A Professional Mold Inspection When Buying or Listing a Home in Colorado Springs, Colorado Will Provide Extra Peace of Mind

Pillar To Post™ Home Inspectors are nationally esteemed as the premier home inspection service trusted by millions of homeowners, soon-to-be homebuyers, and real estate agents. Defend your family and your investment by coming to us when seeking mold inspection near me.

How Will Mold Impact My Residence and Family?

Mold spores are everywhere in the surrounding environment, only becoming visible when conditions are acceptable to it, and the fungus finds an ideal surface to colonize. The fungus most often selects shadowy and damp spaces. Among other things, your knowledgeable mold inspector will detect the source of the moisture – whether it’s from recently occurring flooding or leaks – to help you develop a course of action for remediation. Mold can be virtually any color, including red, green, yellow, white, and black, which is typically associated with a particularly harmful species, Stachybotrys chartarum, known to induce dangerous health effects in certain individuals and pets.

Although this fungus is not hazardous for the majority of people, it does lead to serious cosmetic issues and a stale odor. Even more concerning, the fungus eats the surfaces that it colonizes, ruining materials and degrading the structural integrity of a building over time. It feeds on cellulose materials that are frequent in nearly every home, including:

• Drywall
• Wood
• Carpet
• Insulation
• Ceiling tiles
• Wallpaper
• Fabrics
• Upholstery
• Some Painted surfaces
• Paper
• Cardboard
• And More

Mold testing is highly advisable when buying a house or if you currently live inside a house with visible signs of mold growth and odor. The risk is that the fungus can spread widely, becoming more costly to eliminate and triggering more damage to a home over time. A trained mold inspector has the proper knowledge and testing equipment to evaluate surfaces and the surrounding environment for mold spores you cannot see. An adequate mold inspection service will offer prospective homebuyers with the insights required to make better decisions about their investment and give current homeowners knowledge into what needs to be done to prevent further spread of the fungus and eradicate it entirely.

Some clients inquire if a mold inspection service can evaluate people for contact with the fungus, but this is beyond the scope of a home mold inspector and should be done by your healthcare provider through skin and blood screening. If you think or discover that you or your family has been exposed to mold, speak to your doctor about the hazards and to know if any personal testing needs to be done.

What Methods Are Utilized To Conduct an Expert Mold Inspection?

A dependable mold inspection service is your optimal resource to identify the scope of mold infestation and devise a remediation plan moving forward. Mold testing at Pillar To Post™ comes with the benefit of the best technology and methods in the industry for added confidence. The way your mold inspector carries out testing may differ from house to house, but will generally involve the following:

• Initial Assessment: The mold inspector from Pillar To Post™ gathers information about the home, any noted mold issues, and your worries during the initial consultation to devise a plan for mold testing.
• Visual Inspection: The next step of our mold inspection service involves a complete visual examination of the home, both inside and out, searching for signs of mold growth, water intrusion, and other moisture-related problems. We investigate areas prone to mold growth, like basements, crawl spaces, bathrooms, attics, and rooms with plumbing or heating and cooling units.
• Moisture detection: Knowing moisture content in areas around the property is essential in identifying likely sources of mold spread. Moisture meters and other specialized equipment are used to determine the moisture levels of building materials and locate areas with high humidity or water intrusion behind walls, under flooring, or in other concealed spaces. Thermal-imaging tools may be used to detect areas where mold growth may be happening.
• Air Sampling: Air sampling is often carried out to determine indoor air quality and identify the presence of spores in the air. Air pumps and collection tools are employed to obtain air samples from various areas of the home. These samples will be submitted to a lab for analysis.
• Surface Sampling: The inspector may also take surface samples from portions of the property where mold is suspected. These samples will be submitted to a lab for analysis to identify the type of mold detected.
• Documentation and Reporting: Findings are documented, including observations, measurements, sampling points, and analysis findings. A detailed report is created, recapping the inspection data, mold types identified, and proposed remedies for remediation, if necessary.
• Recommendations and Remediation Plan: If mold is discovered, the inspector may provide suggestions for mold remediation, which may involve hiring an expert mold remediation service. They may suggest measures to mitigate moisture intrusions, improve airflow, and stop future mold growth.
• Follow-up and Clearance Testing: After restoration efforts, the inspector may conduct a post-remediation inspection to ensure that the mold issue has been effectively addressed. Verification testing may be conducted to validate that the indoor area meets permissible mold spore levels and is protected for occupants.
• Education and Prevention: The inspector educates the client about mold prevention measures, including appropriate airflow, humidity management, and maintenance practices.

Is There Anything I Have To Do To Prepare for a Mold Inspection?

You don't need to do much in preparation for a mold inspection apart from ensuring that your inspector can easily reach parts of the house where you suspect mold growth. It is also advised to plan for pets to be outdoors of the house throughout the testing period to ensure that the outcomes of the inspection are not affected by pet dander or additional allergens.

Examples of things we recommend you do not do are:

• Do not clean or disturb any places of the property where you suspect mold to be present.
• Do not utilize any air purifiers or air filters during the testing period, as these will affect the data of the test.
• If feasible, refrain from cooking, smoking, or utilizing any products that release chemicals into the air for a minimum of 24 hours before the inspection. This precaution helps ensure that the inspection results are not affected by foreign airborne contaminants.

It is also recommended you keep all windows and doors shut for at least 12 hours before the inspection. This measure guarantees that the environment inside the house remains motionless and precisely represents the standard indoor air quality. By adhering to these recommendations, you will enhance the accuracy of your mold inspection service and testing.

Book a Mold Inspection Right Away

Mold can take hold quickly within a home and degrade various building materials and household possessions. The fungus also presents a possible health danger to vulnerable people and pets. When looking for mold inspection near me in Colorado Springs, Colorado, choose Pillar To Post™ to ensure the most precise findings and a well-defined path forward for remediation. Protect your investment and occupants by scheduling an appointment for mold testing online or by calling 800-294-5591 today.