First, let me say that if you are reading this you are head and shoulders above the mass of the population that will haphazardly sheetrock and carpet a basement without concern for the inherent problems that traditional finished basements are known for within my industry. My only concern is that the ideas contained in this article gain wide acceptance and my revenue decreases dramatically. If this occurs, I will gladly accept generous donations from the happy applicants of the wisdom contained herein.

Few of these ideas are original. The true value of this short piece is to shine the light on the choices you have as you endeavor to add very valuable space to your home.

If done right, a nice profit and many enjoyable years can grow out of your healthy, well-designed basement. If done wrong or without proper attention to the crucial details, other things will grow out of - and in - your basement. And you won’t like that. That’s why you are reading this. So let’s proceed.

Let’s start with a brief course in mold. Mold 101. Here’s all you need to know for now.

Mold spores are like microscopic seeds that are constantly floating around in the air. In fact, unless you are highly sensitive or there is a large concentration of spores as a result of a mold growth problem near where you are now sitting, the air you are now breathing contains mold spores that are probably not bothering you in the least. Mold spores are literally everywhere; on your clothing, your eyeglasses, the face of your watch, your kitchen table. This is unavoidable. What we really want to avoid is mold growth, not mold spores, since mold spores are, in fact, unavoidable.

Why do you not want mold growth in your house? In a nutshell, here it is:

• It stinks
• It ruins your stuff
• It can make you and your family sick
• Other nasty stuff likes to join the party (i.e. dust mites, spiders, bacteria, amoeba, nematodes)
• You may end up having a hard time selling your house

Mold growth occurs when a few specific factors are present. In fact, part of the problem is that these factors are very often present indoors because mold loves the same conditions we do, with few exceptions.

• Moisture/water
• Oxygen
• Comfortable temperature
• Nutrition/food source (cellulose, i.e., drywall, ceiling tiles, wood, carpet, etc.)

Of all of the above factors, moisture is the most easily controlled. In fact, few of the other factors are easily or cost-effectively dealt with. So, control moisture you must. Moisture control is the mold-prevention mantra.

Also at play is the type of building materials and the way they interact and integrate in modern construction. The way we have built and continue to build homes since the 1970s energy crisis, and what we build them with, makes it very easy for mold growth to occur indoors. Most builders use low-cost materials, over-insulate and insist on putting basements into buildings built in areas with poor soil drainage or high water tables. One of my mentors is fond of saying that we now build self-composting houses – just add water!

When it comes to finishing basements, you have more choices and – at the same time – more problems. Since it is a much smaller space than the rest of the structure, you can spend more money on the specialized building materials that resist moisture and mold growth. At the same time, the added cost can sometimes make it more expensive than it’s worth for some homeowners. For example: Dens-Armor Plus by Georgia-Pacific, a fiberglass-faced gypsum board with no mold-friendly nutrition source for the mold to grow on, is at least 2x the cost of normal 1/2” paper-faced drywall gypsum board. In fact, many of the solutions are twice the price but worth every penny. The way I figure it, you can spend twice as much once and do it right, or you can do it wrong and spend half as much, but end up doing it twice. The first choice is much easier, and you don’t have to pay a mold remediation specialist a small fortune to gut your basement and a remodeler to rebuild it all over again. Look at the savings!

In addition to donations, I accept Thank You cards. This means you can thank me for saving you tons of money in advance. Tons. I really like the Thank You cards. I still prefer donations though.

Moving on.

Here are the primary ideas and guidelines to follow:

