Is there a mouldy or musty smell in your home?

Has there been flooding or water leakage which resulted in building materials being wet/damp for more than 48 housr?

Or are you concerned that dark staining on your walls or ceilings may be mould?

If so, mould may be growing in the building materials and may be affecting your health.

Mould in buildings

Mould grows wherever it can find both food and water. As food sources are abundant in buildings, mould growth generally indicates the presence of excess moisture which may be due to numerous factors including leaking water pipes, flooding and condensation.

Hence, existing mould should be removed and the moisture source eliminated to prevent further mould infestation. If only surface mould is present, remediation may simply involve careful removal of this mould and improved ventilation and air movement in the building. However, where flooding, leaking taps or broken roof tiles have resulted in more serious mould infestation, remediation will be more complex and may require the services of a specialised mould remediator.

Tips for reducing exposure to mould are included in the 20 page Building Wellness book which is available from our on-line shop .   

 Mould Sampling and Laboratory Analysis

When identification of the types of mould present in your building is required, air sampling equipment and agar plates will be used to collect samples which will be sent to a specialised mycology laboratory for analysis before results can be obtained.  

Sampling is generally recommended when 

• there is evidence of widespread mould growth
• there are strong mould odours without visible mould growth
• there are materials that have been wet or damp for at least 48 hours
• you experience health problems while in the building
• you wish to detect mould species as part of a health risk assessment
• genus identification is required so that mould inspectors can identify the sequence of events leading up to a mould contamination situation

  Building Wellness building biology service - Moisture detection, Visual Mould Inspection and Mould Sampling Procedure

• Speak with you to determine your specific needs
• Visit your site at an agreed time
• Use an indoor air quality meter to detemine relative humidity levels in the affected areas
• Use a protimeter to determine moisture levels in building materials and furnishings in the required parts of the building
• Determine sources of moisture
• Conduct a visual inspection for mould in the indoor and surrounding outdoor environment
• Conduct mould sampling, if required. Samples will be sent to a specialised mycology laboratory for analysis before results can be obtained.
• Discuss all findings
• Explain areas of concern
• Recommend the easiest and most cost effective ways to address areas of concern

Where mould sampling is not required, a hand written report detailing the major findings and recommended solutions will be provided.  Where mould sampling has been done, an electronic report will be provided once the laboratory analysis has been completed.

A professionally bound written report is available at additional cost.

Cost of services

The cost of a moisture detection and visual mould inspection varies according to the building size and location and the level of testing and reporting required. Prices start at $250 (including GST) for a basic moisture detection and visual mould inspection procedure (excluding mould sampling and laboratory analysis) for a 1-2 bedroom apartment in the Melbourne metropolitan area.  For a standard 4 bedroom (or 3 bedroom + study) home in the Melbourne metropolitan area, the price will be $345. A hand written report is provided.

However, in most cases where mould is known or suspected to be a concern, mould sampling will be required to determine the extent of the problem. The cost of mould sampling and laboratory analysis will vary with the number of samples required. The cost of an assessment comprising moisture detection, visual mould inspection and four duplicate mould samples (including air samples) is $1,395 (including GST) in the Melbourne metropolitan area. If more than four samples are required, the additional cost will be $143 per sample.

If you are a tennant or home owner who simply wants sampling conducted - without a moisture inspection - to confirm whether or not the exposure to mould in your home is likely to be a concern, the cost for three samples plus a printed report will be $1095. 

We will be happy to provide a quote for your specific circumstances after discussing your requirements with you. Please contact us for further information.