Mold has become a high profile issue over the past few years as homeowners and insurance companies wrangle over the veracity of health issues and the responsibility of cleaning up mold problems. In an unusual case in Texas, a jury awarded a homeowner a million dollar settlement for damages from mold found in their home. For obvious reasons, this has gotten the attention of everyone involved in the real estate transaction process. Currently, there is no agreement among health professionals on what levels of mold are acceptable in a home. However, most homeowners acknowledge that the potential risk of mold-related health problems warrant special attention and action.
Excess Moisture is the Primary Cause
Mold requires a food source (building materials like wood or drywall cellulose) and water or moisture. By eliminating the source of moisture (water leaks, excess humidity, condensation, etc.) you can stop mold from growing in your home or building. It’s that simple.
A Thorough Home Inspection will Help Identify Moisture Intrusion Problems
While specifically conducting a mold inspection is outside the standards of practice for a home inspector, a good inspector will examine the property for any signs of moisture or moisture intrusion issues. Any mold issues (observed or potential) should be discussed and clearly stated in the inspection report. Our inspectors are trained to identify moisture-related problems. These problems, if any, are presented in a manner that helps our clients keep things in perspective, yet realize the potential risks of not correcting moisture intrusion issues. In many cases, homeowners can safely clean mold from the building surfaces on their own and make simple repairs to prevent further moisture intrusion. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says:“If the mold area is less than about 10 square feet (roughly a 3 foot by 3 foot patch), you can handle the job yourself.” Remember, it is important to eliminate the cause of mold rather than simply clean or mask the problem.
When is a Specialist Needed?
While mold is an important issue and may be a health concern for certain individuals, it can often be remedied without major expense or inconvenience. When signs of extensive mold are found however, a professional should be consulted for proper remediation. In addition, should a homeowner or potential homeowner have specific health-related concerns mold testing can be conducted to determine the types and quantity of mold spores -- although no official standards have been established for unsafe levels. The EPA has guidelines for cleaning mold, but
also suggestions about how to prevent the problems in the first place. For more information about mold please reference the EPA website at: www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/index.html
www.minnesotahomeinspectors.com
A home inspector gives you peace of mind, comfort and some relief of the stress caused when buying a home. As a home inspector inspects the home he will be looking for things that he knows may be a problem.
ReplyDeletediy mold testing
Specifically, molds are everywhere, they most appeared in dark places and we cannot even tolerate them or even watch at them. I suggest that there are solutions for this by going done this quickly because its also diffcult to remove it.
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