Defining Mold: Mold Education For NJ Property Owners

As a New Jersey certified mold inspector, we = Jersey Strong Home Inspection felt that this post might be useful to homeowners on the subject of mold. In summary, Mold is a fungus that will grow in humid environments. While different types of mold are naturally present both indoors and outdoors, their presence indoors (due to water damage or humidity) can lead to tricky concentrations of spores and other substances. High concentrations may impact one’s health.

The 3 Main Categories Of Mold

Here are the 3 main categories of mold, defined, including some details for each one.

1. Allergenic Molds

Allergenic Molds are the most common type of mold found inside properties. They release substances, irritants, and can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. The common types of Allergenic Mold include:

1. Alternaria: Often found in water-damaged areas, it’s a common cause of hay fever and asthma.
2. Aspergillus: A very common mold found both indoors and outdoors, with many species. While some are allergenic, others can be pathogenic or toxigenic. It can cause asthma attacks, respiratory inflammation, and lung infections.
3. Cladosporium: Grows on fabrics, wood, and damp surfaces, known for triggering respiratory issues, skin irritation, and asthma.
4. Penicillium: Often associated with water damage, found on carpets, mattresses, and wallpaper. It can cause respiratory issues like asthma and chronic sinusitis.
5. Aureobasidium: Can appear black, brown, or pink, often found on wooden and painted surfaces. Exposure can lead to eye, skin, and nail infections.
6. Chaetomium: Starts white, turns gray, then brown, and eventually black. It has a musty odor and cotton-like texture, often found in damp basements or near leaks. It can cause skin and nail infections and other issues for those with weaker immune systems.
7. Mucor: White or gray and grows quickly in thick patches, often found near ducts and HVAC systems due to condensation. It can lead to respiratory issues, asthma, breathing problems, and fever. Prolonged exposure can cause mucormycosis.
8. Ulocladium: Black in color, often grows on drywall and carpet in high moisture conditions.

The Health Impact of Allergenic Mold can be an allergic reaction, such as sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, coughing, postnasal drip, itchy eyes, nose, and throat, watery eyes, skin rashes (dermatitis), and hives. Or worse, there can be asthma attacks, like wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness, especially in individuals with pre-existing asthma. And then there are other potential irritations, such as eye, skin, throat, and lung irritation that even non-allergic individuals might suffer. If so, it is due to mold spore or microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) exposure.

2. Pathogenic Molds

Pathogenic molds can cause infections, especially in those with weakened immune systems. There is a potential for these to grow on or in a person’s tissues and/or organs. The common types of pathogenic mold include:

1. Aspergillus fumigatus: A prevalent airborne fungal pathogen that can cause severe lung infections (e.g., aspergillosis) in immunocompromised individuals.
2. Cryptococcus neoformans and Histoplasma capsulatum: While often found in specific environmental niches (like bird/bat droppings), they can cause serious infections in humans, especially those with compromised immune systems.

The health impact of Pathogenic Mold can be fungal infections (Mycosis), which might affect the skin, eyes, lungs, and other organs. These can, but do not typically affect healthy people. There can be respiratory diseases, which can lead to chronic lung conditions like bronchitis or pneumonia. This is especially so in those with pre-existing respiratory issues. And there can be fatigue and malaise, such as extreme tiredness and/or a general unwell feeling.

3. Toxigenic Molds

Toxigenic Molds produce toxic substances called mycotoxins, which can have severe health effects if inhaled, ingested, or when in contact with skin. The common types of Toxigenic Mold include:

1. Stachybotrys chartarum (Black Mold): Often referred to as “black mold,” it’s a well-known toxigenic mold found in very damp areas, thriving on cellulose-rich materials like drywall, wallpaper, and wood.
2. Some Aspergillus species (e.g., A. flavus, A. terreus, A. niger): While some Aspergillus species are allergenic, certain strains produce mycotoxins, including aflatoxins, which can be highly dangerous.
3. Some Penicillium species (e.g., P. expansum, P. urticae, P. citrinum): Similar to Aspergillus, some Penicillium species are toxigenic.
4. Fusarium: Commonly found in plant debris and soil, but can also grow in very damp areas indoors. It can produce dangerous mycotoxins.
5. Acremonium: Another toxigenic mold.
6. Trichoderma: While some species are generally allergenic, some can be toxigenic.

