Mold Testing and Mold Assessing are two totally different services that give you very different results. It is important to know the difference! An inexpensive Mold Test that doesn’t give you the answers you are looking for is a waste of one’s time and budget.
What’s the Difference?
A Mold Test is just that – An agar plate or a simple tape lift or swab of a suspicious-looking dis-colored area thought to be mold. A Mold Assessment often involves a Mold Test along with a comprehensive investigation of the area to identify the extent of mold growth and, most importantly, the water trigger.
What Does Black Mold Smell Like?
The first part of a Mold Assessment is an Olfactory (Smell) investigation. While molds have a very distinct damp/musty aroma, it is difficult to tell Stachybotrys chartarum (often called Toxic Black Mold / ) from Aspergillus fumigatus (another nasty mold). A Mold test doesn’t focus on odors.
How Does Mold Grow?
With an ample food supply, Mold will grow just about anywhere. Just add water! Mold is around us all the time, but we can’t see it. When all is normal, we refer to this as “Normal Fungal Ecology”. But molds aren’t usually easy to spot, for they like to grow in dark, moist, poorly ventilated areas (like behind walls or under cabinets). When you see an area of mold, it is often just the tip of the iceberg. A Mold test often would miss the extent of the impacted area, whereas the Mold Assessment would determine areas being impacted along with what is causing the mold to grow.
Want to Know the Truth Behind Your Mold issue?
Buyer Beware! There are many sources available for quick inexpensive mold tests. If you are Allergic To Mold or want to get the whole mold story, then a full Mold Assessment is what you need. It will involve a thorough investigation, several mold tests (for Genus and possible Species identification), a written report of findings, and a determination of where the moisture trigger is coming from.
How Much Does All This Cost?
Not as much as you think! The cost of a Mold Test runs from $75 – $150 (depending on the media used). A Mold assessment usually involves a few samples and usually gives you the best value. Be sure to ask your mold pro what the difference is, and they should explain it to you very easily.
Not Sure if you Need a Mold test or Mold Assessment?
Give GreenWorks a call. They are experienced at doing both and can give you the answers you are looking for. Besides, they live at the cutting edge of where your home environment collides with the natural one and are experts at using simple, sound science to create affordable solutions to just about any environmental issue.
“Psssst, check out this mold assessment that had no odor or any visible signs of mold!”
