Mold Testing, Mold Inspection, & Mold Sampling in Your Home
SERVING SW WASHINGTON – VANCOUVER WA – CAMAS – WASHOUGAL – BATTLE GROUND – RIDGEFIELD
Northbank Home Inspection offers certified mold testing, mold inspection, and mold sampling for Vancouver WA and SW Washington area. Mold testing is coupled with licensed, certified, and independent lab analysis. Air samples are overnight shipped to the lab and can be available within 24 hours of receipt.
What to expect from a mold testing, inspection, sampling from Northbank:
- Full mold inspection of the house, including crawlspace and attic
- Sampling of the home’s air to test for mold
- Swab samples of affected areas, if needed
- Licensed and certified independent lab analysis of air and/or swab samples
- Full mold report, detailing accumulation of various mold types, including Black Mold
Why Test for Mold in Your Vancouver WA Home?
Certified mold inspection, mold testing, and mold sampling by Northbank Home Inspection is designed to help you make decisions about a house by assessing potential health hazards and damage caused by the presence of mold. Our certified Vancouver WA mold inspections include not only air quality testing and swab sampling, but a thorough examination of the home looking for any signs of water damage, water intrusion, ventilation problems, or any other conditions that could create a conducive environment for mold to grow. If you’re concerned about mold because you or someone in your family has sensitivities to it, a Northbank mold testing and inspection can help independently confirm its presence and give you verifiable information to make remediation decisions. The lab analysis includes identification of genus or group of all fungi present, quantification of spores, and a general assessment of background debris found in the air of a home or in a particular area. We offer this service with a home inspection or as a stand-alone inspection.
Mold is Common in Vancouver Homes
Where you find mold, you’ll find water. And in the Vancouver, WA area, it can be hard to find a dry time during most the year, making mold a concern for many households. While some molds are visible and may have an odor; they can also be odorless and hide from the untrained eye. Mold does best in water-soaked materials (paneling, drywall, carpet, ceiling tiles, and the like), but can survive in almost any damp location. Usually, you can easily find mold in bathrooms, kitchens, and basements when water intrusion or leakage is a common issue. However, mold can grow in less accessible locations, such as between walls, under floors, behind ceilings. These areas are hidden from view and often only manifest visibly after the problem has become significant.
And while mold is a nuisance and can have negative health impacts, it many cases it be easily cleaned and the problem can be solved with simple solutions.
Even new construction homes are not immune to mold. One common cause is build time. Most new construction homes in developments take 90-120 days to build. Some builders can run a much tighter scheduler and produce homes much faster — I’ve seen some built in as little as 52 days. In the northwest, this is a recipe for mold and other moisture issues. Construction materials often get soaked with rain during the build. These materials need to have time to dry out before the house moves to the next phase. If they don’t, modern building practices designed to produce more energy efficient homes can trap moisture and mold problems will follow.
Attic Mold
Attic mold is one of the most common finds during a home inspection in the Vancouver, WA or Portland, OR area. Our climate and some common (albeit unwitting or unthoughtful) construction practices contribute to this problem. Attic mold, while often thought to be solely related to attic ventilation, is often caused by conditioned air leaking into the attic.
Here’s a common scenario: it’s a hot summer day. Your house has a black roof. That black roof absorbs tons of heat, often elevating attic temperatures to more than 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, you have your air-conditioning system cooling your house to a comfortable 70 degrees. This cool air commonly leaks (more than you might image) through the ceiling plane and into your attic. Those cool and hot temperatures meet, condensation is formed, and conducive conditions for mold are created.
Is Mold Dangerous?
Mold is everywhere. It’s probably on your clothes, food, and pillow. It’s usually when mold is found in elevated levels that it becomes a serious health concern. People have different sensitivities and health concerns to consider, such as the young and elderly, or other people with compromised immune systems. Some people have higher sensitivities to mold and may have allergic reactions where others don’t. In general, if you have concerns about the negative health effects of mold, get your home tested to quantify and identify the types of mold in your home and talk to a health care professional.
