Thread: Prolab Mold Inspection

The other day while doing an inspection I took the following pictures of the roof sheeting from the attic space. I called it a "mold like substance" and suggest further review. So the buyers asked the sellers to have the mold test done. They hired a ProLab mold inspector who wrote the following regarding the sheeting:

No presence of current or former
growth observed. Only normally
settled spores observed.

Anyone care to venture an explanation of the mold inspector's observations?

Similar Threads:

• Mold and/or Radon testing..
• Is this mold?
• Lying Seller Found Liable for Hiding Mold
• Mold Must Go: 6 Things to Know - Realty Times

Only normally settled spores observed.

WTF does that mean?

Nick,

I honestly don't know. I don't think the mold inspector even looked in the attic.

He's the "expert". It's his can of worms now.

The deal fell through anyhow because the seller didn't disclose the damaged roof they were paid $7,000 for last year but failed to replace. So I'm sure nothing will come of the mold report.

Forget the mold, that plywood sheathing is all delaminating.

I see other problems with the ply-wood. looks like the nails have a rusting condition. Thats another indicator of a moisture condition.

Mest

Ron

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

Forget the mold, that plywood sheathing is all delaminating.

Yep, all addressed in the report. The client knew a new roof and possibly decking had to be done, even before I told him. Seems he got a little pissed at the seller though when his insurance agent ran a C.L.U.E. report and found out the seller was paid for a full replacement last year.

Originally Posted by Ron Bibler

I see other problems with the ply-wood. looks like the nails have a rusting condition. Thats another indicator of a moisture condition.

Mest

Ron

Yep, previous frost stains.
Inadequate ventilation, inadequate insulation, poor grading, gutters without extensions...all pretty standard inspection comments up here.

Mold reports are a waste of money ( a rip-off )

Unquallified individuals from the putative "mold labs" just look at an unstained sample under a microscope and attempt to try to identify it merely by comparing what they see of a poorly prepared specimen to a representative facsimile.

You need weeks and differential diagnosis techniques to arrive at reasonable diagnosis. (this means culturing)

Emperor's new clothes.

Originally Posted by Ken Bates

Mold reports are a waste of money ( a rip-off )

Unquallified individuals from the putative "mold labs" just look at an unstained sample under a microscope and attempt to try to identify it merely by comparing what they see of a poorly prepared specimen to a representative facsimile.

You need weeks and differential diagnosis techniques to arrive at reasonable diagnosis. (this means culturing)

Emperor's new clothes.

Unfortunately the comments:

No presence of current or former
growth observed. Only normally
settled spores observed.

were made by the actual inspector about the roof sheeting.