Mold, the infamous four letter that inspectors and real estate agents everywhere won’t let you say out loud without making a stink about it. The truth is that Mold is not a bad word and at Rigid Inspections, we’re not afraid to use it. All homes have mold and without it the world would not be habitable. Mold itself is not a problem, it’s only when there is too much of it that it becomes a problem. When there is too much mold it can cause problems for your health and cause damage to property. This is where mold testing comes in!

Mold Facts

Around 50% of homes have mold problems.
Mold causes 100% of chronic sinus infections.
There are over 10,000 species of mold.
Mold destroys more wood than fires, floods, and termites combined.
Mold does not need light to grow.
Health effects and symptoms associated with mold include allergic reactions, asthma and other respiratory complaints.

Below I’ve outlined a few different testing methods to help you determine if you need mold testing, and which kind of testing best suits your needs.

Surface Testing

I will be looking for evidence of mold or “microbial” growth. I will use a swab to sample the growth I see. Swabs are used to see if there is evidence of “current or former growth” as a result of water intrusion or excessive humidity that is causing the growth. Sometimes the dark or discolored “growth” is not microbial growth and thus, not evidence of water intrusion causing damage to your home. It is important to sample visible growth along with air samples to measure whether or not unwarranted exposure exists for you and your family.

When Should You Have a Surface Sample Taken?

When visible growth (or suspected mold) is present in the home.
Where a cleanup or treatment of visible growth (or suspected mold) took place.
To ensure work was done properly when a third party performed remediation.

Choosing a company to perform mold testing is an easy task. My testing has clear results in an easy to read format delivered as fast as possible. Every test I perform is analyzed by a lab. I ship the samples in via overnight shipping the same day the test is performed. The results are then interpreted clearly and accurately by trained professionals. There will either be problem levels of mold, or there won’t be; and there will either be mold growth present, or there won’t be; the answers are clear cut.

Check out a sample report here.

Make the wise decision and protect you and your family by scheduling your mold test today! Give me a call or text at 636.614.3234 or visit our scheduling page!