When it comes to mold inspection, it never pays to go halfway.

A few weeks ago, we discussed the danger of a non-invasive home inspection. Home owners worried about having their dwellings take too much damage opt for an inspection that doesn’t overturn every stone. As a result, problems like toxic mold are missed. They save money in the short term but, down the road, they pay more for major renovations.

In that case, the lazy, penny-pinching home owner is the problem. But sometimes the home inspection itself can be the problem.

You may take the responsible route and request a thorough home inspection. But does that mean you’ll get one? A growing problem in Toronto mold testing and various other inspections is that the people hired to do the work simply don’t do it right.

If your inspector isn’t properly educated or certified, he or she may not search in the right places for mold, such as under floor tiles or behind drywall. Bad inspectors may also take the lazy route, refusing to go the extra mile or put themselves in harm’s way by, say, inspecting roofing. Worse yet, certain inspectors will purposely leave some work to be done, swindling you so that your mold problem will return down the road. Remember, if you don’t undergo a complete mold removal and any traces are left, the spores will multiply and the mold will return.

The best way to avoid the potentially expensive problem of a poor inspection? Put the effort into your search for an inspector. Find a company with (a) lots of customer reviews and (b) primarily positive reviews. Make sure any company you hired is fully certified. A strong, public testimonial in the media for a business is always a good sign, too.

MoldInspections.ca is the trusted leader for mold-free homes and breathable indoor air spaces in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and beyond. Providing certified mold inspection, detection and testing since 2005, we service home owners, real-estate agents, landlords, property managers, insurance companies and businesses. Featured on CTV and recommended by contractors, we regularly serve as expert witnesses in court proceeding relating to Mold and Indoor Air Quality issues. Do you have mold? Call us today for a free quote at (416) 575-6111.

Is Toronto on the verge of a backlash against “slum landlords” and the unsanitary conditions they permit or foster in the buildings they own?

It appears that way. The Association of Community Organization for Reform Now, comprised of 20,000 citizens, wants a crackdown. Of the 5,000 multi-residential buildings in the city, far too many have become infested with cockroaches and toxic black mold.

The mold problem is becoming particularly concerning during the city’s powerful heat wave, during which the absurdly humid conditions can foster mold growth in floor tiles, ceilings, fans, drywall and more.

Various residents complain that their landlords either “do nothing” when faced with complaints over bugs and mold or take far too long. Mold isn’t something to be left alone. It cause respiratory problems and can exacerbate asthma, especially in youths.

If your landlord isn’t helping to fix your mold problem, there are a few steps you can take. The city does have a program designed to inspect rental apartment buildings for tenants who feel ignored by their landlords. But the process can still take time as there are a limited number of inspectors.

Another route is to hire a Toronto mold inspections company, which doesn’t cost nearly as much as you may think. The sooner you remove the mold, the better, as the spores can spread and keep multiplying. A good mold inspection and removal company will eliminate the problem in a manner that prevents it from coming back.

Better yet, if you do get a mold removal or inspection, consider enlisting the help of a group like the ACORN to make sure your neglectful landlord foots the bill!

If you read any literature on the dangers of toxic mold and the importance of mold removal, most of what you see concerns “black mold.”

Toxic black mold, or statchybotrys, is the most commonly discussed and famously threatening form of mold. It’s the dark, greenish-black kind of mold that usually pops up under conditions of extreme moisture, such as the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. We know what it does to us, causing respiratory infections and sometimes bleeding in the lungs, among other things. It’s relatively easy to see and people are generally diligent about having mold inspections done when they see it. It simply looks sinister an unhealthy, so we pay it proper attention.

But there are other forms of mold that can be dangerous, especially because they’re less detectable and often mistaken for something else. Sometimes, mold manifests itself as brownish spots – on a ceiling, for example. Far too often, contractors tell home owners that the brown spots are simply “water damage” and don’t need to be remedied. In many cases, that’s simply not true.

Brown mold in places like ceilings or drywall still releases allergens that can cause allergic reactions. It’s thus still very important to treat it seriously.

So if doesn’t have that scary, slimy, toxic waste-y look to it, how do we know it’s mold? One trick is to smell it. Usually, it smells musty or rusty. If the brown spots in your home have that kind of smell, don’t write it off as “water damage.” Hire a mold testing company to make sure you don’t have a mold problem – especially before it spreads.

MoldInspections.ca is the trusted leader for mold-free buildings, condominiums, homes and breathable indoor air spaces in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and beyond. Providing certified mold inspection, detection and testing since 2005, we service home owners, real-estate agents, landlords, property managers, insurance companies and businesses. Featured on CTV and Global TV and recommended by contractors, we regularly serve as expert witnesses in court proceeding relating to Mold and Indoor Air Quality issues. Do you have mold? Call us today for a quote at (416) 575-6111.

Last week, we discussed the danger of jumping into a home purchase – even a new one – without properly educating yourself on the building’s condition. We recommended talking to previous tenants and hiring experts like a mold inspection company to ensure you’re not buying damaged goods.

But the pitfalls of buying a home go further than that. Sometimes, even a home inspection won’t protect you from disaster. The growing problem today is that too many inspectors commit to “non-invasive” jobs.

So what would qualify as a non-invasive inspection job? Traditionally, it’s a money-saving tactic for a new or prospective home owner. That person doesn’t want his or her home to suffer the inconvenience or damage of, say, drilling into drywall or tearing up carpet to look for toxic mold, as it could be expensive. Also, with the market for homes hot, people don’t want to wait the precious extra days or weeks that could be caused by an invasive inspection.

What those people don’t realize, however, is that they’re costing themselves more money by not being thorough. You may think you’re saving money by avoiding an inspection or having a second-rate inspector quickly gloss over your new home, but the cost of fixing major mold damage later is far greater.

It’s worth spending the extra money and time in the short term to have a mold inspection company check your entire home, leaving no stone unturned. Better yet, if you hire the right type of company, a trusted group of experts, the job won’t even be as inconvenient. A good mold testing company will do the job without causing too much damage, will repair any damage caused and will offer warranties on all work.

If you’re lazy with your new home, you’ll pay for it eventually. Be diligent about your mold inspection.

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