The abc's of mold inspection

SMI is accurate and scientific in that all tests are performed by a
highly qualified laboratory that specializes in mold testing.

Mold testing specialization is important since the AIHA accredited laboratory is well-versed in the handling of samples, testing, and accuracy of reporting.

Scientific Mold Inspection has developed a close working relationship with the specialized laboratory which enables us access to information quickly and accurately.
 
The SMI team is made up of scientific researchers, a medical physician, property owners, and a housing inspector from a major US City .

With this varied background of professionals, SMI is geared to meet your needs in providing an accurate, scientific, expert mold inspection.

Inspection Guidelines

The inspection will take a minimum of 1.5-2 hours, depending on the size of the property.

During the consultation phase, the inspector will ask a series of questions to provide a detailed account of the situation.

The inspector will then walk the property, preferably with the customer (and property owner), looking for signs of water damage, excess moisture, and other potential causes of mold.

After the visual inspection, the inspector will make recommendations as to the testing necessary, if any, to accurately give a scientific picture of the situation.

The testing methods include air sampling, moisture detection, and core sampling including use of Chain of Custody form.

In addition to a scientific picture, the inspector will take a series of photos to record the condition of the property at the time of the inspection, and to provide visuals of the affected areas.
 
After all of the test results are finalized, Scientific Mold Inspection will compile a detailed summary report, including photos, for your records.

In conclusion, the inspection is a very thorough process involving many resources to ensure quality results.

SMI emphasizes the necessity to have a thorough inspection performed with testing to ensure accuracy.

Keep in mind, though, that a mold inspection is an unbiased, independent review of a building, focusing on moisture and mold. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, a follow up inspection is recommended if there are further concerns. Most inspections are performed without violating the building (breaking walls, etc); therefore, errors in calculating the presence of mold can occur.

Mold Inspection Details

Scientific Mold Inspection has highly trained individuals to perform the inspections. The Professional Inspector will ask the customer a series of background questions and details about the situation. Including a variety of questions regarding the structure and situation of the property. This background information helps the inspector piece together an accurate representation of the situation and the probable cause and effect issues involved. This will assist the professional in providing an accurate inspection report.

The property owner or manager should be present for the inspection, since detailed information is vital for a quality inspection, and certain mold situations can require creating small holes in the affected walls. Additionally, the inspector can possibly alert the owner/manager of probable moisture intrusion.
The inspector will perform a detailed inspection of the property utilizing professional equipment to monitor possible moisture intrusion, and to qualify the forms of mold present. The inspector will obtain specimen samples and air samples to be evaluated by a certified environmental laboratory that specializes in analyzing mold.