Mold inspection is one of the essential tasks to consider, especially when you’re purchasing a new home or when you suspect you might be having a mold problem.

However, before you dive into the mold inspection, one thing you need to know first is, “what is mold?”

In this article, we’ll Look at mold, inspection, testing, and everything in between. Stick around to find out.

What is Mold?

If you notice cotton-like features in your home in the colors of either grey, black, green, or white, you could be seeing mold.

Mold may seem like a minor issue, but it’s a big deal. Not only does it damage the surface of your property, but it also poses health problems to you and your family.

Mold is a fungus that reproduces in air-borne spores and thrives in moist environments. There are over 400,000 mold types, but only a few dozens have been proven toxic, especially the black molds.

mold remediation

Mold spores are found virtually everywhere, both indoors and outdoors. That is why eliminating mold from your interiors can be quite a difficult task, especially if you don’t have a massive industrial cleanroom filtration system such as HEPA vacuums (High-Efficiency Particulate Air).

However, as we mentioned before, mold spores only form in the presence of moisture, and so, one way to prevent cross contamination is to keep your home dry.

This means repairing leaks as soon as they occur, cleaning up spills, having a plumbing and HVAC system working optimally, and ensuring moisture-prone areas, that is, the kitchen and bathroom, are properly venting moisture out of your home.

However, if you suspect your home has a mold problem, the best next step is to identify where the mold is growing from. This could be anywhere, including behind walls, under the carpet, on and above the ceiling surface, etc. Therefore, it is essential to get certified and skilled inspectors to handle the job.

What goes into mold inspection?

The whole process begins with:

A visual inspection

The inspector will asses both outdoor and indoor mold growth. He will also check the temperature and the relative humidity of the interiors and the exteriors of your property.

The mold inspector may use infrared imaging to locate hidden surfaces that are moisture-prone. This tech makes it easier to pinpoint the location and severity of the contamination.

If mold is detected, you’ll be given a written evaluation and recommendations on the next step.

However, in some instances, a visual inspection may not be enough, especially if the mold contamination is not apparent, which calls for mold testing; this is the next step of the inspection process.

testing mold

Mold Testing

Mold testing is meant to identify the specific type of mold growing in your home and how many spores are present.

There are mold testing kits available if you want to go the DIY route. However, professional mold testing offers unbiased and more reliable results.

There are different types of mold testing:

  • Air sample testing- this is an indoor sampling option. A spore trap is used to capture mold spores in the air, and the trapped spores are taken for laboratory analysis.
  • Surface mold testing – this involves using a cotton swab wiped across a surface where mold may be suspected. This option only identifies the mold species present but not the severity of mold contamination. It is preferable if there is visible mold growth.
  • Bulk sampling – this involves taking part or whole of the mold-contaminated materials, either a carpet, linen clothing, sheetrock, or other household items for testing.

The final step is the mold remediation protocol

Mold inspection is not complete if it does not provide the necessary information on mold remediation. That is why mold testing specialists offer a written evaluation of the mold problem and recommendations for future mold remediation.

This is the first step of mold remediation, sparing the remediator the extra work of identifying the mold problem and simply getting right to work on dealing with the mold issue.

How much does a mold inspection cost?

When it comes to mold inspections, the prices vary greatly depending on:

  • Size of the house
  • Your location
  • The type of inspection

There’s a kind of mold inspection called “invasive inspection,” which involves digging through walls, paneling, and even crawlspaces to find the root cause of the problem. This type of inspection would mean extra costs since it takes more time.

However, you’re likely to spend roughly $ 300 to $ 400 for a home below 4000 square feet—homes above 4000 square feet may cost $ 700 to $ 900.

Note: these rough prices do not involve mold testing or mold remediation costs.

If you’re looking to cut costs, you can hire a mold specialist who does both mold inspection and mold remediation; you might get a free mold inspection or pay less for both. 

Finding the Right Mold Inspector in New Orleans, Louisiana

There are many mold removal companies in New Orleans, so choosing one can become a problem. We’re going to help you with that.

We’ve compiled some of the top-rated New Orleans mold testing, inspection and removal companies that you can trust based on their professionalism, experience, customer reviews, and more.

