Getting mold remediation vs having house tested for mold first. (agency, seller)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Just want opinions. Home inspector says there is a substance that should be inspected by a mold expert. It is not the obvious great big huge jellyfish looking things that grow in a house that filled with water, but a much smaller substance in a few feet of attic space. How do you normally advise buyer or seller to proceed? Just remediate or have it tested first to see if it is toxic?
Out here we repair the source of it (often a bathroom that doesn't vent out the roof) clean it, treat it, and then encapsulate it. It doesn't really matter what type of mold or mildew it is.
I ask because I think my area has one particular unethical mold guy. The supposed mold he's talking about doesn't even look like anything and when asked if we should test it to be sure he said no way and wanted 2000 bucks to remediate it. Buyer and seller went half and half on a test for 300 bucks and found out there is nothing toxic and nothing needs to be done. The second guy explained that a mold guy makes less than 100 bucks to test for mold and in the thousands to remediate. I went to researching this on line and found out it is a tactic less reputable mold operations use. They don't want to find out that nothing needs to be done. They tell you everything has to be remediated and because people are so mold scared they believe it.
Mold is actually everywhere and in every house there is. Tests are always positive, but something that will kill you is very rare. It's a judgement call really but I just want to encourage people question so called experts if something doesn't seem right.
Tests are expensive and the remediation is way expensive. I had one $700 for the test and $2,800 to remove a 6' X 4' peace of drywall.
They said even though the job was small and less than $5.00 in drywall they still had to seal off the room and have a filtration system set up.
You can get a second opinion like we did. Our test was less than 300 bucks. I guess its always a risk that you may end up paying for the test on top of remediation, but we went with what our gut was telling us and it turned out it needed nothing.
There is mold everywhere. It blows in the wind, hides in every crack and crevice everywhere. All you can to is keep it from growing by taking away its food and water or coating surfaces with very unfriendly chemicals. Humidity inside the house should be in the 40-50% range. Interior cold, exterior warm creates condensation in the stud walls where mold will grow.
The worst problems appear in super "tight" houses where well meaning people over insulate and over caulk.
There is mold everywhere. It blows in the wind, hides in every crack and crevice everywhere. All you can to is keep it from growing by taking away its food and water or coating surfaces with very unfriendly chemicals. Humidity inside the house should be in the 40-50% range. Interior cold, exterior warm creates condensation in the stud walls where mold will grow.
The worst problems appear in super "tight" houses where well meaning people over insulate and over caulk.
While much of this is true, I would also challenge your use of the term "unfriendly". Unfriendly to Who or What?
A small amount of borax can wreak havoc on various slimes and molds, but meanwhile may have great benefits to the arthritic joints of human beings
While much of this is true, I would also challenge your use of the term "unfriendly". Unfriendly to Who or What?
A small amount of borax can wreak havoc on various slimes and molds, but meanwhile may have great benefits to the arthritic joints of human beings
And, here for the benefit of real estate professionals is my standard disclaimer for mold in a real estate sales contract. Feel free to use it without credit or fee.
Mold, Mildew, Fungus, Bacteria and Other Living Organisms. The parties acknowledge that mold, mildew, fungus, bacteria and other living organisms (collectively "biological pollutants") are present in the air and atmosphere, on surfaces of every type and are naturally occurring in every home. Biological pollutants generally present no health hazard or property damage risk in most homes. However, concentrations of biological pollutants can greatly increase as a result of environmental conditions. High humidity and warm temperatures and the combination of these factors are associated with growth of biological pollutants in houses. This growth can present health hazards and/or damage to property. Modification, improper operation, and/or maintenance of the heating and air conditioning and/or insulation systems of the Real Estate can result in conditions that are more favorable for the growth of biological pollutants. Malfunction of sump pumps and/or changes in the exterior drainage patterns can also contribute to growth of biological pollutants. The United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") has issued publications to assist homeowners in identifying and avoiding conditions giving rise to the growth of biological pollutants. Seller urges Purchaser to read these publications. The local address of the EPA is xxxx yyyyyyyyy, zzzzzzzzzz. Seller has no expertise in the detection of biological pollutants or in the methods for reduction of biological pollutants once they have been detected. Seller makes no representations of any kind regarding the existence or absence of biological pollutants or any toxic substance in or around the Real Estate. Purchaser understands and acknowledges that Seller does not warrant that any biological pollutants related testing has been done in the Real Estate, nor does Seller make any warranties, express or implied, regarding biological pollutants as they relate to the Real Estate or the habitability thereof. Purchaser releases Seller from all claims of any kind Purchaser may have now or that may arise hereafter against Seller in any way related to the existence of biological pollutants or other toxic substances in or around the Real Estate whether they result from construction and/or design defects, improper repair or maintenance or otherwise.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