The health impact of Toxigenic Mold (from Mycotoxin exposure) might include respiratory problems and lung damage. There could be neurological issues such as Headaches, dizziness, fatigue, memory loss, “brain fog,” and in severe cases, neurological damage. There can be immune system suppression, making a person more susceptible to infections. Organ Damage is possible, including to the liver or kidneys. And there is also the possibility of nausea, nosebleeds, body aches, changes in mood, and severe asthma attacks.

Mold Considerations, Impact, And Inspection!

When defining mold, important considerations include looking at what the exposure levels were. The severity will depend on the amount of mold exposure, the duration, and any unique individual sensitivities a person may have. People with allergies, asthma, compromised immune systems (e.g., HIV/AIDS, organ transplant recipients, chemotherapy patients), infants, and the elderly are likely more vulnerable to mold-related health issues. And while Stachybotrys chartarum is often sensationalized as “black mold” and associated with severe health problems, many molds are black in color, and any significant mold growth, regardless of type, should be addressed due to potential health risks. Research suggests “black mold” is not always more dangerous than other molds, but its mycotoxins pose serious risks.

Ultimately, mold appearance alone is not enough to determine toxicity or health risk. Some highly toxic molds can resemble benign ones. So, if you suspect mold, contact Jersey Strong Home Inspection. As a certified company, we can do the necessary tests to accurately identify mold species, concentrations, and assess whether the mold poses a health risk and/or if remediation is needed.

Jersey Strong Home Inspection is a professional, experienced home inspector based out of Morganville, NJ, and servicing Monmouth County, Middlesex County, Mercer County, Union County, and surrounding areas. Our goal is to provide you with a thorough evaluation of the property as if we were purchasing it for our own family. Contact Jersey Strong Home Inspection today to schedule your home inspection!

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The Importance of a Pre-Listing Inspection for the NJ Home Seller

Hiring a professional home inspector is a smart choice in your home-selling journey and it certainly offers the seller an advantage. We are Jersey Strong Home Inspection, based in Morganville of Monmouth County NJ and we proudly serve the home inspection needs of surrounding Middlesex, Union, Somerset, Essex, Ocean, and Morris county homeowners and sellers!

A pre-listing inspection enables the seller to learn the true conditions of their home and allows time to correct the issues prior to listing the property for sale. So better not to wait until the buyer conducts their home inspection, likely forcing a seller to rush to have the home repaired in an inconvenient time frame.

Issues identified by the buyer’s inspector often result in delays or even cancellation of the sale of the home. Place your property on the market with confidence; knowing that your home is priced and ready to sell.

Additionally, a pre-listing inspection may reduce or possibly eliminate negotiations due to repairs, saving the seller much time and minimizing stress.

What Does a Pre-Listing Inspection Cover?

The pre-listing inspection is the same as the inspection process for the buyer.  The structure, walkways, roof, attic, mechanical, plumbing, electrical systems, HVAC systems, water damage, major appliances, and many other areas are inspected and tested. Wood-destroying insect damages are checked and included in the report. Radon testing, tank sweeps, and other services are also available.

Some Common Issues Found During Inspection

• Electrical: Open junction boxes, improper or unsafe wiring, fuses, aluminum wiring, and corrosion in the panel.
• Exterior and Grounds: Exterior condition, poor grading, lifting walkways, damaged driveway.
• Basement: Mold or mildew, water entry, lack of a needed sump pump
• Roof: Damaged or aged shingles, too many layers, damaged sheathing, damaged gutters or downspouts
• Foundation: Cracks in the foundation, sloping floors, unsafe temporary floor supports, and water entry
  
• Plumbing: Leaks, water damage, corrosion on or aged cast iron drains, old leaking water heater

Major defects, non-functioning items, and safety issues will be inspected and detailed in the report.  Any issues can be discussed with the inspector. Some of the repairs or general maintenance issues could be addressed by the homeowner, while others will require a professional or licensed contractor to repair. With advanced notice, the seller has ample time to decide whether to repair or replace any areas of concern in the report.

Central NJ Pre-Listing Home Inspections by Jersey Strong Home Inspections

Conducting a pre-listing home inspection keeps you one step ahead as a home seller.

Identifying repairs that are needed prior to placing your home on the market, ensures that when prospective buyers conduct their inspection, there will be less stress, less negotiation, and an overall more positive experience for both the seller and the buyer.

Contact Jersey Strong Home Inspection today to see how we can help with all your Central NJ pre-listing inspection needs!

