Excess moisture is the primary cause of mold growth in homes. Mold requires both a food source like wood or drywall, as well as a source of water or moisture to grow. By eliminating sources of moisture through preventative maintenance and repair of water leaks and intrusions, mold growth can be prevented. A thorough home inspection can help identify potential moisture problems. While mold issues may be remedied without major costs in many cases if the affected area is under 10 square feet, a professional should be consulted for remediation of extensive mold problems or if specific health concerns exist.

1. PERSPECTIVES
Our Perspective of Mold
Mold, Mold, Mold -- It’s Everywhere
Mold has become a high profile issue over the past few years as homeowners and insurance
companies wrangle over the veracity of health issues and the responsibility of cleaning up mold problems.
In an unusual case in Texas, a jury awarded a homeowner a million dollar settlement for damages from mold
found in their home. For obvious reasons, this has gotten the attention of everyone involved in the real estate transaction
process. Currently, there is no agreement among health professionals on what levels of mold are acceptable in a home.
However, most homeowners acknowledge that the potential risk of mold-related health problems warrant special attention
and action.
Excess Moisture is the Primary Cause
Mold requires a food source (building materials like wood or drywall cellulose) and water or moisture. By eliminating the
source of moisture (water leaks, excess humidity, condensation, etc.) you can stop mold from growing in your home or
building. It’s that simple. Preventative maintenance is the key. However, finding water/moisture entry points and sources can
be complicated.
A Thorough Home Inspection will Help Identify Moisture Intrusion Problems
While specifically conducting a mold inspection is outside the standards of practice for a home inspector, a good inspector will
examine the property for any signs of moisture or moisture intrusion
issues. Any mold issues (observed or potential) should be discussed
and clearly stated in the inspection report. Our inspectors are trained
to identify moisture-related problems. These problems, if any, are
presented in a manner that helps our clients keep things in
perspective, yet realize the potential risks of not correcting moisture
intrusion issues. In many cases, homeowners can safely clean mold
from the building surfaces on their own and make simple repairs to
prevent further moisture intrusion. In fact, the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) says: “If the mold area is less than about 10
square feet (roughly a 3 foot by 3 foot patch), you can handle the job
yourself.” Remember, it is important to eliminate the cause of mold
rather than simply clean or mask the problem.
When is a Specialist Needed?
While mold is an important issue and may be a health concern for certain individuals, it can often be remedied without major
expense or inconvenience. When signs of extensive mold are found however, a professional should be consulted for proper
remediation. In addition, should a homeowner or potential homeowner have specific health-related concerns, mold testing can be
conducted to determine the types and quantity of mold spores - although no official standards have been established for unsafe
levels. The EPA has guidelines for cleaning mold and also provide suggestions about how to prevent the problem in the first place.
For more information about mold, please reference the EPA website at: www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/index.html
Count on BPG
In addition to our thorough inspections, we provide 12 months of our Extended Advicesm
program so our clients always have a
direct source for accurate information about their homes.
We’re working to be your expert -- we’re working to earn your business.
Home Warranty I Home Inspections I Commercial Inspections I Environmental
Home Warranty is offered and administered through BPG Home Warranty Company. ©2010 BPG is a registered trademark of BPG Holdings, LLC.
Provided by:
Rob Rehm
Buyers Protection Group
Licensed Home Inspector
Licensed WDO Inspector
NACHI Certified
800-285-3001
The Best Inspectors. Anywhere.
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