Molds are very common in buildings and homes. Mold will grow in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been flooding. Mold grows well on paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood products. Mold can also grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.” – CDC
“Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores, which will grow where there is sufficient moisture and food (organic materials such as paper, wood, cellulose, etc.). In the indoor environment, mold growth is a symptom of a water problem. It can cause structural damage by decomposing wood, drywall, carpeting and other porous building materials.” – Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services
MOLD AFFECTS YOUR HEALTH
“In 2004 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) found there was sufficient evidence to link indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, and wheeze in otherwise healthy people; with asthma symptoms in people with asthma; and with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in individuals susceptible to that immune-mediated condition.
In 2009, the World Health Organization issued additional guidance, the WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mould. Other recent studies have suggested a potential link of early mold exposure to development of asthma in some children, particularly among children who may be genetically susceptible to asthma development, and that selected interventions that improve housing conditions can reduce morbidity from asthma and respiratory allergies (CDC).”
WHEN SHOULD YOU TEST FOR MOLD?
- Asthma
- Mold allergies
- Musty/Moldy smell
“You may suspect hidden mold if a building smells moldy but you cannot see the source, or if you know there has been water damage and residents are reporting health problems. Mold may be hidden in places such as the backside of dry wall, wallpaper or paneling, the top-side of ceiling tiles, or the underside of carpets and pads, etc. Other possible locations of hidden mold include areas inside walls around pipes (with leaking or condensing pipes), the surface of walls behind furniture (where condensation forms), inside ductwork, and in roof materials above ceiling tiles (due to roof leaks or insufficient insulation).” InterNachi (International Association of Home Inspectors)