After a mold problem was discovered, the residents of a property in Medfield, MA, a PowerBees inspector was deployed to perform mold testing.  The owner reported a musty odor in a rear hallway and reported allergy symptoms commonly associated with exposure to mold spores, e.g., congestion and sinus issues.  Concern was expressed about the possibly colonization of mold in the back hallway and a bedroom closet located in the basement.  This five story town house experienced water intrusion into the first and second levels during the March rains.  The water came in mostly through the window casings and framing, mostly in the 2^nd level living room a second level bathroom. Water also came in through the window casings in the kitchen, where defective flashing is likely responsible. Additionally, there was a report of water intrusion into a basement bedroom closet.  Eight non-viable air samples were taken at the property.  The first air sample was taken in a rear entrance hall. There were high Penicillium / Aspergillus counts in this area. A second air sample was taken in a closet, where the Penicillium / Aspergillus levels were slightly elevated. The third air sample was taken in the Front hallway near the stairway – and the spore counts were normal. A fourth air sample was taken in the kitchen where the Cladosporium counts were high.  A fifth air sample was taken in the office, where the Cladosporium count was slightly elevated. A sixth air sample was taken in the living room, and the counts came back as normal. A seventh air sample was taken in the master bedroom. Again, the Cladosporium counts were slightly elevated.  An eighth air sample was taken outside. There was a preponderance of Penicillium / Aspergillus in the lower part of the house (rear entrance hall and basement area) while there was higher levels of Cladosporium in kitchen, bedroom and office.  Both spore groups are commonly associated with indoor water damage, and the elevated counts in the office may be a result of the higher counts in the kitchen, which is in close proximity.

Mold testing in a property in Medfield was recently contracted by PowerBees Inc.  The owners are currently trying to sell the property after recent remediation.  A leak occurred on the property during the last winter freeze.  A pipe had burst in the kitchen causing water damage in the kitchen, dining room, a hallway and another adjacent room.  Mold had colonized on the sheetrock in the kitchen and elsewhere.  All materials, including the carpet had been removed and replaced.   The owners requested a clearance test from PowerBees to confirm that the air quality was acceptable for future occupants.

A major mold problem was presented by a prospective buyer of a condominium unit in Medfield.  The buyer requested a PowerBees to perform a mold inspection prior to purchasing the property.  The unit has been unoccupied for approximately three years and has had a history of plumbing leaks.  Mold testing prior to inspection showed very high airborne levels of Penicillium / Aspergillus within the first floor kitchen, basement, and garage.  Visible mold was identified colonizing on the parquet floor in the basement family room as well as in a toilet on the second level bathroom.  Fruiting bodies (mushrooms) were identified in the toilet as well.  There was visible water damage on the ceiling above the shower in this same 2^nd level bathroom.  Water staining was visible on the flooring and cabinets were swollen from water saturation in the kitchen.  A water damaged section of ceiling had been removed from the kitchen, exposing what had been a plumbing leak.  The water was shut-off, most likely two or three years ago – after the prior occupants vacated and the pipes froze. Water staining was also identified in the bedroom across from the kitchen and on the stairs running down into the basement.  The water traveled across the kitchen ceiling onto the cabinets, floors and possibly walls.  The water ran across the floor and wicked up into the baseboard and sheetrock walls in the kitchen and halfway down the stairwell to basement.

A mold inspection was performed byPowerBees in late March.  The finished basement of a single family home in Medfield had 3-4” of water during the March rains the previous year. The carpeting has had been removed and replaced. Water staining was visible on the sheetrock, trim, wood paneling, doors and furniture. Visible gray and green mold was identified on shelves and visible black mold was found colonizing on sheetrock. Moisture levels were high in the wood paneling and wood shelving. PowerBees recommended a thorough remediation procedure to remove the mold.  Since the mold inspection identified several possible sources of mold, exploratory work in the basement was recommended.