After the drying
Mold Inspection & Testing in Gainesville, GA
An independent assessor confirms whether the assembly that got wet is actually dry, whether growth started while it was not, and how far it reaches. An inspection after a water loss confirms whether the assembly that got wet is dry now and whether growth started while it was not. Readings are taken in the material, cavities are opened where the readings point, and the result is a written scope of what is dry, what is not, and what has to be corrected for the repair to hold.
The pro who inspects is the pro who quotes
On this site, inspection is the last check of a water job rather than the start of a separate one. Most people reach this page because something was wet, was dried, and a smell or a stain came back. The inspection answers whether the material is dry now and whether anything grew while it was not. Nothing here is medical advice; questions about health are for a clinician.
Often needed alongside
- Mold Remediation
Growth and the material it grew into come out under containment, what remains is cleaned, and the assembly is dried and read before anything closes it in.
- Structural Drying & Dehumidification
Sealed air movers and dehumidifiers bring framing, subfloor and drywall back to a measured dry standard, with daily readings logged from inside the material.
Frequently asked questions
What is the box on the outside of the house?
The chase the fireplace sits in. Rather than building a masonry chimney into the wall, these houses have a prefabricated unit in a framed and clad enclosure that projects out from the building, with the firebox opening through into the room. It is a tall timber box attached to the outside.
Why does it hold water?
Because it is outside the heated part of the building and closed at the top and bottom. Anything getting in at the cap or the flashing runs down inside the framing with no ventilation and no warmth to move it, so it works downward through the chase to where it meets the house.
Where does the damage appear inside?
At the floor beside the fireplace and in the wall the chase is fixed to, usually before anything shows in the chase itself. Water moving down the inside of the box reaches the level of the firebox and crosses into the building there, so the first sign is at the hearth rather than overhead.
This FAQ belongs to the Gainesville page; it is repeated here.