After a home inspector found mold in an attic in Sudbury, MA, a visual mold inspection was recommended to facilitate the sale of the property.  PowerBees was contacted and a certified mold inspector was dispatched to the property.  Upon inspection, a musty odor was not discernable in the master bedroom or in the attic.  The master bedroom is cathedralized and part of the ceiling extended up through part of the attic. Water staining was visible on the ceiling in the master bedroom around the skylight and on the plywood sheathing on an end-wall in the attic.  Discoloration was visible on the upper part the exterior wall (gable side).  The sheetrock covering the underlying studs behind the upper part of the bedroom wall is discolored along the stud lines.  The gable vent itself is partially covered by the bedroom wall.  Moisture levels, measured with a Delmhorst moisture meter, were normal in all surfaces probed throughout the bedroom and attic.   Visible black mold was identified on approximately 50% of the plywood sheathing and 10% of the rafters in the attic.  The mold is most likely the result of insufficient ventilation—some of the soffit vents appear to be covered by insulation and there may be too few of them.  Visible mold was not identified in the bedroom on any surfaces inspected.  The discoloration in the bedroom appeared to be related to fluctuating temperatures and perhaps poor insulation in the exterior wall and possibly a failing vapor barrier.

PowerBees was contacted by a South End resident recently.  The customer has been living in this single family house (built approximately 38 years ago) for the last 25 years.  A second level was added to the original one story ranch 23 years ago.  A new roof was added 6 years ago.  The homeowner noticed discoloration in the attic several years ago didn’t realize that it might be microbial growth.  Recently, an energy audit inspector reported that the discoloration could be mold growth.  The homeowner contacted PowerBees so that mold testing could be conducted.  The property does not have a history of major flooding.  The only possible point of moisture intrusion is a skylight in the master bedroom which has leaked intermittently over the last few years.  The leak caused water staining around the skylight on the ceiling.  Additionally, the homeowner noticed discoloration along the upper section of an exterior wall which appears to follow the outline of the location of studs and an attic gable vent.  Ice damming was reported to have occurred on the front of the house this past winter.  However, moisture intrusion from the ice damming was not reported.

A large quantity of mold was suspected at a property in Newton, Mass.  They requested mold testing be conducted by PowerBees to ascertain the extent of airborne spores in the property. The client is currently living in a single family house with her mother who is assisted by a medical aide during the day.  Concern was expressed about an odor in the house and possible mold in her finished basement after the health aide brought it to the client’s attention.   Concern was subsequently expressed over the air quality and the possible impact on her family’s health.  There was reportedly basement flooding in the past and the gutters were subsequently repaired. The carpeting was also removed.  There was no remediation at that time. Three non-viable air samples were taken by PowerBees.  One air sample was taken in basement, a second air sample was taken from the 1^st level Family Room and a third air sample was taken outside.  The results from the samples showed very high levels of airborne spores in the basement and Stachybotrys on both levels.  The Penicillium / Aspergillus spore count is quite high and may pose significant health risks.  A count of 2000 is considered a threshold level by the EPA. Stachybotrys was also found both in the basement and on the first level.  Stachybotrys isn’t safe at any level.  Based on these results and the visible mold in the Basement, PowerBees recommends a remediation process to eliminate visible mold

A concerned resident of the city of Brookline, MA recently contacted PowerBeesIncorporated to discuss her mold issue.  A mold inspection was recommended and upon in inspection by a certified mold inspector, it was found that there is visible water staining on the pitched ceiling, from approximately half-way to the peak down to the wall and along the top of the wall. No visible mold was noticed in the living room. Moisture levels, measured using a Delmhorst Moisture Meter, were normal in the sheetrock of the living room ceiling and wall near the staining as well as in the window trim and baseboard below the staining. In the basement there is water staining on several ceiling tiles and on the sheetrock within the utility room. The most heavily water stained and water damaged tile appears to lie directly beneath the water stained wall of the living room. Other water stained tiles throughout the basement appear to have had water damage from condensation on the AC coolant tubing. There is visible Black Mold in the basement utility room behind the HVAC unit. There is Brown and Grey Mold on the door to the utility room and the electrical closet.

After the request of a property management company in Lexington, MA, PowerBees conducted emergency mold testing at a property.  the Four non-viable air samples were taken at the property. All three indoor air samples were taken from the basement.  One air sample was taken in the basement living room/kitchen, a second air sample was taken from a basement bedroom, a third air sample was taken from the storage room and a fourth air sample was taken outside.  The results from the samples showed elevated levels of airborne spores in the basement storage room and bedroom.   The airborne spores in the living room / kitchen were just below what is considered an acceptable count.  For fungi to grow, there must be adequate and constant moisture present, a food source (organic material), and the proper temperature.  In homes and structures, nearly all building materials and furnishings can serve as a food source.  The temperature, which is comfortable for occupants, is also conducive to fungal growth, typically between 65 and 85 degrees.  Growing fungi can release spores into the air resulting in health problems.