Mold and Mold Removal

What's the difference between a mold inspection and a home inspection?

• Moisture stains
• Water damage
• Basement leaks
• Roof leaks

A regular home inspection will NOT indicate:

• Mold growth behind walls, ceilings, and insulation
• Types of mold growing in the home
• Humidity levels from room to room to detect hidden moisture problems
• Moisture content of drywall, hardwood floors, window sills

Who should have a MOLD inspection for their home?

It is important to have a mold inspection done on a home when the home inspector or the buyer suspects or detects the following:

• Showers, sinks, bathtubs, toilet leaks
• Previous roof or basement leaks
• Water stains, new or old on ceilings, floors, or walls
• Cold storage area has visible mold
• Any room has visible mold
• Rooms have a musty smell
• Excessive staining on carpeting
• Home was used as a rental property

Mold inspections should be performed regardless of the home's age, new or old, mold only needs 24 hours to grow, not 50 years. If the home was a tenanted property it is more likely that the tenants did not report water leaks. Homes that were tenanted are also more prone to being part of marijuana grow operations.

If you are concerned for you and your family's health you should have a mold inspection. Mold can cause the onset of the following symptoms as well as elevate any existing physical conditions:

Allergies, asthma, bleeding lungs, breathing difficulties, cancer, central nervous system effects, colds, recurring and with decreased resistance to infection, coughing and resulting sore lungs or chest from excessive coughing, coughing up blood, dandruff problems (chronic) that don't go away despite use of anti-dandruff shampoos, dermatitis and skin rashes, diarrhea, eye and vision problems, fatigue (chronic, excessive, or continued) and/or general malaise, feeling lost or "disconnected" from what's happening around you, flu symptoms, hair loss, headaches, hemorrhagic pneumonitis, hives, hypersensitivity pneumonitis (extrinsic allergic alveolitis, farmer's lung disease), irritability, vomiting, itching of the nose, mouth, eyes, throat, skin, or any area, kidney failure, learning difficulties or mental functioning problems or personality changes, memory loss or memory difficulties/Alzheimer-like symptoms, open skin sores and lacerations, organic dust toxic syndrome, peripheral nervous system effects, redness of the sclera (white of your eyes), runny nose (rhinitis), clear, thin, watery mucus from your nose may appear, suddenly, or thick, green slime coming out of nose (from sinus cavities), seizures, sinus congestion, sinus problems, and chronic sinusitis, skin redness, sleep disorders, sneezing, sneezing fits (more than three sneezes in a row, happening often), sore throat, tremors (shaking),verbal dysfunction (trouble in speaking),vertigo (feelings of dizziness, lightheadedness, faintness, and unsteadiness)

Mold Removal

The first step to any remediation plan is to eliminate both the source of moisture and the mold. Much of the work performed by our company is a result of water intrusion from roofs, walls, decks and bathroom leaks which in many cases result in mold and structural damage.

REMEDIATION BASICS

Mold removal otherwise known as mold remediation generally consists of three steps:

CONTAINMENT: Isolating the area to prevent the mold from spreading beyond it's existing area. Negative air pressure machines are generally used in conjunction with temporary plastic walls.

REMOVAL: Removal of contaminated materials using various methods and proper disposal.

CLEANING: Our certified mold remediators use a variety of cleaning methods to safely remove mold from contaminated surfaces:

• HEPA vacuuming
• Wiping and scrubbing with specialized solutions
• Sanding of wood surfaces
• Encapsulation methods

Contact Environmental Services Group for certified mold remediators to explain our mold removal services that will be appropriate for your situation.

Environmental Services Group follows the leading industry guidelines in its mold remediation procedures:

IICRC S520, Standard and Reference Guide for Mold Remediation

Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists)

IICRC S500, Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration)

Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings (EPA)

For More information on Mold and Mold removal visit our sister company at www.MoldInspections.ca