Popular questions

Toxic molds such as Stachybotrys and Aspergillus niger can cause indoor air quality problems leading to allergies and sickness. Many times these problems are the result of airborne mycotoxins and mold spores. One of the best ways to find out if your home has toxic or black mold is to have it professionally inspected and sampled.

The goal of biological sampling is to determine whether the particles present in an environment are affecting or irritating the people in it, and to locate the sources so remediation is effective. Sampling establishes scientifically whether the environment contains more organisms than would normally be present. We believe meaningful comparisons are only possible when measured volumes of air are sampled and results are expressed volumetrically.

A professional inspector always takes samples, because mold frequently grows where you cannot see it. The most important sample is taken outdoors, to establish a baseline of normal mold levels. That baseline is compared to the indoor samples. If indoor levels and types are lower than outdoors, indoor levels are generally considered normal.

There are currently no widely accepted regulations for biological air sampling. In their absence we apply common sense: a complete protocol uses both culturable and non-culturable methods where budget and time allow. When only one method can be used, a non-culturable spore trap sample usually provides the most accurate snapshot of the air.

Stachybotrys chartarum can, under the right conditions, produce mycotoxins. These toxins exist in the spores and in tiny fragments that can become airborne. While wet, the slimy cluster tends to hold them in place, but once the colony dries the likelihood of spores and fragments becoming airborne — and being inhaled — rises considerably.

A standard mold inspection is $395 and includes two indoor air samples and one outdoor reference sample, the visual inspection, moisture assessment with a meter and IR thermal imaging, all lab fees, next-day results and a full report. Additional samples beyond the first two are $75 each.

Standard turnaround for laboratory analysis is 48 working hours. Next-day analysis is available Monday through Thursday for an additional $25 per sample, and same-day analysis Monday through Friday for an additional $50 per sample.

No — and that is deliberate. We do not perform remediation, so there is no incentive to find a problem that is not there. You get the facts, the lab data and a scope of work you can take to any qualified contractor.