Building science failure is what causes mold in homes or buildings. Period. Building science failure is dampness, water leaks, high humidity, condensation, and poor ventilation. When elevated moisture and any type of organic material meet (e.g. damp cement floor and cardboard boxes), the potential for mold develops. It is this marriage between natural materials and dampness that begins the mold growth cycle to start in our homes or buildings.
Typically, building occupants smell something before they see any signs of visible staining. When mold begins to grow, it requires food and moisture. The food can be anything mother nature produces – paper, dust, wood, skin cells (organics). The moisture can be caused by high relative humidity, dampness, water leaks, condensation, or osmosis.
Frequently, occupants complain of musty, earthy, damp smells when descending the stairs into the basement.
- Building science or building “skin” failure
- Active water leaks from roof, window, doors, or flashing
- Condensation inside wall cavities or around the wall and light switch outlets
- Under basement floor vapor pressure and wall cracks
- Poor site grading – water draining back toward the home
- Over humidification
- Poor ventilation
- Storm water management – lack of eaves-trough
By simply identifying what combination of building failures is causing the problem, and providing tried and true remedies that solve the problem.
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You should arrange asbestos testing before renovating, demolishing or disturbing materials that may contain asbestos, particularly in homes and buildings constructed before 1990. Testing helps identify potential asbestos-containing materials before they are cut, drilled, sanded or removed. In Ontario, project owners must determine whether designated substances are present and provide that information to contractors before work begins.
Asbestos may be present in older floor and ceiling tiles, drywall joint compound, plaster, insulation, textured coatings, roofing materials, cement products, pipe and boiler insulation, siding, adhesives and vinyl flooring. You cannot confirm whether a material contains asbestos through appearance alone. Suspected materials should be professionally assessed and tested before they are disturbed.
A Designated Substance Survey identifies regulated hazardous substances that may be present within a building or project area before construction, renovation or demolition begins. In Ontario, designated substances include asbestos, lead, mercury, silica and several other regulated substances. The survey documents where suspected substances are located and helps contractors plan the work using appropriate health and safety controls.
A qualified inspector first identifies materials that may contain asbestos and groups materials that are similar in appearance and composition. Representative bulk samples are then carefully collected from the areas that may be affected by the planned work and submitted to a laboratory for analysis. Ontario regulations establish minimum sampling requirements based on the material type and the size of the area being assessed.
Turnaround times depend on the number of samples collected, the laboratory’s processing schedule and whether standard or expedited analysis is requested. Your inspector should provide an estimated timeline after confirming the scope of the assessment. Renovation or demolition work should not begin in the affected area until the suspected materials have been assessed and the appropriate precautions are understood.
Finding asbestos does not always mean that every affected material must be removed immediately. The next step depends on the material’s condition, location and whether the planned work will disturb it. Materials in good condition may sometimes be managed in place, while materials affected by renovation or demolition may require professional removal or other controls before work proceeds. Do not disturb or attempt to remove confirmed asbestos-containing material yourself.