We received a phone call from a homeowner who was concerned about mold in the bathroom ceiling. My first question to him was: Is there a roof leak that you are not aware of? He told me that a roofer had checked it out and said there was no roof leak. We made an appointment to do an Environmental Inspection of his home. Advised him not to change anything about the home until we got there to do the inspection.
No Moisture, No Mold is our motto concerning mold. During the inspection of the home, it was discovered that there was a slow roof leak that the roofer did not find. This is a common problem we find with roofers because they do not go to the area in the attic to check it out. This location was in the corner with minimal clearance, so the roofer did not go there. Well, the homeowner called another Roofing Company because they felt the previous Roofing Company was incompetent. In the current financial climate, it is important to do the best job possible. This is a prime example of what happens when you do poor quality work, the Roofing Company lost out on valuable work.
Now lets get to the another case of hidden mold. This is one example of hidden mold in a Home: The owner of the Home is complaining about getting ill with allergies after a water leak. This often occurs if the flooded area is not properly died up.The water was cleaned up in the A/C Closet within 72 hours which is generally sufficient to prevent microbial growth. No Moisture, No Mold. There was no visible microbial growth anywhere but the client was complaining about getting ill in the home.
The next question you are going to ask is if "No Moisture, No Mold" why is there a problem in this house. The first thing we did was take microbial air samples inside the 3 walls of the Air Conditioning Closet. We sent them to the Microbial Lab for analysis. The samples came back positive for Chaetomium and Staphybotris Mold in the walls. The next phase of the investigation requires an invasive investigation with a licensed Microbial Remediation who is properly trained.
During the second phase, it was discovered that there was an old water leak that was never cleaned up properly. This is common especially when the previous homeowner tries to hide existing water damage during a sale. This is why it is important to have your home properly investigated when you are buying an older home. The cost of the remediation to the homeowner was an approximately $950 plus clearance testing costs, which should have been paid by the previous homeowner. Guess, we live and learn the hard way.
In conclusion, roof leaks need to be investigated by a competent Roofing Contractor who checks it out in the attic if accessible. Most mold cases are clear cut and do not need an extensive Microbial Investigation. Just because you do not see mold, doesn't mean there is not a problem. It can be hidden inside the walls. If you suspect mold, call in an experienced Professional Mold Investigator who has credentials from a valid organization such as the Indoor Air Quality Association. If you are under a Doctors care, always consult with them first before taking any advice concerning Asthma and Allergies from Microbial Growth.
If you have any questions, feel free to call us or visit our website.
Mr. Art Emiss is available as a professional speaker to help educate your community or group function on Asthma, Allergies, Mold, Indoor Air Quality and the Chemically Injured. Visit our website and sign up for our Free Air Conditioning Filter Change Reminder Service.
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