Mold Inspection for Newly-Constructed Homes and Commercial Buildings in Florida
Mold hidden behind fiberglass insulation in a massive bank we inspected in the Florida Panhandle. The building was still under construction when the mold growth occurred.
It is quite common for moisture to enter a property under construction via defects such as flashing defects on the roof, window caulking leaks, or plumbing defects.
Sometimes there are no defects, but water enters anyway because strong wind driven rains come after drywall has been installed and prior to a building being made fully water tight.
Three of our largest inspections involved commercial buildings or residential complexes under construction. One was of a condo development in the Florida Keys. During renovations most or all windows leaked during and after window replacement. In addition the roof was replaced and leaks occurred. Several dozen condos were inspected by us and mold was found in all the units.
At a separate condo complex in the Key West the builder appeared to not have done anything wrong, All the work that his sub-contractors completed seemed to be water tight, however approximately 50 condos sustained water damage and as a result they became extremely moldy. If the builder did nothing that was obviously wrong, then why did they become wet and moldy you may ask? The answer is Hurricane Irma. Construction was about 95% done when the hurricane hit and caused water to enter incomplete roofing components. It is difficult enough for a fully constructed waterfront condo building to withstand hurricane induces winds and rain, but when the building is not complete disaster is hard to avoid. All but two of the condos were water damaged and severely moldy by the time I inspected them.
A third large mold inspection I conducted involved a 50,000 square foot bank that was under construction, in the Florida Panhandle. The builder did not put cap stones and other water deflecting components on the roof. Delivery of the materials were delayed because of a recent hurricane, and when a second hurricane hit weeks later water poured in. I found that 100% of all the perimeter walls were covered with thick growths of Stachybotrys or Toxic Black mold. All the moldy drywall was very well hidden behind fiberglass batt insulation. The moldy perimeter wall drywall was also unfortunately behind metal wall studs so it could not be removed without also removing the metal studs that made up the perimeter walls structure. In the three above causes we somehow never got involved in any mold or moisture related legal disputes.
Oftentimes there is no gross negligence, no defects, but instead rain storms or hurricane that occur prior to construction being completer, other times there is obvious gross negligence or incompetence, and still other times there is a grey area ripe for long drawn out legal battles.
If you are having a home or building built and water inters by any of the above means, or even via excessive amounts of humid air for a prolonged time after drywall has been installed, then it is critically important to inspect and test for mold before you buy that newly-constructed home.
You may think that a reputable contractor is aware of the potential for health threatening mold growth after the above types of exposures. You may feel that because he has a concern for potential health issues effecting your family, or because of a fear or liability, your contractor will do the right thing. Even if your contractor is knowledgeable and honest, and looking out for your best interest your contractor cannot be everywhere all the time. Often leaks occur during construction, and often day laborers or even skilled sub-contractors will be the only ones to witness the water intrusion issues. Some laborers or sub-contractos or even general contractors may feel it is just a distraction and quickly patch up a leak and paint over water damage leaving moisture and mold inside your walls to grow.
In Florida something as simple as 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 a humid environment that promotes mold growth. Such is the case in a multi million dollar construction project in the Tampa Florida area.
According to www.tbo.com, construction on a 350-room building that was supposed to house visitors of the MacDill Air force base has been delayed indefinitely leaving the roof and outside windows open and unfinished and allowing rain and humidity to effect the drywall and flooring inside. This has resulted in the drywall in the entire project having to be removed and replaced at an expense so great that the completion of the project is in jeopardy. In addition, the new drywall may have to be replaced a second time because so much water and humidity has continued to effect the walls and additional mold growth has likely occurred. Like many projects involving the government the timing of the project was ineffectively coordinated and failed to prevent the unique Florida weather conditions of daily wind, rain and humidity from ruining the project.
It’s important that you make sure that the new construction that you are about to start or that you are about to buy be inspected thoroughly for mold before you sign on the dotted line. At the very least, you will have the peace of mind in knowing that you are moving your family into a healthy environment.
A Accredited Mold Inspection Service of Florida specializes in accurate, objective mold inspections for new and existing homes throughout Florida. We do not remove mold, only inspect for it’s presence so we have no interest in the outcome one way or another. Our only goal is to do the most accurate and thorough test and inspection at the best possible price for our clients.