MOLD TESTING
Call Back To Normal Restoration When The Threat of Mold is Evident
At Back to Normal Restoration Services, we are mold experts, providing comprehensive mold testing. Whether it’s the peace of mind or evidence to take action, Back to Normal provides evidence you can trust.
If you notice signs of mold, don’t wait! Mold can cause a harmful airspace environment within your home or business. It’s important to identify and act before the harmful effects take place. At Back to Normal we can test and identify all mold types and follow up with a remediation process that eradicates and prevents future growth, keeping those you care about safe.
Our inspectors are very knowledgeable and will be more than happy to walk you through the steps required by a potential home mold remediation or office mold remediation project. This initial on-site mold inspection* is necessary to assess the situation and determine the amount of damage that has occurred to your home or office. From there, we will assemble a plan of action and get to work!
* Due to the time-intensive requirements of this initial inspection, the inspection cost is $250.00. This inspection fee will be applied towards your overall bill if any mold removal or remediation is required.
Pt. 1: Why should you test for mold?
If you suspect that you may have a mold problem, it’s good to have testing done right away. The sooner the issue is identified and corrective measures start, the less damage it will cause.
Some good reasons to have professional mold testing performed in your home are:
- You notice signs such as a mold smell or mold growth in moist areas
- To identify the species of mold in your home
- To test indoor air quality by measuring the number of spores in the air
- To help you find the source of where mold is growing
- To test if the mold in your home has been fully removed
- If a mold inspection is inconclusive
1
Clear Signs of Mold
If an area has been damp or wet for some period of time, mold can spring up quickly. Most people can tell when mold is growing on the surface just by seeing it, but less visible signs of mold are: bad smells, coughing or difficulty breathing, and unexplained fatigue.
2
Identifying Mold Species
It may become necessary to find out what kind of species of mold is in your home. This is important for toxic molds since extra caution needs to be taken to safely remove toxic mold from the home. Two well-known toxic molds are Stachybotrys (often called toxic black mold – note that not all mold that appears black is toxic) and Aspergillus (a fungus that can cause infections). If you see the mold which looks like a toxic species or if you are suffering unusual allergic-type symptoms, then you should have it tested before you try to remove it. The only way to identify the species of a mold colony for certain is to have a mold professional look at a sample of it under the microscope.
3
Mold Testing for Indoor Air Quality
You can have mold testing done to determine the number of mold spores in the air. Sometimes you can be suffering the symptoms of mold allergies even if there is no mold growing in your home. This can be because of mold spores blowing into the home from outdoor mold or because there used to be mold growing in your home which left behind a buildup of spores. By testing for mold, you can tell if there is an unhealthy level of spores in your house and find out if any allergies you might have are related to mold growth in the home.
4
Mold Testing to Find Mold
Not only can mold testing tell you if you have a mold problem somewhere in your home, but it can also help you to find it. Mold often grows hidden away behind walls and other places. Mold tests can help you narrow down the location of hidden mold by identifying the places in your home with the highest count of mold spores.
5
Mold Testing after Removing Mold
Mold testing can be useful after you’ve had mold removed from your home. Through testing, you can make sure that the mold removal was a success. Surface sampling can show whether an area has been properly cleaned of mold. Having air testing sometime after the mold removal can also confirm that mold spores in your home’s air have been reduced to a safe level.
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Mold Inspection before Testing
Before you turn to mold testing, you should have a thorough mold inspection of your home. If the inspection turns up MOLD, then usually you don’t need to do any mold testing. Instead, you can move on to the mold removal stage. But if you couldn’t find any mold but still think you have a mold problem, or if you found some mold but think there is more hidden or that it could be toxic, then it’s time to turn to mold testing.
If you suspect that mold could be an issue in your home or business, contact us and we can help you determine if you need testing (and if so what type) performed or if you need to move straight to removal or remediation. As we like to say, we’re here to help you get “Back to Normal”!
Pt. 2: Signs of Mold in Your Home
If you notice a moldy smell in your house, there’s a good chance you could have mold hidden somewhere.
Likewise, discoloration and growing dark spots on wood, walls, or flooring can be telltale signs of mold in the home.
Another sign that you could have mold is if you are suffering from unusual allergy symptoms. If there’s mold hidden in your home, there will be mold spores in the air. When you breathe in these spores, not only will you notice a moldy smell, but your body will react with allergic reactions like sneezing, a runny nose, or sore eyes.
Pt. 3: What type of mold test should I use?
There are three main types of mold testing:
- Air testing
- Surface testing
- Bulk testing
Ideally, we recommend all three types of testing since each has its own strengths and weaknesses, but we evaluate each and every situation before determining what is needed.
Air Quality Testing for Mold
Air sampling tests the concentration of mold spores in your home’s air. Samples are taken from the air and are later examined under a microscope. Air tests can tell you if you have a mold problem even if you cannot find the mold growth. The number of mold spores in the air can change drastically in a small amount of time, giving varying results at different times.
Surface Testing for Mold
Surface testing involves taking samples from household surfaces to find the amount of mold growth and spores deposited around the home. Samples are typically collected by swabbing or tape lifting. The sample is then examined in a laboratory. Like with air testing the results can vary because mold growth and spores aren’t spread evenly across surfaces in the home and can change over time. Unlike air testing though, surface tests can’t identify the exact concentration of mold spores in the air.
Bulk Testing for Mold
Bulk testing involves collecting pieces of material from your home. The material is then taken to a laboratory where mold particles on the material can be examined under a microscope. Bulk tests can tell you if you have a mold problem and give you an idea of the concentration of mold particles in your home.
Further Testing: Culture Tests for Mold
Culture tests use a sample of live mold particles from the home which are grown into larger mold colonies in a lab. This helps to identify the species of molds in houses. Only mold particles that are still alive can be grown. However dead mold particles in the home still cause allergies and health problems. Other tests can detect both living and non-living mold in a home but can’t always identify the species of molds.
Pt. 4: Restoring Your Home or Business “Back To Normal”
If your home or living space tests positive for mold, Back To Normal is your team of mold removal experts, and can professionally clear your house of mold. We offer comprehensive disaster restoration services, so any related damage or issues can all be handled at the same time.
- Our restoration professionals are capable of:
- sub-floor work,
- floor covering replacement/restoration,
- drywall, trim and baseboard replacement,
- decorative wallpaper and border replacement,
- painting,
- and more!
Back to Normal Restoration Services also specializes in spot and stain removal on a variety of flooring and textile surfaces. We will leave your mold-damaged area looking as if nothing was ever wrong.
Testing your home for mold is a great way to protect your investment from future problems. If mold is present, we are there for you to help get Back To Normal!