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Circa 1915, Flemington, NJ                                                        Circa 1904, Haworth, NJ

Older homes have certain charms, such as thick molding, high ceilings, wood plank floors, hand craftsmanship, and, oftentimes, curb appeal. Generally, if maintained, older homes were built to last. When purchasing an older home, you must remember that older houses may have issues that are not always easily revealed despite all the wonderful charms. Many of these issues highlight the need for vintage home inspections. We are NJ’s experienced Old or Vintage Home Inspector! 

When performing an older or vintage home inspection, Monmouth County, NJ-based Jersey Strong Home Inspection takes a closer look at your prospective home with your personal interests in mind. Many older homes (those close to or over 100 years old) in Monmouth County and and the surrounding Middlesex, Union, Somerset, Essex, Ocean, and Morris counties have often been cosmetically re-finished and may have hidden concerns. These include but are not limited to the foundation, exterior walls, interior walls, plumbing, electrical systems, heating, wood-destroying insects, etc., etc. And so, should you consider purchasing an older home, it is extremely important that you work with a knowledgeable experienced old vintage home inspection service. Below are a few examples of issues we have encountered on various old home inspections.

Common Old | Vintage Home Inspection Issues

Many vintage homes have had some form of settlement, and, in some cases, they have been corrected. We look at the foundation and general support to detect any defects. Some of these include improper bracing or temporary floor jacks. This can cause cracks in the foundation and flooring. Thus creating some additional unforeseen expenses after you move in.

Temporary floor jack, circa 1930, Sayreville, NJ

Oftentimes, older furnaces were kept alive and not removed in older homes due to their size and weight. As pictured below, this older hot water boiler system had pipes wrapped in asbestos as a form of insulation. Asbestos can be extremely dangerous to one’s health to remove and should be handled only by a licensed company that works with asbestos.

Asbestos on old furnace pipes, circa 1842, Freehold, NJ

Another area that is a common concern in older homes is the electrical system. These can consist of several issues that can affect the home’s safety. Although many of these wiring practices were used 70+ years ago and functioned well, they are no longer considered safe by today’s standards. ‘Knob and Tube,’ for example, were very common in old homes. Most homeowners with ‘knob and tube’ wiring have taken them out completely and upgraded to a circuit breaker system or still have them in place but not functioning. One should proceed with extreme caution as once in a while, we still find live wiring with knob and tube. These can be extremely dangerous if you come into contact with the wiring. They can cause severe electrical shock and extreme injury.

Knob and Tube Wiring, circa 1909, Matawan, NJ

Buying an older home is not for the faint of heart. The key is knowing what you might be getting into and planning for unexpected repairs. These types of homes may take years to repair and upgrade. The challenge can be rewarding or frustrating. The benefit of a good home inspection will provide you with the required knowledge to make your decision.

Circa 1925, Farmingdale, NJ

WHY US? | MONMOUTH COUNTY NJ HOME INSPECTION SERVICES

Jersey Strong Home Inspection, LLC is a professionally licensed home inspector company offering the top certified Monmouth County NJ home inspection. Purchasing a new home or an old vintage home is a huge investment and may seem overwhelming. As a local Morganville, NJ, Home Inspector, Jersey Strong Home Inspection offers experience and peace of mind by thoroughly examining your prospective home’s structural and mechanical components. We are based out of Morganville, NJ, and perform home inspections throughout Monmouth, Middlesex, Mercer, and Union County. Our goal is to provide you with a completely thorough evaluation of the property as if we were purchasing it for our own family. We offer home inspections, termite inspections, radon testing, and tank sweep inspections.

The post The Importance Of An Experienced Old Vintage Home Inspection appeared first on MORGANVILLE MONMOUTH COUNTY NJ HOME INSPECTIONS COMPANY.

Recently, I inspected a property in Union Beach, and shortly afterwards another in Keansburg, NJ, both with crawlspaces. Crawl spaces can be difficult to get into in many cases, like this, but inspection of this area is of key importance. Our Monmouth County, as well as the surrounding Middlesex, Union, Somerset, Essex, Ocean, and Morris counties, Crawlspace Inspection service is where we check for floor support, pier, vapor barrier, foundation wall, water, plumbing supply, sewer drainage lines, wood destroying insects and many other factors that go into a thorough home inspection.

Since the crawlspace area is rarely monitored they can be a breeding ground for serious issues. It is generally a dark, sometimes wet, unvented, and overlooked space. These issues, can include but are not limited to mold, fungus, water seepage through the block, standing water, leaking pipes, insects or animals, structural support integrity, poor or unsafe wiring, wood destroying insects, and even energy waste. That is why our NJ crawlspace inspection service is extremely important to the safety and long term investment value in your home.

