Mold has been around for thousands of years. Some of the earliest written documents can be found in the bible. Here are a couple of examples of mold and mildew in the bible:
Leviticus, Chapter 14: 39-47
“On the seventh day the priest shall return to inspect the house. If the mildew has spread on the walls, he is to order that the contaminated stones be torn out and thrown into an unclean place outside the town. If the mildew reappears in the house after the stones have been torn out and the house is scraped and plastered, it is a destructive mildew ant the house is unclean. It must be torn down—its stones, timbers and all the plaster—and taken out of town.”
Leviticus, Chapter 13: 47-50
“If any clothing is contaminated with mildew – any woolen or linen clothing, any woven or knitted material of linen or wool, any leather or anything make of leather – if the contamination in the clothing or leather, or woven or knitted material, or any leather article, is greenish or reddish, it is a spreading mildew and must be shown to the priest. The priest is to examine the mildew and isolate the affected article for seven days…”
You know what is so amusing about these scriptures is that this is similar protocol the mold industry has today with handling mold. Any contaminated building materials should be removed and thrown away.
Mold grows in moist environments. Mold may be growing within or behind wet materials in the building. If any water damage has occurred inside the home then testing is recommended.
Here are some examples of how moisture can be entering your home:
1. Poor grading
2. Bad flashing
3. Damaged gutters
4. Construction defects such as windows, decks, vapor barrier, etc.
5. Plumbing leaks, and defects
6. HVAC problems
7. And much more…
How do I identify mold?
Visible mold comes in many different colors (red, orange, white, black, brown, etc.) No mold of any kind should be found growing in a home. Check every readily accessible area of your home and check for these red flags
- Discolored spots on concrete, walls, ceilings, floors, etc.
- Surfaces with hairy covering: such as the white or green molds seen on fruit or bread
- Slimy surfaces
- Musty smells
- Humidity
Some quick mold remediation steps that will be needed if red flags are found:
1. Identifying the mold problem
2. Sample/Test
3. Correction of moisture source
4. Remediation plan
5. Clean up
6. Clearance post-cleaning inspection
Superior Home Inspections has been providing Atlanta residents with Home Inspections, Mold Screening, Limited Mold Sampling, and Radon Testing for many years.
Limited Mold Sampling: The purpose of limited mold sampling is to detect the presence of mold contamination in client defined areas of the subject property. This level of service consists of taking appropriate samples in specified location. Limited mold sampling is a fast economical method to determine if and what types of mold are in a defined area.
Mold Screening: This level of mold inspection utilizes a visual assessment of the entire house, identification of any red flags for mold, and limited sampling for mold. If red flags are found in multiple areas, the client will be advise and offered the chance to have additional sampling preformed. The mold screen is usually performed as a routine adjunct to a normal home inspection associated with a real estate transfer, requested and paid for by the buyer. The value of this service is that all red flags are identified. A report will be generated with digital photos.