Mold Testing

New York Capital Region’s Most Experienced Mold Inspection and Assessment Firm

Flatley Read is a New York State Licensed Mold Assessment firm and Department of Labor accredited training firm. We employ some of the most knowledgeable people in the industry. Contact us today to schedule a mold assessment or inspection.

What is a Mold Assessment?

A Mold Assessment is required by New York State to take place prior to any mold remediation being done in a residential setting that is treating or removing 10 square feet of mold or more. A Mold Assessment is a visit to the home to analyze the mold growth and determine its extent and cause(s). These are detailed in the mold assessment report along with the remediation protocol, an estimate of cost of the remediation, how long the remediation should take to complete and proposed corrective action to reverse the causes of the mold growth. At this point we may communicate with the chosen remediation company about details of the job. When the remediation companies work is complete, they are to leave all containment in place until we return for a clearance assessment to determine if the mold was remediated properly. At this time if the remediation has been successfully completed we issue a mold clearance report. A Mold Assessment takes place when mold growth has been identified or suspected and rises to the level of remediation.

A close-up view of a home inspector at work in a residential basement, assessing signs of structural defects such as wood rot and dampness, with copy space.

What is a Mold Inspection?

A Mold Inspection is an inspection of the home, building, vehicle or other defined space with the intent of determining of elevated levels of mold growth exist within the space. If mold suspected but not seen or if you just want to have the home checked for mold growth, this would be called a mold inspection. This may or may not include sampling or a written report. It can range from a simple consultation to more in depth analysis. If mold is found during a mold inspection and it is going to be remediated, then we can generate a mold assessment report based on our investigation.

What is Mold Testing/Sampling?

Mold sampling is collecting a sample of material suspected to contain mold spores and sending it to a laboratory for analysis. We may collect samples of air, surfaces or physical pieces of building material. Also we can collect a sample of air to look at the chemical composition to determine if the gases that mold gives off as it grows are present. Sampling can be blunt tool to answer yes/no question or more complex to determine were hidden mold is growing, what is causing it and other factors. Sampling may take place as part of a Mold Assessment or Mold Inspection but is not always necessary to complete those tasks properly.

Why should I be concerned about mold in my home?

Mold can cause health problems when it is touched or inhaled. It can cause allergic reactions either immediate or delayed, asthma attacks. Although research on mold is still ongoing, there are other health affects that are not commonly discussed such as head aches, chronic fatigue, joint pain, inflammation and others.

Contact us today for a home evaluation by a Certified Mold Inspector