In the last few weeks I have come across Mold Inspection Reports provided by clients that are less than clear about what has been found during the inspection in regards to moisture and what to do about it. For example one report said ‘moisture was found’ but no specifics on how much moisture was actually there. A good report will specify how much moisture was found such as 20%, 35%, 75% and so on. Normally a picture of the actual reading on the moisture meter should be in the report as support when such a claim is made.
This is important since how much moisture is found in building materials (such as drywall) determines what action, if any, needs to be taken. Example: Say 11% moisture is found in drywall below a window near the floor. This is considered to be well in the normal or acceptable range since it is well below the 18% threshold of what can be considered ‘acceptable’ depending on the material and location of the reading. But let’s say 22% moisture was found in the same area. This would at least call for further investigation such as possibly removing some drywall in the affected area to inspect inside the wall along with trying to determine the source of the moisture.
The reason this is being mentioned is that there are some companies that are just trying to get some work and may make claims of moisture being present with no real supporting documentation. That is one reason why whatever company inspects should not be the one performing the work as it is viewed as a ‘conflict of interest’, although there is no law against doing this.
I was called in to inspect a property where ‘claims of moisture’ had been made and areas marked out as to where the moisture was allegedly supposed to be requiring a Mold Remediation. During the inspection I performed I found no moisture ( I mean no significant moisture above 15%) in most of the areas that were inspected by another company and no evidence of mold growth was found inside the suspect walls that would have been present had actual significant moisture been there to begin with. Sometimes it is pays to get a second ‘opinion’ or inspection in this case.