New Commercial Construction and Mold Inspections in Florida
It is critically important to inspect for mold before you buy a home, this even applies to newly-constructed home because health threatening mold may be “built in” to your new home commercial building or condo. Many roofing, plumbing and drywall contractors are unaware of the potential for toxic mold to take hold and start to grow in a new construction project. Contractors may leave making repairs to leaky new roofs, leaky window eaves and soffits, and leaky plumbing to the last minute in order to give drywall, painting and flooring contractors the time and space needed to do their job. This often allow humidity, moisture and even standing water to enter unseen behind drywall and underneath sinks and counters, creating the perfect environment for mold growth. Simple leaving windows and sliding glass doors open to “air out” a newly-painted unit can let humidity into the home and have the effect of creating an area that promotes mold growth.
Round colonies of Stachybotrys or black mold inside a wall void. This photo is of the moldy conditions found inside the bank building described in this articles.
Around 2005 our firm inspected a 50,000 thousand square foot bank building in the Florida Panhandle near Tallahassee. Delays in the delivery of roofing materials including cap stones for parapet walls resulting in roof leaks throughout the entire building. As a result a severe mold infestation formed inside every perimeter wall of the brand new four floor 50,000 square foot bank building. The builder covered the toxic black mold infestation with insulation and called us for an inspection. Our inspector quickly discovered the hidden mold. Unfortunately not only was mold inside every perimeter wall, not only was it Stachybotrys also known as toxic black mold. But most importantly the moldy drywall was all wedged between masonry wall siding on the exterior side of the building, and metal wall studs on the interior side of the building, so there was no way to remove the drywall without tearing down the entire building. Drywall and insulation had been installed prior to the completion of the roof, this was a bad idea and the outcome was a dire situation for the builder, and roofer I an sure. Strangely I never received any calls from mold attorneys requesting our report and other records for use in any legal disputes.
Toxic mold growth was very heavy in the walls of the above referenced commercial building in North Fl.
Humidity meter reading elevated humidity trapped behind moldy drywall in the massive commercial building we inspected. What looks like dirt in the photo was toxic mold or black mold.
More recently there is the case of a multi million dollar commercial construction project in the Tampa Florida area. Our firm was not involved in inspecting this condo building.