If we have mould...can't we just kill it with bleach?

ANSWER

NO!  Killing mould growth once established with bleach, a biocide, ultraviolet lights and ozone is not recommended by leading industry associations and is a complete waste of time and money.  Killing mould will only retard its growth for a short period of time.  Dead mould spores can be just as toxic as living mould spores and can have the same health effect on the occupants of the building.  Mould does not behave the same way as bacteria and killing it should not be mistaken as clean-up or removal.

QUESTION?

Isn't mould all around us?

ANSWER

Yes.  However, the genus and species of mould growing indoors are not usually found in large numbers in the outside air.  In addition, the mould that grows indoors tends to be more toxic than mould found outdoors.  If you have a significant mould problem indoors you may be breathing in tens of thousands (or more) spores than you would in a normal environment or outdoors gardening.

QUESTION? 

If we have mould on drywall why don't we just tear it out?  Do we need an inspection?

ANSWER

It depends how it got there and how serious the mould issue is.  A small area of mould growth (less than 1 square foot) growing on concrete in a cold cellar can be cleaned up without a mould assessment.  Mould growing on drywall, however, could be an indicator of a more serious mould issue inside the wall.  If the wall is opened without protecting the rest of the area from traveling mould spores, you may be making the problem worse and more expensive to rectify.

QUESTION?

We have a new house...Do we really need to have an indoor air quality inspection?

ANSWER

Yes. The age of the building has no bearing on whether there could be mould, radon, poor air quality, etc.  Newer buildings have more IAQ problems such as VOC chemical off gassing and can also have mould due to poor building design and construction.

QUESTION?

We live in Toronto...do we need to worry about Radon?

ANSWER

Yes.  We are finding elevated radon levels in many homes in the southern Ontario region.  Radon has been linked to lung cancer and at low levels is equivalent to smoking 1.5 packs of cigarettes per day.  Radon does not produce any odor or any other visible effects.

Our windows have condensation in the winter.  Should we replace the windows?

ANSWER

In some cases the windows will need replacing if they are old and allowing water to intrude into the building.  However, we have found in numerous cases that the problem is actually not the window itself.  If the ventilation in the home is not adequate, replacing the windows may not solve the issue.  In fact, it may make no difference at all.  An air quality assessment would determine the cause of this problem and provide better solutions.