Mold Removal Chicago 773-885-8528

Why Do I Need a Mold Inspection?

If you are in the process of purchasing a home, then you are probably aware of the many steps that you must go through before reaching the day you close. Your broker or realtor may have already informed you of the necessity for a pre-inspection. The purpose of a pre-inspection is to identify any potential serious defects in the home. The possible defects could range from water damage, plumbing issues, or even mold damage. At this point in the home purchasing process, you could still choose another home in the unlikely event that a major problem with your original choice was detected during inspection. One issue that you will definitely want to have your inspector perform is a mold inspection.

Mold Inspections

One main reason why you need a mold inspection is because if there is any presence of mold, then this could signify a leak. In addition, the mold could possibly exacerbate allergies and asthma in individuals with pre-existing problems, and it could even cause new allergies to form in those with weakened immune systems. No one wants to purchase a home with mold growing throughout it, whether due to a leaky roof or some other issue. There are rare cases where a home buyer is aware of the mold problem and is willing to accept a home requiring such a potentially troublesome problem. Of course it is totally different when a home buyer is purchasing a fix-upper and they are expecting there to be major repairs that need to be taken care of. If the home inspector that you hire identifies a problem with mold, then you can have him or her probe further in order to identify the source of the mold. This might require a mold remediation specialist who specializes in locating and identifying types and causes of mold.

Black Mold

Another reason for mold inspections is to determine if your perspective home contains any type of black mold. Black mold is a great deal more dangerous than your average, everyday mold, as it can lead to severe respiratory problems, allergies, pneumonia, chronic cough and more. In extreme cases, black mold can even cause bleeding into the nose and lungs, and it has been implicated in the possible death in a couple cases.

Options

So as you can see, house inspections are very important for people in the process of purchasing a new home. Most house inspections include mold detection on their checklist, since homes are so susceptible to developing mold due to water leaks or high humidity. Since mold can negatively affect your health, it is very important that the source of the problem be identified and corrected ahead of time. If mold has been identified in your dream home during the pre-inspection, there is no reason to fret and automatically think that you must choose another home. The mold problem can be investigated, and if it’s found to be an easy fix, then you might still be willing to purchase it. The seller might even be willing to have the mold problem taken care of, as part of a contingency offer, which would prevent you from having to contend with it after closing.  In either case a professional mold removal company can rid the home of mold for it never return, unless there is a leak issue, and then you will need a good plumber.

Chicago Mold Removal Services 773-885-8528

GOT BASEMENT MOLD?

Why is it not surprising to find mold in your basement?  Mold and mildew (both are types of fungi) thrive in dark, damp environments where organic material is present.  Mold is especially fond of cellulose-rich materials like wood, paper and fabric; but it can also take hold on leather and even on paint that contains organic resins like linseed oil.

You may not use your basement a lot but it’s not wise to let basement mold just sit there and fester and become worse.  Mold (especially inhaling airborne mold spores) can cause a wide range of health problems, most notably respiratory ailments. Mold or mildew causes damage to its host material.  Mold can also be a big problem when it comes to any real estate deal, making a house difficult or even impossible to sell.  

Help for Basement Mold

All is not lost if you have basement mold.  There are effective ways to get rid of mold appropriately.  Contractors who specialize in mold remediation can effectively handle steps required to eliminate basement mold problems. To find out who does what and why, take a look at the 4 steps described below.

1.     Remove mold-damaged materials. It’s usually better to remove and discard materials that are covered with mold than to attempt cleaning and reuse. This applies to mold-damaged carpet, wood paneling, drywall, paper-faced fiberglass insulation and “2by” framing used in basement walls. The reason for mold removal is easy to understand:  Even if you succeed in killing and scouring off the mold, you’ll still have ideal mold fodder that can attract a new infestation.

2.     Kill mold on materials that can’t be removed. If there are significant mold colonies on materials that must stay in place –like basement ceiling joists, for example—you might consider calling in a mold mitigation contractor to kill and remove the mold.

3.     Replace mold-prone materials with mold-resistant materials. Once you’ve gone to the trouble of removing basement mold, the next step is to create an environment that’s hostile to mold, so that it doesn’t return.  Use inorganic building materials that won’t support mold growth.  Like standard paper-faced drywall can be replaced with special mold-resistant drywall faced with fiberglass.

4.      Control basement moisture to prevent new mold infestation. Creating a mold-hostile environment is really a two-pronged strategy: Eliminate materials that nourish mold, and keep the basement dry.  Keep basement humidity below the 60% level that favors mold growth, a basement dehumidifier is recommended.