Mold Information Series (Guest Blogger - Part 2) : Carlsbad Relocation A to Z

Description

An informational source for people who are relocating, with a particular focus on moving to the Carlsbad area of North County San Diego (and nearby coastal communities), with advice, guidance and true stories to help you on your way and make it a great journey, from a REALTOR� with plenty of personal (4 major moves, most recently from Boston to Carlsbad, California) and professional relocation experience. Are you running into problems selling your home? Need to find a new one quickly? Never moved before and haven't a clue? You'll find some great tips on how to solve your relocation issues here. Or ask me a question any time and I'll share some solutions or tell you where to get more information. CA DRE License #01490977

My Links

�
�
�
�
�
�
.

RSS Blog Feed

Rate Me on BlogHop.com!
help?

Ldmstudio Directory
Real Estate Blogs Directory - Directory of real estate blogs and blogs of industries affiliated with and serving the real estate industry.

Mold Information Series (Guest Blogger - Part 2)

"How do you actually perform a mold inspection?"

This is a question that I get quite frequently from REALTORS and buyers alike who have not been through the mold inspection process.

In the simplest terms, a mold inspection begins with a visual survey of the interior and exterior of readily accessible structures located on the property being inspected. During this survey, the mold inspector is visually identifying preventative maintenance issues, which if left unattended, can result in conditions conducive to mold growth, and suspect areas/conditions where mold colonization, whether active or dormant, may also be present. Suspect areas can include walls, ceilings or other surfaces within the structure that are discolored, stained, blemished or otherwise damaged from present or past water intrusion. Areas of suspected mold-like growth, whether active or dormant, are of course also noted.

Upon completion of the visual survey/inspection, the mold inspector will sit down with his/her client and discuss the findings of the visual survey. Suspect areas that have been noted are further explained and recommended for sampling. The purpose of collecting samples is to determine whether a suspected stain, blemish, discoloration or other water damaged area is identified, by laboratory analysis, as mold growth. Mold growth should not be present in a normal fungal ecology. Sampling can also identify conditions that may warrant further evaluation and include invasive testing or referral to a remediation / abatement / clean-up company. In my next post I will address in more detail the different types of sampling methods.

With an explanation of the mold inspection process in hand, let's examine in more detail some of the specific areas a mold inspector will examine while performing an inspection.

Grounds:

The grounds of a structure can include the evaluation of proper grading, drainage which includes gutters, the location of downspouts, exterior wall coverings, porches, decks and windows. All of these systems when properly working together allow for the displacement of water away from the structure and prevent water intrusion.

Plumbing:

When inspecting the interior of a structure, great attention is paid to under-sink areas and adjacent plumbing systems. Under sinks in both bathrooms and kitchens are the most common areas observed for water staining, leaks, discoloration and mold-like growth.

HVAC:

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning systems can often be a source of mold concern. Air ducts are inspected to insure they are not disconnected causing venting into areas like attics and crawlspaces. Additionally, closed off supply registers can create excessive condensation and an environment conducive to mold growth.

Remember: Moisture control is the key to preventing mold growth. Mold only needs a food source, moisture and a surface to grow on!

Andy Konopacki

PResident - VM3 Environmental, Inc.

P 760-273-9728
P 949-269-3073 (Orange County)
F 760-683-3126

Posted: 1:55 PM, Jul. 16, 2007

Comments (0) | Add Comment | Link
View more entries tagged with: Mold, Vm3 Environmental, Mold Inspections, Mold Remediation, Andy Konopacki

Write a Comment

Your Name:

RealTown Members: Click here to login

Your E-Mail:

Your Website:

Subject:

Your Comment:

Notifications:

Notify me by email when new comments have been posted to this entry.

Privacy:

Private Comment - Do not publish this comment to the public.

Verification:

To verify that you are a human and not a script, please enter the verification word from the image into the box on the right.

Description

My Links

Categories

Favorite Links

Mold Information Series (Guest Blogger - Part 2)

Write a Comment