In the above photos we are inspecting for structural issues, damaged or splitting supports, corroded plumbing lines, moisture possibly from a leaking pipe, and other concerns.

WHY US? | MONMOUTH COUNTY NJ-BASED HOME INSPECTION SERVICES

Jersey Strong Home Inspection, LLC is a professionally licensed home inspector company offering the top Monmouth County NJ-based home inspections. Purchasing a new home is a huge investment and may seem overwhelming. As a local Morganville NJ Home Inspector, Jersey Strong Home Inspection offers experience and peace of mind by thoroughly examining your prospective home’s structural and mechanical components. We are based out of Morganville NJ and perform home inspections in Monmouth, Middlesex, Mercer, and Union County. Our goal is to provide you with a completely thorough evaluation of the property as if we were purchasing it for our own family. We offer home inspections, termite inspections, radon testing, vintage home and tank sweep inspections.

The post Crawlspace Inspection | Monmouth County NJ- Based Jersey Strong Home Inspection appeared first on MORGANVILLE MONMOUTH COUNTY NJ HOME INSPECTIONS COMPANY.

Before we get into why radon testing is so important for the health of your home, let’s talk about what radon is, exactly. Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas. It forms naturally from the decay of radioactive elements, such as uranium, which are found in different amounts in soil and rock throughout the world. Radon gas in the soil and rock can move into the air and into underground water and surface water.

Radon is present outdoors and indoors. It is normally found at very low levels in outdoor air and in drinking water from rivers and lakes. It can be found at higher levels in the air in houses and other buildings, as well as in water from underground sources, such as well water.

Radon breaks down into solid radioactive elements called radon progeny. Radon progeny can attach to dust and other particles and can be breathed into the lungs. As radon and radon progeny in the air break down, they give off radiation that can damage the DNA inside the body’s cells. In many cases resulting in lung cancer.

For both adults and children, most exposure to radon comes from being indoors in homes, offices, schools, and other buildings. The levels of radon in homes and other buildings depend on the characteristics of the rock and soil in the area. As a result, radon levels vary greatly in different parts of the United States, sometimes even within neighborhoods. Elevated radon levels have been found in every state.

Radon gas given off by soil or rock can enter buildings through cracks in floors or walls; construction joints; or gaps in foundations around pipes, wires, or pumps. Radon levels are usually highest in the basement or crawl space. This level is closest to the soil or rock that is the source of the radon. Therefore, people who spend much of their time in basement rooms at home or at work have a greater risk of being exposed. Modern homes have been built better and are sealed better than old homes. Sealing, tight windows, insulation wraps, and less airflow also help to maintain higher radon levels. Old and new homes should be tested.

Is Radon Common in New Jersey?

New Jersey has high radon levels in many areas throughout the state. Some of which are extremely high and others are moderately high. In all counties, high levels (over 4pc/l) have been found. We have performed testing throughout Monmouth County and Central NJ and have found high levels in all types of homes, including in basements, crawlspaces, and even slab-build foundations. In my local area of Morganville (Marlboro), radon levels are high, even though we are in Monmouth County.

One in six New Jersey homes has elevated levels of radon, but only about 30 percent of households across the state have been tested, state officials say. Overall, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Nationwide estimates indicate deaths from Radon Gas exceed 21,000. About 2,900 of these deaths occurred in people who have never smoked. We highly recommend testing all homes while doing a home inspection or if the home has not been tested for radon.

List of Towns and general Radon levels (elevated levels have been found in all regions).

High

• Basking Ridge, Bernardsville, Bridgewater, Chester, Colts Neck, Hackettstown, Hillsborough, Holmdel, Hopatcong, Kinnelon, Little Silver, Long Valley, Marlboro, Morganville, Mendham, Morris Plains, Morris Township, Morristown, Shrewsbury, Princeton Warren, Watchung, West Deptford

Moderate

• Barnegat,  Berkeley Heights, Butler, Caldwell, Chatham, Cherry Hill, Clark, East Brunswick, East Hanover, East Windsor, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Fair Haven, Florham Park, Fort Lee, Franklin Lakes, Galloway, Gloucester Township, Haddon, Haddonfield,  Hasbrook Heights, Hillsdale, Livingston, Madison, Mahwah, Manahawkin, Manalapan, Manasquan, Maplewood, Matawan, Middletown, Millburn, Montclair, North Caldwell, New Brunswick, New Providence, Oakland, Parsippany, Ramey, Red Bank, River Edge, Rumson, Scotch Plains, South Brunswick, South Orange, Springfield, Summit, Wall, Wayne, West Caldwell, West Orange, West Windsor, Westfield, Woodbridge, Wyckoff

