Buyers have many things to evaluate when buying a home. Things like the condition of the electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roof, foundation, and other building components are the top things buyers are concerned with. Mold is a silent, often unseen issue with homes that many buyers are unaware of.
There are a lot of different types of mold that can happen in a house and lead not only to structural problems, but many health concerns as well. Mold is hard to locate in many houses as it develops solely in dark and damp areas that are commonly concealed somewhere in the structural areas of the home like attics, crawl spaces and basements.
By the time mold shows up in the visible living areas of the home, chances are the structural members of the home in that are consumed by mold. At this point the only option is the completely remove the affected structural parts of the home and replace with new materials.
As previously stated, mold is likely to form where wet areas exist that are not well ventilated. Other sources of problems from mold happen if the interior of the home is flooded and not properly cleaned up afterwards. Busted and leaky pipes or plumbing fixtures in the kitchens and bathrooms as well as wet basements are also bog areas of concern.
One method for checking for mold is with a moisture meter or with an infrared camera. These tools help to locate moisture in your home. Moisture levels of 20% or higher are considered extremely high and prime locations for mold to grow.
Final Remarks
If you feel your home is home may have mold, or has had mold in the past, it would be wise to have a certified mold inspector inspect your home once a year. This proactive measure will allow you to save money on by avoiding repair costs and will help keep you family healthy.
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