MOLD and PROPERTY DAMAGE

Indoor Mold Growth Cause & Effect
Moisture is always the cause of indoor mold growth. Mold doesn't just grow on construction materials all by itself, it requires moisture. Control moisture and you control mold growth. The source of moisture is typically one of three origins. Either:

1. Direct water intrusion event such as a roof leak, plumbing leak, poorly sealed leaking windows, drain back-ups, water run-off from showers and bath tubs, etc.
    
2. Indirect water intrusion from "rising damp", such as moisture wicking up from the ground or damp concrete slabs into walls, carpet, cabinets, furniture, etc.
    
3. Intermittent water intrusion from condensation caused by humidifiers, vaporizers, high steam, inadequate ventilation, faulty windows, and high humidity.
    

The obvious effect of mold growth inside buildings is the damage it causes to construction materials and personal property. The nature of mold is to decompose matter. Detecting and addressing mold growth early can significantly reduce the cost to remediate and repair damage caused by mold. However, left unaddressed, mold will eventually destroy everything it grows on.

Examples of Exterior Water Intrusion Causing Indoor Mold Damage

Mold can grow on any wet building materials, including stucco. Once it is discovered, it must be addressed quickly and properly. Delayed or improper treatment of mold issues can multiply repair costs exponentially.
When building materials such as wood siding, brick, concrete block and stucco are exposed to moisture sources from outdoors, over time that moisture can penetrate exterior walls and enter the wall cavity, creating perfect conditions for mold growth in between exterior and interior walls.
Eventually the moisture and mold can penetrate all the way through to the interior side of wall surfaces. By that time, extensive damage to the structure has already taken place. A visual inspection by a Certified Mold Inspector can help detect water intrusion issues early, saving thousands of dollars in repairs costs.

Examples of Interior Water Intrusion Causing Mold Damage

A second story toilet malfunctioned while these homeowners were out of town on vacation. Within minutes the water saturated the second story bedrooms and several rooms below.
Days passed before a neighbor noticed water running down the driveway. Almost every square foot of drywall in the home was damaged by water or mold or both. All carpeting and hardwood floors were destroyed as were the kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Even the furniture absorbed water and became contaminated with mold.
Because of the extremely high humidity levels inside the home, mold growth was found even in places that never came into direct contact with water, such as in the closets where linens and clothing were destroyed.

If you owned this property you would be fully aware of the problem and the extent of the damage. But what if you were considering buying this home? What if the remediation was not properly and there was still mold growth inside the walls? How would you know?

Hiring a Certified Mold Inspector is the answer. New carpet and fresh paint cannot mask active mold growth from a trained professional with sophisticated state-of-the-art testing equipment. Before you buy your next property, insist on an independent mold inspection.

Not all water intrusion and mold problems are as obvious as the example above. Some of the most troublesome problems are not visible at all to the untrained eye. At first glance this cabinet showed no visible signs of mold or water damage; only a slight "musty" odor that most people would dismiss as a typical sink smell.
Even though no visible mold growth could be seen on the viewable sides of the cabinet construction materials, using state-of-the-art testing equipment, the Inspector was able to confirm that mold was in fact originating from under the cabinet.
A leaky faucet was the source of moisture that lead to mold and water damage to the cabinet framework, the drywall behind the cabinet, the insulation inside thewall, and the framing lumber. The cost to repair a job like this is considerably less than the job shown above because a Certified Mold Inspector was able to detect the problem at an early stage. Had this problem gone unnoticed, the remediation cost would have been significantly higher.

Be Pro-Active
The key to limiting mold damage is being pro-active. If you suspect you have a mold problem, don't ignore it, address it immediately. A common mistake people make is to assume that only visible mold is a problem. In vain, they attempt to wash moldy areas with bleach or cover mold up with new paint, wallpaper, carpet or tile. None of which solves the problem. Unless all mold contaminated materials are removed or properly remediated, mold will keep coming back. The only way to correct indoor mold problems is to eliminate the cause, remove all mold growth and control moisture.