Why Do I Need a Mold Expert?
The molds that invade our buildings tend to be microscopic in size and only become visible when large numbers grow together in one place. While some indoor mold is very visible, some is hidden behind walls or forms as invisible films on surfaces but is too diffuse to be seen.
A mold expert:
- comes with the knowledge and equipment to find and recognize the conditions that produce mold, knows how to recognize mold and knows how to use various test methods to make that “invisible” mold detectable,
- understands which molds originated outdoors and are normal background contamination and which ones are being produced indoors,
- understands which situations pose a serious threat to health, which ones are cosmetic issues and what needs to be done to correct the issues and prevent them from recurring in the future,
- understands how to interpret the data. Proper data interpretation separates the experts from the amateurs. Mold is very subtle and a lot of erroneous or self serving conclusions can be drawn from any data package and
- considers all the possibilities, not just the ones that seem obvious, before reaching a conclusion and provides a scientifically sound interpretation of the data.
Buildings often have multiple issues and sorting out which ones are significant and which ones are less important is best done by an experienced expert. An expert also knows that sometimes the obvious issues are not the ones causing poor occupant health and digs deeply before finalizing the conclusions and assigning priorities. Although all issues should be addressed, dealing with the most critical ones first can help reduce the strain on one's energy and budget.