Radon levels can change with the time of the year, weather, soil density,  construction, and other factors in the area.  Personally, in my own home in Morganville, NJ my levels were low when I first moved into my house.  I recently retested just a few years later, and the levels were high at 6.8pCi/L. I had a mitigation system installed, and now the levels are below 2.0pCi/L.  Protect your family, and loved ones, and make sure you have your home tested for radon, and mitigated if the levels are high. Remember, levels above 4.0pCi/L have been found in all tiers, so be smart and safe, and hire our professional Morganville NJ radon testing service today.

WHY US? | MONMOUTH COUNTY NJ HOME INSPECTION SERVICES

Jersey Strong Home Inspection, LLC is a professionally licensed home inspector company offering the top Monmouth County NJ home inspections. Purchasing a new home is a huge investment and may seem overwhelming. As a local Morganville NJ Home Inspector, Jersey Strong Home Inspection offers experience and peace of mind by thoroughly examining both the structural and mechanical components of your prospective home or existing home. We are based out of Morganville NJ and perform home inspections in Monmouth, Middlesex, Mercer, and Union County. Our goal is to provide you with a completely thorough evaluation of the property as if we were purchasing it for our own family. We offer home inspections, termite inspections, radon testing, and tank sweep inspections.

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A Wood Destroying Insect inspection is always recommended when purchasing a home or investment property.  Most attorneys and mortgage companies are requiring a NPMA-33 Wood Destroying Insect inspection form as part of standard procedure. It is always a wise decision to have this type of inspection done when buying a home or investment property. 

Jersey Strong offers a professional and comprehensive Monmouth County NJ termite inspection. Termites are the most common of the wood destroying insects, but other insects can also affect and damage a property, including carpenter bees, carpenter ants, and powder post beetles. Jersey Strong Home Inspection checks for any damage, current activity, past activity, or previous treatment. Our process includes evaluation of the exterior areas of the house, interior areas, attic, basement area and any visible and accessible sections of the property.

What Damage Can Insects Cause to Your Home?

If the impact of wood destroying insects is minor often it can be remedied through a standard treatment by a licensed exterminator, along with repairs by a licensed contractor.  Some examples are; minor damage to a deck, base of a door frame, around the base of the garage door, or entry door threshold. In other cases, the damage can be extensive and require damaged wood, supports or beams to be replaced/repaired as it can impact the structure or stability of the house.

Several examples of damage that are commonly found from our home inspections/wood destroying insect inspections in Monmouth and Middlesex counties in NJ follow.

Photos of Insect Damage

Termite damage to floor joists in the basement in Long Branch, NJ.  It appears that some repairs may have been done.  The house was never treated so activity may still exist.

Carpenter Bee damage to the wood trim and fascia boards in Red Bank, NJ. Typical repair requires replacement of the wood, along with treatment by a licensed exterminator.

This is a main support beam along with flooring joist in a South River, NJ multifamily basement. Damage was extensive, and the wood rotted. This may required complete repair or replacement to prevent the beams and joists from failing.

The house in Freehold, NJ had termite damage around the exterior door frame and threshold wood. This will require damage repair to this area along with a treatment to the house.

The beams in this Morganville, NJ farmhouse were built with timber that may have been from a local woods or field. Many of the beams were severely damaged from termites.

Not all wood destroying insect activity is always as obvious as shown in these photographs. On some of our inspections, the entry is hidden or just staining remains. Therefore Jersey Strong Home Inspection highly recommends a complete Wood Destroying Insect inspection with your home or property inspection.

WHY US? | MONMOUTH COUNTY NJ HOME INSPECTION SERVICES

Jersey Strong Home Inspection, LLC is a professionally licensed home inspector company offering the top Monmouth County NJ home inspections. Purchasing a new home is a huge investment and may seem overwhelming. As a local Morganville NJ Home Inspector, Jersey Strong Home Inspection offers experience and peace of mind by thoroughly examining both the structural and mechanical components of your prospective home or existing home. We are based out of Morganville NJ and perform home inspections in Monmouth, Middlesex, Mercer, and Union County. Our goal is to provide you with a completely thorough evaluation of the property as if we were purchasing it for our own family. We offer home inspections, termite inspections, radon testing, and tank sweep inspections.

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