Look into these three companies:

#1. MoldX, LLC

Topping the list is MoldX, a highly qualified, licensed, and insured company specializing in mold inspection, testing, and remediation.

For 10+years, MoldX has helped property owners in the Gold Coast region to reclaim their environment from pathogens, toxins, and irritants that present themselves in the form of lead, asbestos, and mold, while ensuring they perform the proper treatment to eradicate these life-threatening substances.

These professionals have earned the reputation for being the most reliable mold removal company across Mississippi and Louisiana, the reason being they always go the extra mile to ensure your property is safe and you’re satisfied with the result.

mold company

Moreover, they use a customized “MoldX Enzyme Solution,” which will continuously kill rogue molds, even months after their technicians complete the remediation process. Their methods are non-destructive and safe for your pets, personal possessions, and family members.

In addition, they also offer Industrial Sanitizing System for more severe mold infestations.

Services offered by MoldX, LLC

  • Comprehensive mold inspection and testing services for residential and commercial properties
  • Complete mold remediation services
  • HVAC Unit and Ductwork Cleaning
  • Indoor Air Quality
  • Toxic Lead Test
  • Material Testing

Why Choose MoldX

  • They are Licensed, insured, and fully-trained professionals
  • The mold mitigation and treatment come with year-long quality assurance
  • Offers the most thorough mold mitigation and treatment
  • Offers ethical services
  • Made of experienced professionals
  • Has an overall rating[PR1] of 4.7 with 56 verified reviews and 96% recommendation on HomeAdvisor
  • BBB accredited
  • Offers free mold consultation

Areas served: New Orleans, Louisiana, Lafayette, Baton Rouge, Slidell, Covington, Madisonville, Mandeville, Gulfport, Biloxi, Ocean Springs, and Hattiesburg,

So, if you live in any of these areas and you need highly-effective remediation and assurance that your property will remain free from hash residues, mold, and other toxins, call MoldX.

They operate on Mondays to Friday from 8 am to 6 pm and from 9 am to 6 pm on Saturdays.

#2. All Dry

For over 35 years, All Dry has been providing the best realistic mold remediation solutions to the community of New Orleans.

They are constantly learning and improvising techniques and protocols in their mold remediation and restoration approach. For instance, they use HEPA vacuum cleaners, air scrubbers, and dehumidifiers.

Mold Removal

This aspect has kept them at the forefront of the restoration field for the longest possible time.

In addition, they also partner with different assessment and inspection companies to help guide their clientele throughout the whole mold remediation process.

Services offered by All Dry:

  • Mold removal
  • Water removal, mitigation, and Dehumidification
  • Fire, soot, and smoke
  • Catastrophic storm responses and damage
  • Contents restoration and document drying
  • Specialized cleaning services
  • Commercial cleaning services
  • Reconstruction

Why is All Dry one of the best mold removal companies?

  • Has an A+ rating on BBB
  • Experienced Professionals
  • Licensed
  • Offers free estimates
  • Uses new techniques in mold remediation

#3. All American Inspections & Testing, LLC

Coming in third is All American Inspections & Testing, an upcoming New Orleans, Louisiana mold testing and inspection company.

This company has been in business for only five years, yet it has created an excellent reputation for reliability. They provide their clients with the most comprehensive and objective home inspections and environmental testing with the highest expertise.

Services offered by All American Inspections and Testing, LLC

  • Home Inspections
  • Mold testing
  • Indoor air quality testing
  • Lead testing
  • Asbestos testing
  • Radon Gas Inspection and testing
  • Infrared thermal imaging

Why choose this company?

  • · BBB accredited with an A+ rating
  • · Great reviews on HomeAdvisor with 97% recommendation and a 4.8-star rating
  • · Licensed company
  • · Experienced professionals
  • · Ethical services

Find All American Inspections and Testing, LLC, all days of the week from 7 am to 9 pm.

Areas Served: New Orleans Metro area, including the East and West Banks, St Bernard, Laplace, Slidell, Denham Springs, and Baton Rouge.

What’s Our Pick?

All these companies have an excellent reputation for being the best at what they do. They also adhere to the guidelines provided by recognized organizations such as American Industrial Hygiene Association.

However, there must always be a winner. For us, that would be MoldX. They have what the rest don’t have, which is that their mold remediation approach is eco-friendly.

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