Mold testing is the step that turns "we think there's mold" into an actual answer. Where inspection is visual and hands-on, testing means collecting air samples, surface swabs, or both, and sending them to an independent lab for analysis. It's what you need when the mold isn't visible but the symptoms are there, or when you need documentation for insurance, a real estate transaction, or a landlord dispute.
Homeowners in Chicago, IL usually ask for testing after a musty smell shows up with no obvious source, after someone in the house develops symptoms that clear up when they're away from home, or after a leak or flood where they want confirmation the cleanup actually worked. It's also common after a remediation job – testing before and after gives you proof the mold is actually gone, not just painted over.
We collect samples using calibrated air pumps for airborne spore counts and swabs or tape lifts for surface growth. Samples go to a certified third-party lab, not one we own, so the results aren't biased toward selling you more work. Turnaround is usually a few business days, and we'll walk you through what the report actually means instead of handing you a stack of numbers.
Cost depends on how many samples we're collecting and whether you need air-only, surface-only, or both. A single-room air sample is a lot less than a full-property air and surface package.
If you want a straight answer instead of a guess about mold in your Chicago, IL home, call (213) 871-1085 and we'll set up testing that holds up whether it's for your own peace of mind or for paperwork.
