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Mold causes property damage and can lead to negative medical conditions for the property's occupants.

Mold needs moisture to grow... high humidity, plumbing leaks and poor ventilation - even sprinklers hitting the side of a home - can all result in mold growth.

The full mold inspection includes a comprehensive examination of a property's interior and exterior.

FULL MOLD INSPECTION:

▪ Inspection conducted by a 48-Hour Certified Mold Inspector.

▪ Complete visual assessment of the entire property plus the use of specialized equipment to identify areas of concern.

▪ No samples are taken unless there are signs of mold growth and each sample is authorized by the client.

▪ Sample costs are in addition to the inspection fee.

▪  Reports include our proprietary Bio-Clearance Certificate

Click here to order a full mold inspection

or call (877) END MOLD

the inspection process

During the course of conducting a full mold inspection, a 48-Hour certified mold inspector will first thoroughly examine the property's exterior for any conditions that may potentially be contributing to mold growth. The inspector is looking for both indications of current mold growth and conditions that may contribute to mold issues in the future.

After the inspector has thoroughly assessed any exterior conditions, a complete inspection of the home's interior is conducted. Humidity and temperature levels are taken in all interior rooms. Because moisture is necessary to mold growth, moisture levels of building components are checked in any areas that might exhibit possible indications of mold growth.

If the mold inspector does not see any conditions that suggest that mold might be growing inside the home, the inspection is concluded. A written report is later prepared and sent to the client summarizing the inspector's findings along with a list of recommendations to help prevent future mold growth in the property.

If, however, there are indications of potential mold growth, the inspector will recommend samples be taken. All of the reasoning and evidence behind the inspector's recommendation will be discussed in detail with the client, after which the client can then opt to authorize or decline any or all of the samples. Our inspector will only take the samples authorized by the client.

Sampling procedures

Our certified inspectors are qualified to take a variety of sample types depending upon the conditions observed that led to the recommendation that samples be obtained. In situations where there is a concern about air quality, the inspector will likely recommend that air samples be taken.

The goal of air sampling is to compare the air quality indoors with that found outdoors. Molds are present in almost every environment, so our goal is to determine 1) if there are different molds found indoors compared to outdoors or 2) if the same molds are noted in both areas, whether the indoor levels are higher than the outdoor levels. Both of these scenarios would suggest that there is active mold growth somewhere indoors.

If indoor air samples are taken, then an outdoor baseline air sample must also be obtained for comparative purposes. To obtain the air samples we use the Cyclex-D MegaLite Pump with mounted 3-30LPM Rotameter that pumps air at a steady, controlled rate through a Cyclex-D air cartridge. Samples are collected at respiration height - mouth level - which is why it is important to know if children live in the home.

If mold growth is visible, the inspector will often recommend a swab sample. This is one of the best ways to determine precisely the type of mold that is growing - whether or not it is considered dangerous - which mold likely will dictate the measures used to remove it and whether the occupants should vacate the property until the mold remediation is finished. Other ways of sampling visible mold include tape samples (in which tape is applied directly to the mold, causing the mold to stick to the tape) and bulk samples (in which a piece of the mold is actually removed from the surface on which it is growing).

Another type of sample we may recommend is a carpet sample. Carpet sampling can effectively uncover previous or undetected mold problems because carpet tends to contain a “history” of mold that has previously been present in a property. Mold spores can land between the carpet piles where they can lay dormant or grow while protected by all but the most vigorous vacuuming or carpet-cleaning efforts. The same air pump used for air samples is utilized for taking carpet samples, though the air cartridge that gets sent to the laboratory is different.

Our inspectors use exacting chain-of-custody procedures to register any samples obtained and to ship them overnight to the laboratory for analysis.

Laboratory Analysis

The laboratory we use is Aerotech Laboratories, Inc., a full service indoor air quality testing facility specializing in the analysis of mold, bacteria, allergens and chemical testing. The laboratory is accredited through the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) and the American Industrial Hygiene Association’s (AIHA) Environmental Microbiology Laboratory Accreditation Program (EMLAP) and Industrial Hygiene Laboratory Accreditation Program (IHLAP). Aerotech’s BTOX division is also certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Program.

The laboratory generally needs 3 - 5 business days to complete their analysis and send us the results. However, faster turn-around times are possible for an additional charge.

the 48-hour Mold Inspection Report

In addition to containing the laboratory results, the mold inspection report issued by 48-Hour is a comprehensive document in excess of 60 pages on average, designed to address any and all issues and concerns that might result from the mold inspection and testing.

Our report begins with the Summary of Findings. The first question every client wants answered is whether mold was found and, if so, whether it is dangerous to the occupants. Our graphical, easy-to-read summary lets the reader know right away if there is an issue with mold growth and, if so, the severity of the problem based on the types of mold(s) identified in the samples.

The report goes on to provide some historical information about mold to give context to the findings.

The results of the inspector's findings are then presented. The conditions at the time of the inspection are carefully documented. The report contains all of the inspector's observations and recommendations, including photographs when possible, to help the client understand the possible cause behind any mold growth and to address conditions that are conducive to future mold issues.

A glossary is included that provides detailed information about all of the molds that may have been identified by the laboratory. New York City's report on Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments is often included as it is currently the most extensive government resource to address indoor mold growth. Because there is no government agency that has published "standards" on what level of molds are unsafe or unacceptable, the New York City guidelines has become the de facto reference for the mold industry.