Lask Inspection Group, LLC has the training and equipment to perform mold inspections and perform mold screening. Are you buying a home and are concerned about mold? Are you living in a home with musty odors and see visual staining from water damage? As part of a mold inspection we perform a visual inspection and take air and/or surface samples to confirm the presence of mold and seek to identify the causes of mold. We are certified through IAC2 (International Association of Indoor Air Consultants) #IAC2-23724 and are Certified Mold Inspectors through MICRO #84602.
Mold and Health
All types of mold exists in our environment and is a type of fungi. The spores of mold are floating around outside and inside and exists to break down dead materials outside. So mold is good, right? Mold growth is not desirable. The growth of mold means that the mold spores have found food, have the right environment, and are fed water to grow. Mold food is everywhere: shelving, wallboard, studs, curtains, tables, etc. Mold likes the same environment that we humans like for the most part so they are generally comfortable. Water is the key to mold growth. Keeps things dry and mold won’t grow. If you have mold you have a water problem, either in vapor form or liquid form. The goal with mold is to remove it and fix the water problem.
Mold may not affect everybody. “Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions) and irritants. Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash”(EPA.gov). Some people could experience more severe symptoms from mold exposure. If you feel you may be affected by mold you should contact your health care provider. Mold testing, advances in equipment, health effects, and research is ongoing. If you are concerned about indoor air quality, you may consider having a radon test as well. Adam Lask, of Lask Inspection Group, LLC, is a licensed radon professional in Illinois and can help conduct a radon test for you at a reasonable rate.
Mold Inspection for Real Estate
If you are concerned about mold you should consider having a mold inspection or mold screening during your contingency period. Standard home inspections specifically exclude mold on inspection agreements. Adding a mold inspection as a service also includes air sampling (indoors and outdoors) and surface sampling as needed (tape/swab). Test results are typically obtained the following day and may shed light on the air quality in the home. We also offer mold screening which is less expensive but less comprehensive. Mold screening is testing only the air with no visual mold inspection.
Water Damage and Mold Inspection
Do you smell a musty odor in the home? Have you had recent water damage or see suspicious staining on surfaces? We can test for these to confirm the presence of mold. Air tests can also show if occupants are being exposed to mold spores. We perform complete mold inspections which involve the entire home or we can perform limited inspections that concentrate on a specific room or area.
*Lask Inspection Group, LLC does not offer medical advice and mold inspection and sampling does not take place of a qualified medical professional. We are not mycologists or microbiologists and we do not perform functions of such professionals. Mold air sampling is a snapshot in time of the air at a particular location and results may vary. Air may change due to various factors at a particular location whether inside or outside.