A+ RATED
Better Business Bureau
of the Southland

Member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Small Business Nation

ALL ABOUT MOLD

	Inspections & Testing
	Post-Remediation Testing
	Mold Health Effects
	Mold & Property Damage
	Mold In Vehicles
	Mold Scams & Rip-Offs
	Pictures, Videos & Links
	Mold Doctors & Lawyers
	General Mold Information
	Mold Inspector's Blog

MOLD PICTURES

Mold Damage to Property in Los Angeles

Mold is to construction material what cancer is to the human body. Like cancer, mold can grow for a long time before being detected. Left unchecked, mold can cause significant property damage. But the effects of mold on construction materials can be reduced and even prevented completely, by promptly controlling the cause of every mold issue - moisture.

The Cause and Effects of Indoor Mold Growth
Moisture is always the cause of indoor mold growth. Mold doesn't just grow on construction materials all by itself, it requires moisture. Control moisture and you control mold growth. The source of moisture is typically one of three origins. Either:

1. Direct water intrusion event such as a roof leak, plumbing leak, poorly sealed leaking windows, drain back-ups, water run-off from showers and bath tubs, etc.
    
2. Indirect water intrusion from "rising damp", such as moisture wicking up from the ground or damp concrete slabs into walls, carpet, cabinets, furniture, etc.
    
3. Intermittent water intrusion from condensation caused by humidifiers, vaporizers, high steam, inadequate ventilation, faulty windows, and high humidity.

The obvious effect of mold growth inside buildings is the damage it causes to construction materials and personal property. The nature of mold is to decompose matter. Detecting and addressing mold growth early can significantly reduce the cost to remediate and repair damage caused by mold. However, left unaddressed, mold will eventually destroy everything it grows on.

 

Examples of Exterior Water Intrusion Causing Indoor Mold Damage

Mold can grow on any wet building materials, including stucco. Once it is discovered, it must be addressed quickly and properly. Delayed or improper handling of mold issues can multiply damages and repair costs exponentially. In this picture water from sprinklers had making contact with the structure wall, possibly for years and the slab was continually exposed to moisture.
When exterior building materials such as stucco, wood siding, brick, concrete block, etc. are exposed to moisture sources from outdoors moisture travels into and through the walls. Over time that moisture can penetrate all the way through the wall cavity and into the interior drywall. Mold growing inside wall cavities usually causes unpleasant odors indoors long before mold becomes visible.
Eventually moisture and mold will penetrate all the way through to the interior side of wall surfaces. By that time, extensive damage to the structure has already taken place. A visual inspection by a Certified Mold Inspector can help detect water intrusion issues early, saving thousands of dollars in repairs costs.

If you owned this property you would be fully aware of the problem and the extent of the damage. But what if you were considering buying this home? What if the remediation was not properly and there was still mold growth inside the walls? How would you know?

Hiring a Certified Mold Inspector is the answer. New carpet and fresh paint cannot mask active mold growth from a trained professional with sophisticated state-of-the-art testing equipment. Before you buy your next property, insist on an independent mold inspection.

 

Less Obvious Signs of Indoor Mold Growth

Not all water intrusion and mold problems are as obvious as the example above. Some of the most troublesome problems are not visible at all to the untrained eye until its too late. At first glance this cabinet showed no visible signs of mold or water damage; only a slight "musty" odor that is often dismissed as a typical sink smell.
Even though no visible mold growth could be seen from inside the cabinet, state-of-the-art testing equipment confirmed that mold was originating under the cabinet. As it turned out, a slow plumbing leak over time caused water damage and mold growth under the sink cabinet and the adjoining cabinets.
The damage spread beyond the cabinet framing material, onto the drywall and inside the wall cavity. The cost to repair a job like this was considerably less than the one shown above because it was detected at an early stage. Had this problem gone unnoticed much longer, the remediation costs would have been significantly higher.