July 12, 2004—Lab Results has become the first company in the US to combine infrared thermal imaging and Mold Dogs in the search for mold and moisture problems in commercial and residential buildings.
Infrared thermal imaging is a proven, non-destructive, non-invasive method for detecting moisture in walls and roofs, which can promote mold growth and rot. Lab Results LLC’s certified infrared thermographers, certified Mold Dog handlers and certified mold inspectors can now diagnose a building from multiple perspectives and find hidden mold and moisture problems early.
Infrared technology is especially useful for inspecting flat roofing systems and synthetic stucco systems, which rarely give any visual clues as to their condition or the location of leaks and moisture retention. Litigation involving synthetic stucco, or exterior insulating finish systems (EIFS), is rampant nationwide, says the company.
EIFS exterior cladding is blamed by plaintiffs for retaining moisture that gets behind it and thus helping to allow mold growth and rotting within exterior wall cavities.
Dr. George Carroll, mycologist at Mould Works, said, “The appearance of mold-sniffing dogs is a brilliant solution to the problem of locating sources of mold. Dogs when properly trained are in fact exquisitely sensitive walking gas chromatographs with a proven record in locating moldy substrates even when hidden behind partitions or on the insides of walls.”
While a mold-detection canine can quickly find mold inside a commercial building, infrared thermal imaging has the edge on the exterior.
Properly used under the right conditions, infrared thermography can serve as an early warning system for flat roofs that tend to retain water long before they actively leak. The technology also can detect temperature variations that a certified infrared thermographer would use to find moisture accumulation, condensation, infiltration and leakage in wall systems and windows, all of which can provide an environment conducive to mold growth.
The combined use of Mold Dogs and infrared thermal imaging during EIFS inspections is the most effective non-destructive and non-invasive method of surveying a property for potential mold and moisture problems, says Lab Results.
A combined Mold Dog and infrared thermal imaging inspection can protect a potential buyer from acquiring a lemon property or from incurring repair and remediation costs far beyond a building’s value.
For more information, contact Lab Works.
