Environmental, Radon and Mold Testing

Our job as your professional home inspector is to alert you, to the extent possible, to unknown problems and potential environmental hazards in your current or potential house. Ours is a non-invasive visual inspection of your property which can alert you to possible problems. Conclusive testing is available at an additional charge.

We can inspect for these hazards:

• Asbestos: Asbestos material that crumbles easily if sawed, scraped, or sanded into a powder is more likely to create a health hazard because it can be inhaled into the lungs, increasing the risk of disease.
• Lead: Lead is a highly toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in and around our homes. In general, the older a home, the more likely it has lead-based paint.
• Mold: There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture. Molds can produce allergens, irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances.
• Radon: Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas found in soils, rock, and water throughout the U.S. Radon is a threat to health because it tends to collect in homes, sometimes to very high concentrations.
• Termites or other wood-destroying organisms: These pests cause serious damage to wooden structures and posts and can also attack stored food, household furniture, and books.

Mold:

Do you own a home that has had a recent water event and are concerned about possible mold contamination?

Are you purchasing a home and concerned about mold contamination?

Have you had a recent mold cleanup and are concerned as to the quality of the work?

Mold testing and assessment has become a big part of what we do.

Did you know that in order to do mold testing in Virginia you have to pass a course and take a test to be licensed? Most are not, but all of our mold evaluators and mold techs are.

We have 5 certified mold testing specialists on staff and work closely with some of the top mold remediators in the area. If you are considering purchasing a home that has had a serious water leak or wet basement in the past, then it is extremely important that you hire someone with the expertise to evaluate the situation.

We are the company that other inspectors refer to when mold is discovered and further evaluation is needed. Doesn't it make sense to get the straight scoop from the start. We have the knowledge to give you the answers you need to make a full and informed decision on how to proceed.

Radon:

We use Continuous Radon Monitors for our Radon testing. These monitors take an hour by hour reading of the radon levels inside the building and the unit is run for a minimum of 48 hours to give you a good view over time of the radon levels during the time tested. 

Your radon test will include the hour by hour readings so you can actually see all the peaks and valleys. An average is then calculated and that reading is you average radon level for the home. A report will be sent to you the same day describing the results in a way that is easily understood.

There are places throughout the metro area that are known to have high readings, but the cost to remediate the average home is generally less than $1200. 

The important thing is to test and be sure. You don't want to live in high levels for 10 years and find out when you sell your home that the levels were high and the home was not safe.

About 2/3 of our home inspection customers elect to do radon testing with the home inspection.