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Inspection
Mould Inspection
Air and surface samples, laboratory analysed. Where it is, how far it goes, and what is feeding it.
Who it is for. Anyone with visible growth, a persistent musty smell, or unexplained health symptoms at home.
When to book it. As soon as you notice it. Mould is a symptom — the water source is the problem.
What we check
- Non-invasive visual examination of the readily accessible, visible and installed systems
- Moisture, temperature and humidity measurements throughout
- One air sample in the main living area and one surface swab, included
- Laboratory analysis of every sample taken
- The water source identified — leak, condensation, rising damp or ingress
- Any area we could not inspect, and the reason why, listed in the report
Painting over it does not work, and bleach on a porous surface does not either. Fix the water first, or it comes back.
Two ways to do it
Complete Mould Inspection
The whole building, up to 200 sqm.
Priced from a minimum fee covering 200 sqm, plus a per-square-metre rate above that.
Limited Mould Inspection
One defined focus area.
A single room or area you identify. Other parts of the building are not examined, and the report says so.
Additional samples
- Additional air samples are recommended per room to quantify spore counts area by area.
- Additional surface swabs confirm mould on specific suspect surfaces.
- Extra samples must be agreed at booking so the laboratory containers can be ordered and labelled beforehand.
Sampling follows IAC2 Mould Sampling Procedures. Our Standards of Practice are available on request.
Method
How the sampling actually works
Mould claims are easy to make and hard to check, so here is exactly what we do and who analyses it. The laboratory is completely independent of us. Their findings are not influenced by anyone, including the inspector.
Air samples
- Sterile agar plates supplied by the laboratory
- Held at 2–8 °C in transit, as the laboratory requires
- Each 90 mm plate exposed for no less than 90 minutes, about a metre off the floor
- Sealed, repacked and returned to the laboratory
- Incubated for no less than four consecutive days, then counted
Surface swabs
- Sterile moistened swabs supplied by the laboratory
- Each swab covers a surface area no larger than 10 cm²
- Sealed into its casing and returned cold to the laboratory
- Transferred to a plate, incubated, and counted per 10 cm²
Sent here by your doctor?
Doctors refer patients to us when symptoms look like they might be coming from the building rather than the body — a cough that will not clear, asthma that will not settle, allergic reactions with no obvious cause that ease when the person is away from home.
If that is why you are here, say so when you book. We will make sure the sampling covers the rooms the person actually spends time in, bedrooms in particular, and the laboratory results come back in a form your doctor can read.
We do not diagnose anything and we will not guess about your health. We establish what is growing, how much of it, and where the water feeding it is coming from. The medicine stays with your doctor.
Laboratory QC conforms to SANS 5763, BST08QCC, BST09QCC and ISO 7954. An independent national laboratory — not connected to us in any way.
A mould inspection is not medical advice. If someone in the house is ill, see a doctor — we can tell you what is growing and why, not what it is doing to your health.
Sampling to International Association of Certified Indoor Air Consultants procedures, laboratory analysed
Certified Professional Inspector, International Association of Certified Home Inspectors
Twenty years of active membership
Photographed, written, plain language
Get a quote — Mould Inspection
Tell us where the property is and what you need. We reply with a price and the first date we can get there — usually the same day you ask.
Rather just get a call back?
Your name and number. Nothing else. We will ring you back today.
Or reach us now on +27 61 543 5870 · WhatsApp
Other inspections
Pre-Purchase Inspection Before you sign, or during your cooling-off period. The whole house, written up.
Pre-Sale Inspection Find the problems before the buyer’s inspector does.
New Build Snag-List The defect list you hand the developer before you take occupation.
Renovation Snag-List Independent sign-off on work you have paid for.