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This document gives advice on the tests & inspections that a building owner or mold investigator should perform before starting an attic mold remediation project. This is a chapter of "How to Look for Mold" which describes how to find mold and test for mold in buildings, including how and where to collect mold samples using adhesive tape - an easy, inexpensive, low-tech but very effective mold testing method. This procedure helps identify the presence of or locate the probable sources of mold reservoirs in buildings, and helps decide which of these need more invasive, exhaustive inspection and testing.

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BEFORE REMOVING ATTIC MOLD - What Tests and Inspections Should Be Made Before Tackling an Attic Mold Problem?

Before starting an attic mold removal project, there are some important questions that should be answered. If we fail to consider the points listed below there is a risk of spending a lot of money unnecessarily and a further risk of an eventually still higher cost to remove toxic or allergenic indoor mold:

1. Is the attic mold the actual source of building air quality complaints?: if there are indoor IAQ mold or allergen complaints, let's be sure that the attic space is the culprit. I've seen cases where people did (an unnecessary) complete roof tear off to "fix" an attic mold problem spotted by their home inspector, only to discover that the real mold problem in the house was in the basement or crawl space.
   
   Think about the source of building moisture that is resulting in attic mold. Moisture usually moves UP through a home, riding warm air convection currents, finding its ultimate way into the attic where it condenses on sheathing or framing, inviting mold growth. That same moisture, if for example it's in a craw space or basement, often produces a more serious mold problem in those locations.
2. Is the attic mold harmful?: be sure that the mold in the attic is harmful - often in attics we identify an allergen such as Cladosporium sp. or "black mold" which turns out to be simply cosmetic and totally harmless.
3. Is the attic mold entering the living area?: be reasonably sure that the attic mold is entering or likely to enter the living space.
   
   Air movement in buildings in many cases tends to be up and out through an attic, not down from an attic into the living space. If attic mold is not entering the living area and is unlikely to do so, the priority for addressing this condition may be lower than previously thought.
4. What steps will be taken to correct the original cause of attic mold?: it is essential that the building attic can be vented and that abnormal moisture sources (such as leaks, missing insulation, or a wet basement or crawl space) are corrected the attic mold problems don't recur

In Summary about attic mold removal: Do not begin an attic mold remediation project without first having carefully examined the whole building, and without first having set priorities of remediation, making sure we have found the real problem mold reservoir, its source, and its extent. The real indoor air quality problem in some buildings might not even be attic mold at all.

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ATTIC MOLD
  IS ATTIC MOLD A PROBLEM ?
  RISK OF TOXIC ATTIC MOLD
  WHERE TO LOOK FOR ATTIC MOLD
  WHAT ATTIC MOLD LOOKS LIKE
  BEFORE REMOVING ATTIC MOLD
  ATTIC MOLD ROOF TEAROFF
  ATTIC MOLD ENCAPSULANTS
The Mold Information Center - What to Do About Mold in Buildings

More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

Mold and Allergen Recognition and Identification - Not All "Black Mold" is Harmful; Some Suspect Stuff is Not Mold

• How to Find and Test For Mold in Buildings - Looking for Mold - A 'how to' photo and text primer on finding and testing for mold in buildings
• Recognizing Mold: What mold looks like mold identification photos to help identify mold - choosing what to sample in buildings
• Recognizing Allergens: What various indoor allergens look like - identification photos to help identify pollen, dust mites, animal dander, toxic or allergenic mold - Common Mold and other Allergens, Irritants, Remedies & Advice
• Stuff that is not mold but is often mistaken for it - things you may not want to test. Also, not all "black mold" is toxic - here are examples of harmless black mold.
• Mold Action Guide: an easy step by step outline of what to do about mold
• How to find mold without hiring anyone, for do-it-yourself'ers
• Associations: Sick House, Sick Building, SBS - Air Quality, Government, Private Associations and Information Resources
• Mold Test Kits - How to Collect and Send Your Own Mold Sample to our mold testing lab
• How to find a mold inspector or test consultant: Directory of IAQ,Sick Building, Mold Allergen Testing, Building Investigation Service Providers
• Meruliporia: the house eating fungus or "poria"
• Mold Investigation Tips for Home Inspectors how to find mold, where to look, what is likely to be important. Advice to building inspectors intending to inspect or test for toxic or problematic mold indoors, mold inspection methods, and mold test methods which are valid or invalid
• Mold Risk Levels in Buildings Based on Visual Inspection - simple visual clues help decide on action
• Mold in Fiberglass Insulation© 2005 comments about a field study in process, & more about health hazards from fiberglass insulation - DJF
• Frequently Asked Questions About Mold -- check this FAQ list & IAQ Site Map to see if you can find a quick answer to your mold concern
• When to hire a professional to inspect for toxic mold or other allergens
• Contact Us to arrange mold/IAQ building on site inspection and testing.

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The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems

Use this simple, economical mold test kit by following our instructions on how to collect and mail mold samples to our lab

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