Mold Testing in Birmingham, MI For Confident Home Purchasing and Selling

If you’re seeking the most trusted mold inspection near me in Birmingham, MI, Pillar To Post™ is a leader in the home inspection industry with advanced technology and dedicated professionals at our disposal. Mold is a potentially dangerous fungus that can trigger health issues in certain persons and pets and cause damage to your home’s structural integrity.

Mold testing is advantageous for current homeowners and future buyers and sellers wanting to preserve their investment and their families. Take advantage of the top-rated mold inspection service in the area and gain peace of mind knowing the things most important in life are taken care of by scheduling a mold inspection from Pillar To Post™.

Is Mold A Concern?

Mold is a type of fungus that thrives in warm and moist environments, and is commonly found inside houses with excess moisture. It can present in a variety of colors, from black and green to white and orange, and thrives in areas that have high humidity, water leaks, or poor ventilation. It can grow on cellulose-based items, like walls, ceilings, floors, carpets, and even furniture. A mold inspector will typically look for signs of leaks and moisture in a home to identify the source of mold growth.

While most types of mold are innocuous, others can cause medical problems, especially for persons who are vulnerable. People with allergies, asthma, or weakened immune systems have been known to experience symptoms such as a stuffy nose, coughing, chest pain, and skin irritation. Pets are sometimes negatively impacted by the fungus, with common symptoms of respiratory distress, vomiting, and diarrhea. Black mold is of specific concern in Birmingham, MI and part of a professional mold inspection will be to identify the species present to comprehend the risk and develop a plan for remediation.

It’s ok if you worry about the well-being of yourself or your family and ask questions relating to the impact of mold exposure. One question our mold inspectors are sometimes asked is if it’s possible to evaluate a person for contact with mold? We are not able to offer that as a portion of our mold inspection service, but there are a variety of ways it can be performed by your doctor, including skin, blood, and urine testing.

While mold may not typically pose a significant risk to the well-being of most people, it’s particularly harmful for many common building materials found inside of homes. Mold spores colonize and break down cellulose-based materials and destroy them over time. Common cellulose or plant-based materials found inside of houses are:

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

Mold testing can detect the species and expose the source of dampness contributing to a growth inside of your current home or the one you’re planning on purchasing. A frequent question posed to mold inspectors at Pillar To Post™ is if we are able to test a person for mold exposure. Unfortunately, this cannot be determined by our mold inspection service but can be provided by your doctor with blood and skin analysis. A competent mold inspection will offer you more advantage in your home-selling negotiations or provide you more knowledge into the quality of your investment and the security of occupants when purchasing a home.

How Is an Expert Mold Inspection Performed?

A trustworthy mold inspection service is your best resource to assess the scope of mold infestation and develop a remediation plan moving forward. Mold testing at Pillar To Post™ comes with the advantage of the top technology and techniques in the business for added peace of mind. The manner in which your mold inspector carries out testing may change with each home, but will usually involve the following:

  • Initial Assessment: The mold inspector from Pillar To Post™ acquires information about the property, any established mold issues, and your concerns during the initial consultation to create a plan for mold testing.
  • Visual Inspection: The next step of our mold inspection service includes a detailed visual assessment of the property, both inside and out, scanning for signs of mold growth, water leaks, and other moisture-related issues. We examine areas inclined to mold growth, including basements, crawl spaces, bathrooms, attics, and rooms with plumbing or HVAC appliances.
  • Moisture detection: Assessing moisture content in areas around the house is crucial in detecting likely sources of mold growth. Humidity sensors and other specialized equipment are used to evaluate the moisture levels of building materials and pinpoint areas with high humidity or water intrusion behind walls, under flooring, or in other concealed spaces. Thermal-imaging technology may be used to detect areas where mold colonization may be occurring.
  • Air Sampling: Mold testing may call for air samples to be gathered from multiple areas of the home using specialized equipment. The air samples will be transferred to a lab for assessment to determine the type and concentration of mold spores existing in the air.
  • Surface Sampling: If mold growth is suspected but not seen, your mold inspector may recover surface samples from areas such as walls, ceilings, or other areas. This requires swabbing or tape-lifting areas of surfaces, which are then transferred to a lab for analysis.
  • Documentation and Reporting: An in-depth report will be supplied to clients after the mold inspection is complete, including any areas of the home where mold was detected, the variety of mold present, and recommendations for cleanup.
  • Recommendations and Remediation Plan: Depending on the inspection findings, the inspector supplies recommendations to tackle the mold problem and halt further growth.
  • Follow-up and Clearance Testing: A follow-up assessment may be conducted to ensure that the restoration efforts were successful and that the mold issue has been properly addressed.
  • Education and Prevention: The inspector educates the client about mold precaution methods, including appropriate air circulation, humidity management, and care procedures.

What Do I Need To Do To Prepare for My Mold Inspection?

You don't need to do a lot in preparing for a mold inspection aside from making sure that your inspector can readily access parts of the home where you suspect mold growth. It is also suggested to plan for pets to be outdoors of the home throughout the inspection time to make sure that the outcomes of the test are not influenced by pet dander or additional allergens.

A few things we recommend you not to do are:

  • Do not clean or disrupt any areas inside the house where you suspect mold colonization.
  • Do not utilize any air purifiers or air filtration equipment during the testing date, as these may impact the data of the test.
  • If you're able, avoid cooking, smoking, or utilizing any products that release chemicals into the air for at least 24 hours before the test. This precaution helps ensure that the test data is not influenced by additional airborne contaminants.

It is additionally advised you keep all windows and doors shut for a minimum of 12 hours before the test. This measure ensures that the air inside the home remains motionless and correctly reflects the standard indoor air quality. By following these recommendations, you will enhance the precision of your mold inspection service and examination.

Call or Make an Appointment For Mold Inspection Services On The Web

Mold has the potential to quickly grow within a home and be a danger to the well-being of occupants as well as the structural stability of the building itself. An accurate and comprehensive professional mold inspection offers valuable insights on halting its growth and eliminating the fungus permanently. Prospective homebuyers can obtain essential information to make informed decisions, while property owners can use the report obtained from a mold inspector to safeguard their property or expedite the sale. When searching for the most reliable mold inspection service near me in Birmingham, MI, choose the most trusted name by property owners, buyers, and real estate professionals and contact Pillar To Post™ today.