We are amazed how many people still buy property after the home inspector indicates mold like material is found in that inspector's report and then the buyer buys the property without a competent mold inspection to find out just a few weeks later there is a major mold problem. Once you own the property you own the problem - some recent repairs under such a scenario cost over $20,000.00 to repair. Call us immediately if that is the case in your situation as you may still be able to recover from such a potential loss. STOP ! KNOW THIS FIRST- NEVER TOUCH MOLD! Touching mold is the fastest and most immediate way people have gotten infected. There are high concentrations of mycotoxins on surface mold that will instantly enter sensitive skin areas. One of our clients was hospitalized within an hour of touching mold and then having touched her face due to a severe reaction. Tender skin areas such as the face, wrist, under arm, behind leg and similar areas allow for instant transfer of toxic fungal mold metabolites. DO NOT DISTURB MOLD GROWTH! Do not disturb mold growth without controls. Vacuuming, brushing, sweeping and other uncontrolled actions will result in the spread of mold spores and particles into the air resulting in possible respiratory infection or airway reactions. A removal plan must keep in mind the possibility of releasing added contamination. Do not make a mold condition an immediate hazard by disturbing it. CAREFULLY SELECT YOUR MOLD SPECIALISTThere is a considerable amount of misinformation being spread on the Internet by persons claiming to be mold experts. Often repair contractors give free inspections as a lure for promoting their repair services. Ask for a full training and experience check from anyone claiming they are certified. Ask what they did before they became a mold inspector - were they painters? General home inspector without competent mold training? Landscape specialists? Plumbers? Sheetrock or tile installers? Roofers? Or related. If so, you can bet you will be getting some of those services and repairs if you them needed or not. Do not hire the combination inspector and repair contractor. Interview your candidate for inspection. Obtain a referral from your doctor, real-estate broker, attorney or home inspector if they have any experience with mold specialists.AVOID THE $79.95 MOLD INSPECTION AND OTHER WONDEROUS DISCOUNT INSPECTIONS It is almost laughable if it were not such a serious concern that a competent researcher would charge such a fee to travel to a location, take samples, conduct a study, provide a critical analysis and document the findings by writing a competent report meeting established expert legal standards for the fees claimed. For such prices you do not get the important scientific study from any of the discount mold services such as the specie of mold as required under current legal standards. The sampling is not definitive without speciation, viability testing, determination of the extent of concealed or hidden growth. THE MEANINGLESS INSTANT QUICK TEST FOR MOLD PRESENCE Do not waste time with the simple mold detection kits since the results are meaningless, ambiguous and inconclusive without a comprehensive site study and clinical analysis. Ask why any test is given or sample taken and what the benefit of taking it is. There are many instant tests on the market. These mold tests are mostly meaningless, of LIMITED to nearly NO VALUE without competent mycological analysis complemented with a total and rigorous review including relevant clinical factors. Your time and effort is wasted with this type of "test" and will give you a false sense of security or cause you undue distress and adds to the confusion in nearly all cases. MOLD SPECIATION IS CRITICAL Why is Speciation Critical!
Symptoms such as an ongoing itchy eyes, bloody nose, sinus problems, headaches, nose congestion, runny nose, skin rashes, skin sores, coughing, breathing difficulties, difficulty in remembering things and in thinking clearly, feeling disconnected from the world around you, and/or chronic fatigue. Some people may experience mold health symptoms, while others may have none, while all living or working in the same mold-infested area. Humans differ significantly in their sensitivity to mold depending on prior exposure,general health, whether their immune systems are competent or weakend.
Water leaks, plumbing leaks, sewer line leaks, water stains on ceilings, the indoor smell of mold, visible mold growth, high humidity (60% or more) to drive mold growth from humidity alone. Get a free moisture meter (hygrometer) from NJ Mold Inspection Services ASSUMING NO MOLD PROBLEM BECAUSE OF NO VISIBLE MOLD Often mold problems of the highest concern are often the ones you cannot see INSIDE floors, ceilings, walls, basement, attic, crawl space, and the heating/cooling equipment and ducts. Airborne mold spores are invisible to the eye, very light, and are easily carried in air current movements or in the air flows of your heating/cooling system to mold cross-contaminate your entire house from just one hidden mold problem. A moisture meter can be used to scan all walls and floors for hidden water problems.
Today’s new homes often come with built-in mold infestation problems because the building materials have been left exposed to rain or dampness. USING CHLORINE BLEACH TO KILL MOLD Sodium hypochlorite also known as bleach is a known and effective bactericide but only when used correctly. If not properly applied it can be ineffective when trying to kill mold growth and mold spores. Bleach is also hazardous to to all persons when exposed to their critical threshold and tolerance values. Caution must be used. And finally you still will still not know where hidden mold colonies are growing. NEVER MIX CLEANERS They can create secondary toxic or poisonous gases. Mixing cleaners can also make them both ineffective. See the Discovery Health Channels show "Is Your House Out to Get You?" where these and other dangers including mold in the home my present to the occupants. Physicians, home safety experts, mycologists and others discuss such risks.
Often ineffective products such as Kilz, regular paint, paint containing a FUNGICIDAL element, any paint, Lysol, ammonia, and other household cleaners and disinfectants. Painting over a mold problem does not solve it. It only hides the problem temporarily, mold will continue to grow. Only EPA-registered fungicides can kill mold, but just spraying visible mold does not solve mold problems. You need to kill all visible mold encountered in mold remediation, but it needs also to be removed from the home or building, and all of the water and mold damaged building materials need to be thrown out and replaced with mold-free building materials.
We have encountered from time to time mold remediation work that caused and left more mold problems AFTER the alleged remediation than before their work because of: (a) failure to find and fix all of the mold infestation locations in a home or building due to incomplete mold inspection and mold testing; (b) poor and inadequate training; (c) failure to utilize proper mold containment procedures and effective mold remediation techniques; (d) taking shortcuts that undermine the remediation effort; and (e) sometimes fraud and dishonesty on the part of the contractor. Insist on hiring only Certified Mold Inspectors, Certified Mold Contractors, and Certified Mold Remediators who are field experienced and lab trained mycologists . New Jersey Mold Inspection Services inspectors are so qualified and specialty certified by the Southeast Mold Institute for structures used for human habitation.
The only people who truly care about your family’s health and home investment are yourself and your family. Although there are many mold knowledgeable and mold experienced industrial hygienists, most are not truly knowledgeable in medical mycology - the science of fungal mold that related to human health. GET YOUR DOCTOR'S RECOMMENDATION Hire a Certified Mold Inspector if you value your family’s health that works with allergists and or other physicians. |
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