After the drying
Mold Inspection & Testing in Suffolk, VA
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
Is the tile not what keeps the water in?
No, and that is the thing people get wrong. Tile and grout are not waterproof; water passes through the grout into the mortar bed beneath as a matter of course. The liner under that bed is what carries it back to the drain. When the liner fails, the tile above it still looks perfect.
What are the signs of a failed liner?
A stain on the ceiling below, a musty smell around the bathroom, or loose tiles at the base of the walls. On a ground floor with no room beneath, the first sign may be damp in the wall of an adjoining room. None of it appears inside the shower itself, which is where people look.
Can a shower like this be repaired in place?
Rarely, and it is worth being clear about that early. Reaching the liner means taking up the tile and the mortar bed, which is effectively rebuilding the shower floor. Regrouting or resealing buys a little time at most, because the water was never being stopped at that level to begin with.
These questions come from the Suffolk page.