Mold Investigation and Remediation

There is either one of two questions that get answered after a mold inspection is performed; do I have a mold problem or is the structure free of mold? The process begins by collecting background information concerning the structure. Is there a history of water damage? This will include determining what if any moisture causing event occurred in the past that could be a contributing factor to mold growth. This could have been heavy rainfall events that lead to flooding of a structure, a ruptured waterline or backed-up wastewater line. Where is the structure located? Is the building routinely exposed to high levels of humidity or near a waterway that is prone to flooding? What sort of heating and ventilation equipment exists in the structure? Poor air circulation in a structure is a primary component of a mold friendly environment. Are there any negative health symptoms of the building’s occupants? Are there problems that the occupants feel may be attributed by the presence of indoor mold growth? Background information collected from interviewing the occupants of a structure is a vital component to development of the mold inspection scope. The above research establishes the foundation that Apex professionals will utilize to develop a probability, or likelihood, of mold growth in the structure and also give the Apex inspectors a good idea of where to start looking.

The scope of the mold inspection relies heavily upon the background information collected. In all cases a less than intrusive visual inspection is conducted that will identify visible and odor-causing mold as well as ambient air sampling for elevated mold spore counts within the structure. Elevated spore counts act as the “smoking gun” of the inspection. It is an indication of a high probability of mold growth that is not always immediately visually identifiable. In this case the visual inspection elevates to intrusive which can include pulling up carpets to inspect the padding or sub-floor, moving appliances to inspect the wall behind and floor below, removing portions of wall coverings such as wallpaper or paneling, opening up walls to inspect wall cavities, and inspection and sampling of HVAC ductwork. Apex professionals have the experience and training to conduct an inspection intelligently. What that means is the more intrusive methods of inspection are done because high levels of mold growth probability have been established. Through years of experience and a wide variety of circumstances, Apex has developed the ability of knowing where to look and where the problem areas are for indoor mold growth. If mold is growing in a structure, rest-assured Apex will find it.