The Best Home Inspection LLC

Mold Screening

More and more we are becoming aware of the seriousness of mold inside our homes. Mold poses a serious threat to the quality of the air inside the home. For some, it can be life-threating, for others a mild irritant. It is always a consideration when you are considering buying or selling a home.

Mold Screening can detect the presence of a microbial problem in the inspected areas of the your home. From there you can take steps to get rid of the mold and to decrease the risk of future mold growth.

Scope of Mold Screen

The Mold Screen consists of a visual inspection by our licensed mold inspector in readily accessible areas for mold and/or conditions that may indicate the presence of mold - "red flags" such as musty odor and/or evidence of water penetration. If the visual inspection shows no or only one "red flag" area, then we will take only limited samples.

If "red flags" are found in multiple areas, then you will be advised and we will talk with you about having additional samples collected in identified areas. If you have particular spaces you want to target, our inspector can take samples in areas designated by you.

The objective of the Mold Screen is to determine whether mold problems exist in the readily accessible area(s) sampled at the time the Mold Screen is performed. As such, the results of Mold Screen are not a guarantee that mold does or does not / will or will not exist in the house; the results are indicative only of the presence or absence of mold in the areas sampled at the time the Mold Screen is performed. ^*1*

Visual Assessment

The purpose of the visual assessment is to identify visual mold contamination or conditions that may be conducive to microbial growth; to detect the presence, or likely presence, of mold in designated areas. After we conduct your visual assessment, collect samples and the the lab results are completed, we will provide you with a written report stating whether mold or conditions indicating mold were found in the designated areas.^*2*

Scope of Visual Inspection & Exclusions

The scope of the visual inspection is limited to readily accessible areas only. We do not remove floor and wall coverings or move furniture, open walls or perform any type of destructive inspection. Certain structural areas are considered inaccessible and impractical to inspect including but not limited to:

• the interiors of walls and inaccessible areas below
• areas beneath wood floors over concrete
• areas concealed by floor coverings
• areas to which there is no access without defacing or tearing out lumber, masonry, roofing or finished workmanship
• portions of the attic concealed or made inaccessible by insulation, belongings, equipment or ducting
• portions of the attic or roof cavity concealed due to inadequate crawl space
• areas of the attic or crawl space made inaccessible due to construction
• interiors of enclosed boxed eaves
• portions of the sub area concealed or made inaccessible by ducting or insulation
• enclosed bay windows
• portions of the interior made inaccessible by furnishings
• areas where locks prevented access
• areas concealed by appliances
• areas concealed by stored materials
• areas concealed by heavy vegetation

Unfortunately, there is no economically practical method to make these areas accessible. However, they may be subject to attack by microbial organisms.

If two or more "red flag" areas within the property are identified based upon the results of the visual inspection, we recommend that additional sampling be conducted in each of the areas identified.

Initial Sampling & Lab Testing

After the visual inspection, two air samples (one indoor and one outdoor) along with a carpet, swab, or additional air sample in one of the common areas will be conducted. The samples will be sent to an ESA approved lab, which will analyze them for the presence of mold. The lab report will detail the presence and types of mold, if any, found in the samples. A reference guide will be provided, which explains the various types of mold along with any recommended actions. ^*3*

Report of Visual Inspection Results

Following the visual inspection and additional sampling (if conducted), You will be provided with a written report identifying: Types and levels of molds read in samples along with sample locations; a description of each type of mold discovered; and a summary of findings.^*4*

The Need for Further Sampling

Based upon the results of the Mold Screen, we may recommend that additional samples be taken. On your report, we will indicate the conditions warranting the recommendation for further sampling. You will also be provided with information within the written Mold Screen Report that identifies the areas of the your home where microbial problems or conditions indicating microbial problems were discovered. All additional samples will be sent to an ESA approved lab where they will be analyzed for the presence of mold. All sample results will be included in the Mold Screen Report as shown in the Mold Screen Inspection Agreement (See pages 9-10).

If mold is found, one or more of the following conditions will be reported:
Evidence of suspected mold growth is visible in one or more areas of the property. It is recommended that swab samples in these areas be taken and tested.
A visible condition exists in the your home that may indicate that water infiltration has occurred or is occurring. Although there may be no visible signs of mold growth, this condition is conducive to mold growth that could be present in areas not readily visible. The tests recommended are: indoor air sampling, which will identify the type(s) of mold present, if any, and the concentrations of mold spores; a carpet test which will give "historical" data; and/or an inner wall sampling.
A musty odor is present at the property. Although there may not be any physical evidence of the presence of mold growth in any readily accessible areas, this odor is consistent with odors commonly associated with the presence of mold growth. An indoor air sample; a carpet test which will give "historical" data; and/or an inner wall sampling is recommended.