Mould In Your Home and Why You Don’t Want to Find It Yourself

Let’s say flash forward months after moving into your adequately sized Guelph home you start smelling something mouldy in the basement. A week later your eye itching and a few weeks after that you have headaches and respiratory problems with no idea what’s causing them. It’s mould, and unless you’ve reached out to a Guelph home inspector ahead of time to find out what’s going on, you could be facing a medical emergency and an unexpected insurance claim that could’ve been avoided.

At Building Insights, we don’t want you to fall into this trap that’s more common than you think. Thus, we’re here to give you all the information every homeowner should know about mould; where to find it, why it’s problematic and when to Call in the professionals.

Where Mold Often Grows In Homes And Why It Matters

Homeowners usually search for mold in all the usual places, from the shower tile to the corners of the basement. But mold grows in places people would never think:

1. Behind Walls: Slow pipe leaks, condensation in exterior walls 2. Under Floors: Basements without proper drainage 3. In The Attic: Roof leaks, improper ventilation 4. In Your HVAC System: Moisture plus dust equals mold 5. Behind Appliances: Refrigerators and washing machines accumulate condensation For example, we evaluated a Guelph Family home and asked why this family kept falling ill. When we did thermal imaging, we found an entire wall of mold behind their kitchen cabinetry from a plumbing leak created long ago.

• An ongoing musty odor

• Unexplained issues with your health that feel like allergies

• Your walls/ceilings have water stains or are warping

• Your windows are perpetually foggy

• Your paint and wallpaper are peeling

When You Need a Professional

DIY mold tests may be available in local hardware stores, but they rarely yield accurate readings. You need a professional to come to check your home for mold if you:

✔ Smell mold but don’t see any
✔ Have family health issues that remain unexplained
✔ Are buying or selling a home
✔ Have had flooding or water issues in the past (even if they’ve been “professionally remediated”)

We’ll check your house for mold with:

• Thermal imaging to uncover where moisture is hidden

• Air quality testing

• Surface testing

• Comprehensive report with remediation suggestions

The Best Way to Prevent Mold

Mold prevention starts with preventing moisture:

1. Relative Humidity under 50% (purchase a dehumidifier)

2. Fix leaks right away

3. Vent bathrooms/kitchens

4. Grade soil away from the foundation

5. Clean out gutters

The Cost of Not Doing This

We had one client who did a pre-purchase inspection and found a ton of mold there. The seller had to pay $18,000 for remediation. If this client waived inspection, he would have had to pay out of pocket.

Get In Touch With Us For An Assessment

These are things you should do before mold is visible in your own home. However, even if you suspect something is off about mold in your Guelph home, reach out to Building Insights:

Whether you know you have mold or you think it may be lurking within your walls, an assessment is necessary. 📞 Call (519) 766-7286📅 Get your mold inspection booked (within 24-48 hours) Certified inspectors will complete a thorough inspection and offer suggestions in easy-to-understand language. When it comes to mold and your breathing, let the professionals take care of you because what you don’t see CAN hurt you.