After the drying
Mold Inspection & Testing in New Philadelphia, PA
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.
No obligation: the assessment comes before any scope
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
Why does boarding over plaster complicate a loss?
Because there are two absorbent layers with an air gap between them, and only one of them is visible. Water running down inside the wall wets the plaster behind the boards, and the boards look fine. Nothing about a surface reading tells you what is happening an inch behind it.
Does it have to come off?
Usually a section does, taken off carefully rather than broken out. The boards are tongued into each other, so removal starts at an end or a corner and works along. Done properly they go back afterward, which matters because this material cannot be matched with anything sold now.
What is found behind it?
Plaster in whatever condition the last hundred years left it, and frequently old water damage that predates anybody currently in the house. That changes what the current loss is responsible for, which is worth documenting when it is found rather than arguing about later.
This FAQ belongs to the New Philadelphia page; it is repeated here.