Knowing there is mold present your first thought may be, "Can I just clean it myself?"

The answer to your questions actually depends on a variety of factors;

• How much mold is there? 
• ​Has there been a lot of water damage?
  
• Do you suspect it is in the HVAC(Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning) system?
  
• Is the water/mold damage caused by sewage or other contaminated water?
  
• ​Do you have health concerns that may be further impacted by cleanup?
  

You don't have to be buying or selling to test for mold.

Currently NO EPA(Environmental Protection Agency) or other federal limits exist to set a standard for safety levels of mold in your home. 

Currently, there are no federal standards or recommendations, (e.g., OSHA, NIOSH, EPA) for airborne concentrations of mold or mold spores. 

​This means that mold samples and their results cannot be used to check a home or buildings compliance with federal mold standards. However, this does not mean that it should be ignored or discounted as a minor problem. Molds have the potential to cause various health problems. Molds produce allergens and irritants. Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include Hey Fever-type symptoms. These symptoms may include sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash. Allergic reactions caused by mold are common and may be immediate or delayed. Asthma attacks can be caused by molds in people who have asthma and are allergic to mold. Mold exposure may also irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs of people both allergic and not. Research on mold and

its health effects are ongoing.

​

In an effort to support local and give you the fastest results possible we utilize the services of of IMS Laboratory for mold and radon.

Pictured is mold found in the laundry room of a recent inspection.

• In most cases you can handle the job of cleaning up mold yourself if the area is less than 10 sq. ft., or smaller than 3 ft. by 3 ft.
  

• If there has been a lot of water damage, often this means mold where you can see it as well as in the places you don't, its often wise to call a mold remediation company to handle these larger jobs for the safety of everyone. Mold remediation specialists are trained to use proper equipment and disposal methods for the removal of mold and cleanup to avoid it regrowing in the same place. 

• If you suspect or have confirmed the presence of mold in you're HVAC system you should discontinue use as it can spread the mold thoughout the building and consult the EPA guide regarding should you have your air ducts cleaned?
  

• ​If the water/mold damage is caused by sewage or other contaminated water it's recommended to call a professional who has experience with cleaning and fixing buildings damaged by contaminated water
  

• ​If you have health concerns that may be further impacted by cleanup, we recommend consulting with your health care professional regarding the safety of you doing the cleanup independently or calling a professional.
  

Serving Oakland County:
Addison Auburn Hills Berkley Beverly Hills Bingham Farms Birmingham Bloomfield Bloomfield Hills Brandon Clarkston Clawson Commerce Farmington Farmington Hills Fenton Ferndale Franklin Village Groveland Hazel Park Highland Holly Huntington Woods Independence Keego Harbor Lake Angelus Lake Orion Lathrup Village Leonard Lyon Township Madison Heights Milford Northville Novi Oak Park Oakland Orchard Lake Ortonville Oxford Pleasant Ridge Pontiac Rochester Rochester Hills Rose Township Royal Oak South Lyon Southfield Springfield Sylvan Lake Troy Walled Lake Waterford West Bloomfield White Lake Wixom Wolverine Lake
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​Don't see your location? Contact us, we aim to serve you!

Moisture can enter a home in many ways pictured below are just a few examples of moisture intrusion/penetration.

Types of Testing available:

Instant Mold Swab-Instant confirmation yes or no but no identification.

Mold Test Lift Tape-Sent to a lab for spore identification and count

After a flood or any type of water damage water should be cleaned within 24-48 hours to minimize damage and the opportunity for mold growth. For insurance purposes documentation using photo and video are recommended prior to cleanup.

Mold Testing & Mold Inspections

​While mold isn't always visible the first sign and main cause is moisture!

Moisture Testing- You my be walking around your potential future home looking at the fresh paint, new carpets and beautiful natural lighting from all the windows, but what's hiding underneath? Sometimes people hide signs of moisture and water stains using a fresh coat of paint without fixing the problem. With our meter we are going around looking underneath the surface for the hidden moisture. This hidden moisture can cause other problems later on such as bubbling under the paint, mold, wood rot effecting the integrity of the structure, drywall damage, or flooring damage. Leading to many costly repairs you weren't expecting.​

Pictured Right are stains from untreated water penetration.

Mold Cleanup

Oakland County Home Inspections

Why Test?

Why should you test? If there are no standards or guarantee it will effect your health, what's the point?  Sampling is a great way to confirm the presence of mold and type. Sampling of mold can also be used to determine if an area has been adequately cleaned or remediated after. Whether it is your current home or a home you are getting prepared to purchase you want to know about any issues that could impact your health, the health of your family, pets, or even visitors. But you also want to be as informed as possible regarding the structural integrity of your home. Ignoring the presence of mold does not stop it from growing or force it to disappear. Awareness coupled with action is best for your safety and the longevity of your home!

Molds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any substance, providing moisture is present. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.

​Mold is not only bad for your health it is bad for your home. Mold can eat away at the structural integrity of the home. Without properly cleaning or remediating mold it will continue to actively grow and damage the material it is living on. It may start in a small spot in a corner of your attic or behind drywall, slowly it will eat away at the material its on and move on to adjacent material as well. This could mean the structural beams, insulation, whatever is available. Just because you do not see mold does not mean it's not there, but it can be tested for with a swab or air test.

Mold Sampling & Air Testing

Using our quality equipment and in-depth training our inspector comes equipped to test for a range of items:

Indoor Air Quality: Mold spores, pollen, insect parts, dust mites, skin cell fragments, plant fragments, dust, fibers, combustion emissions, etc.

Home Inspection: Mold contamination before and after real estate transactions.

Flood Restoration: Evaluation of mold spore contamination before, during, and after remediation.

Stack Emissions: Fly Ash, inorganic dust, etc.

Allergy Testing: Mold Spores, pollen, insect parts, dust mites.

Clean Room Monitoring: Evaluation of low airborne dust and contaminants from personnel (skin cells,clothing fibers, cosmetics, etc.)​​