How much does a mold inspection cost?
Mold surveys or should I say professional mold evaluations on average can cost $300.00 to $700.00 for a residential dwelling. If you are doing a larger property with multiple samples you can top out at over $1,000.00. Commercial sites tend to be a couple thousand dollars, simple due to size of commercial building. (Each room is distinct, so a building that had a roof leak that impacted say 12 rooms, could require 12 samples for mold, to clear the rooms for mold.
Mold inspection cost is contingent on size of the area and if mold sampling is performed. Covid-19 has moved people out of offices, companies that are returning to office are finding mold. Mold has grown at office simple because no one was around to manage any water issues that arose.
Even an imbalanced HVAC system has been known to trigger mold growth.
When mold sampling is performed it is completed to verify that a stained surface is mold.
When air sampling is performed it typically to assess for hidden mold or general air quality.
Mold only grows when spores land on a moist surface or the surface get wet. Dry areas will not have mold growth, simply put the dry surface is not a viable surface for mold to grow.
Pro Tip
The best way to prevent mold is to manage moisture, water, humidity. This is something a mold inspection also takes into account.
Mold damages the building material or surface it is growing on and mold can aggravate allergies or asthma.
When do you inspect for mold?
1. When water infiltrations occurs either plumbing or weather related water damage can lead to mold growth. Any place that got wet and was not quickly dried (within 48 hours) can allow mold to grow.
2. When buying or occupying a space that has an extended vacancy. Meaning bank owned homes, flipped homes, homes in an estate, high probability of finding mold in any of these situations. Lack of HVAC controls can foster humidity allowing moisture to grow. Also that roof leak only gets detected at vacant properties when someone is there is find it.
3. When buying a property. Mold inspections are performed when purchasing a home. There is no way to know what kind of water damage may have happened in the house you are planning to buy or what water damage the owner is hiding. The only way to find out if mold is present is to do a mold inspection.
4.Purchasing a Bank Owned or Flipped home. Mold inspections are performed after a house has been unoccupied. If a house has been closed up and vacant (bank owned) humidity could have built up inside and caused mold to grow. As a rule for any property that was bank owned or flipped you should do a mold inspection).
Mold inspections are performed when unexplained discoloration or staining is present on a building surface such as walls ceiling or items in the room. a driver for performing a mold inspection.
The photo above shows mold growth on a walk out basement sofa that developed when the occupants came back from vacation. Curren found water issues and mold concealed in the newly finished space. The spores inside the walls eventually landed on the furniture and the high humidity in the room fueled the mold growth. Ultimately the walls were removed, carpet and furniture trashed.
If you suspect mold, smell musty odors, are getting sick, a mold inspection with air sampling is smart step.
Questions about Mold?
Want to learn about mold?
Click one of the links below
