Got Mold?

Mold is a natural part of our environment, and mold spores are commonly present both indoors and outdoors. Problems can develop when excess moisture allows mold to grow inside a home or building. Because mold is not always visible, an inspection combined with laboratory testing can provide valuable information about conditions within the property.

Not all mold is the same, and the presence of mold does not automatically mean that a health concern exists. Some people may experience allergic or respiratory symptoms when exposed to certain molds or elevated concentrations of mold spores. Individuals with health concerns should discuss those concerns with a qualified healthcare provider.

Cardinal Home Inspections provides professional mold inspection and testing to help identify visible conditions that may contribute to mold growth and to collect samples for independent laboratory analysis.

Our mold inspection services may include a visual assessment of accessible areas, moisture evaluation, and air and/or surface sampling when appropriate. Samples are submitted to an independent laboratory for analysis to identify the types and concentrations of mold spores present in the samples collected.

Laboratory results, observations made during the inspection, moisture conditions, and other relevant information are considered together when evaluating the property. Because air sampling represents conditions at a specific place and time, results should be considered a snapshot of conditions at the time of testing.

Cardinal Home Inspections, LLC performs mold inspection and testing but does not perform mold remediation. By keeping inspection and testing separate from remediation, we have no financial interest in selling cleanup or remediation services. Our role is to provide you with information that can help you make informed decisions about the property and determine whether additional evaluation or remediation may be appropriate.

The mold inspection is not included with a standard home inspection and is offered as a separate service performed by our qualified mold inspectors.

When performing mold air sampling, Cardinal Home Inspections can also have the laboratory analyze the same indoor air samples for other airborne particulates. No additional air sample is required.

Airborne Particulate Analysis can help identify materials captured in the sampled air, including dust particles, pollen, pet dander, dust mites, fiberglass, insulation fibers, soot, silica, construction debris, textile fibers, skin cells, insect fragments, and other identifiable particles.

This additional analysis may be useful when there are concerns about:

• Unexplained dust or airborne debris 
• Fiberglass or insulation fibers 
• Recent construction or remodeling 
• Pet dander or pollen 
• Soot or combustion-related particles 
• Other unidentified airborne materials 

The same spore-trap air samples collected during your mold inspection can be analyzed by the laboratory for both mold spores and airborne particulates. This provides additional information about what was captured in the indoor air without requiring a second sampling procedure.

Airborne Particulate Analysis is currently available as an optional add-on to our Mold Inspection & Testing service for $59 per indoor air sample.

Particulate analysis identifies materials captured in the sample at the time of testing. It does not determine whether indoor air is safe or healthy, diagnose medical conditions, or establish an individual's exposure to identified particles.

Mold air sample results are more than just a spore count. There is no single number that determines whether a mold problem exists. Results should be evaluated by considering the types and concentrations of mold spores identified, indoor and outdoor sample comparisons, moisture conditions, visual observations, and the location of each sample.

An outdoor air sample is typically collected as a reference for comparison with the indoor samples. Because mold spores naturally occur outdoors and can enter a building through doors, windows, ventilation systems, and normal activity, finding mold spores indoors does not necessarily indicate an indoor mold problem.

Indoor samples that contain significantly different types or concentrations of mold compared with the outdoor sample may warrant further evaluation, particularly when those findings correspond with moisture intrusion, visible growth, or other conditions observed during the inspection.

Different types of mold behave differently and occur naturally at different concentrations. For this reason, a relatively low concentration of one type of mold may be more noteworthy than a higher concentration of another commonly occurring outdoor mold.

Air sampling represents conditions at the specific locations and time the samples were collected. Mold spore concentrations can change with weather, HVAC operation, occupant activity, open doors or windows, and other environmental conditions.

Cardinal Home Inspections evaluates the laboratory findings together with conditions observed during the inspection to help clients better understand the results and determine whether additional evaluation or remediation may be appropriate.