Author Archives: Steven Ramos
Crawl Space Mold and Moisture Problems
Building mold has emerged as a major issue for the entire home building industry. The issue stems from thousands of insurance claims and lawsuits, including successful multi-million dollar settlements that identify building mold as a health problem for tenants and homeowners. Crawl spaces fitted with traditional foundation vents (wall vented) are particularly vulnerable to moisture and mold problems. Typical problems found in wall vented crawl spaces include: Standing water … Continue Reading
The EPA on Mold
The Environmental Protection Agency rates indoor air pollution among the top environmental health risks. According to the EPA, the air inside the average home is up to five times more polluted than the air outside. Poor indoor air quality can lead to a variety of health problems, including allergic reactions, infections, and even cancer. It can also contribute to asthma and other lung diseases. Fungi, Allergens and Asthma: Molds are … Continue Reading
Home Inspectors – Choosing the Right One for Your Home Inspection
Home inspectors offer a critical service in the process of buying a home. Choosing the right home inspector for your home inspection can be a daunting task. Most consumers are not in the market on a regular basis hiring home inspectors. According to industry statistics from the California Department of Real Estate families move on average every seven years. If you extrapolate that to hiring a home inspector every seven … Continue Reading
Wine Storage Facility
Recently I have had the opportunity to work on project involving a wine storage facility. The warehouse space is conditioned with a coo long unit designed to keep the temperature at 55 F. When I arrived at the facility I quickly noticed that there was a black staining on the interior portion of the exterior walls. Because this facility was for storage only the insulation was left exposed. I also … Continue Reading
Mold Protocols
What is a mold protocol. If you have ever had the joy of experiencing a mold remediation project first hand you may have been exposed to the term – mold protocol. A mold protocol is work document produced by a mold consultant. The document outlines the scope of mold damage and the procedures that the remediator must follow to achieve a successful remediation. The key elements of a mold … Continue Reading
The Truth About Mold Testing
Is mold testing a valuable service? The quick answer is yes. The long answer is, yes, but under optimum conditions and when it is performed by trained personnel. The conditions and methodology are critical to a successful outcome for the client, so much so, that testing can be a waste of money in some circumstances or when it is applied to the wrong project. A key variable in deciding when testing is … Continue Reading
Mold Inspection Basics
What is a mold inspection? This really is a bit harder to define than you would think because in reality clients have many different concerns with respect to mold and a good inspector will taylor the services to meet the clients request in an effort to answer the most critical question as cost efficiently as possible. A well planned mold inspection will include the following: A client interview to discuss … Continue Reading