1. Stop the water: If you have a damp basement or get water sometimes, you MUST do whatever is necessary to fix it before doing anything else. A dehumidifier is NOT the silver bullet. If you can, you should do whatever you have to do to prevent the water from coming into the basement in the first place. This can sometimes mean excavating outside, fixing cracks and sealing the foundation properly (Big $$$$). Although still expensive, some people install French drains (see more on them later) and sump pumps with battery backup units. This can be helpful but, again, it is not a silver bullet all by itself. You may find that something as simple as re-grading outside, covering window wells or extending the gutter downspouts further from the foundation is enough. You may find that some combination of these may work. In any case, do what you must. Otherwise your allergies and your wallet will suffer.
2. Monitor the humidity with a digital humidity gauge otherwise known as a hygrometer (available at Radio Shack, Lowe’s, etc. for about $20). Keep your humidity at 45% or below. In fact, you should do this in the other areas of your home as well. Maintaining a moderate humidity in your home is one of the most important things you can do to keep your home healthy and help prevent mold growth, dust mite proliferation, and a whole roster of other nasty stuff. In the basement, do not even think about finishing it until you get a handle on the humidity.
3. Insulate all cold water pipes to prevent condensation. When possible, insulated ducts are a great idea too to prevent condensation from accumulating on the ducts in the ceiling when the air conditioning is running. But this is not always practical.
4. DO NOT PAINT YOUR WALLS, even with Drylok or waterproofing paint. Concrete does not support fungal (mold) growth. Paint does. Even most antimicrobial and antifungal paints and coatings will eventually grow mold if the conditions are right. Also, do not attach insulation directly to the foundation walls. It behaves as a moisture trap and can also hide structural problems and cracks in the foundation. Bottom line: basement walls need to breathe too.
5. How ‘bout a little elbow room?: Although this is sometimes impractical and you can lose a lot of square footage, building the wall at least 18 inches away from the foundation gives you permanent access to your foundation and allows enough air movement that ventilation and dehumidification can work together to the fullest. Also, if you ever need to perform any repairs to the foundation, it can be done with little additional cost and destruction. It also makes upgrading wiring, plumbing, sound systems etc. much easier and less expensive.
6. Use metal studs or, if you use wooden studs, make sure to put in a pressure-treated sill plate. As a rule, untreated wood and any porous or absorptive building materials should never be in direct contact with concrete. A concrete slab and foundation can contain thousands of pounds of water and will gladly transfer that moisture into anything porous and absorptive it touches. Once the moisture gets in and stays, mold growth, and eventually rot, are inevitable. So keep wood, drywall, carpet, carpet padding, tack strips, etc. away from direct contact with concrete.
7. Insulate properly: Although some building code officials do not like rigid insulation, it is a preferred material for moisture-prone areas such as basement. Unlike traditional fiberglass batt insulation that you will find in most attics and wall cavities, rigid insulation will not absorb water. Also, rigid insulation contains no nutrition to support mold growth but the paper backing on many kinds of fiberglass batt insulation does. Building code officials don’t like rigid insulation sometimes because in the event of a fire, the gases are deadly. So if that scares you or your local building code official too much, then fiberglass batt insulation is your best bet. Johns Manville makes a Formaldehyde-Free fiberglass batt insulation that is great for families concerned about indoor air quality. You’ll know you’ve found it because it is white, fluffy and encased in plastic.
8. Heat and air condition the basement just like the upstairs. Consult with a NASE certified HVAC technician to prevent losing heating and cooling efficiency upstairs.
9. No carpet. No hardwood floors. Ceramic tile is the preferred choice. Pergo is often recommended but I have my reservations. Pergo, as with all laminate flooring, is made by taking fiberboard planks and wrapping decorative laminate sheeting around it. The fiberboard inside is a favorite on the menu mold likes to eat from most. If you insist on carpet don’t overspend, seal the slab with an epoxy-based concrete floor sealer, use no carpet padding, and install Dri-Core (www.dricore.com) or Sub-Flor (www.subflor.com) raised-floor systems on the slab. Then put your carpet over the raised floor system. If you flood, for whatever reason, the carpet will need to be professionally dried within 24 hours, or it is garbage. Period.
10. No drywall on exterior walls. This includes “green-board”, “blue-board” or any paper-faced gypsum wallboard. All of it will get moldy in a wet environment. On exterior walls, Dens-Armor Plus by Georgia-Pacific is the only way to go. It has no mold-friendly nutrients and is just as easy to work with as standard drywall. At this writing, the only problem with Dens-Armor Plus is that it is has a slightly different surface texture when compared to traditional drywall. It requires more primer and more paint to even out the surface. When I called Georgia-Pacific to ask them about this they assured me that they are working hard to remedy this.
11. Get it up: Regardless of the type of wallboard you use, keep at least a 2-inch gap between the bottom edge of the wallboard and the slab to prevent wicking in the event of water intrusion or release. Use molding along the bottom to cover the gap for aesthetic reasons. Do not let the drywall touch the foundation walls either.
12. Get exhausted: If bathrooms or a kitchen are part of the plan, exhaust fans vented to the outside are a must.
13. Stuff it: Anything stored in the unfinished areas should be in Rubbermaid containers or, at least, up on shelves.

About French Drains

1. If you think you have a French drain, you might. But you probably don’t. Most people were told when they bought their house that the gap between the wall and the floor around the perimeter of the basement is a French drain. A vast majority of homes that have this gap where the floor meets the wall actually have something called a “floating slab.” It was designed that way for a few reasons. 1.) The gap allows for a very small amount of water to collect in the gap and not get onto the floor. It should eventually drain, but VERY slowly. The problem is there is no pitch or slant for the water to follow and so the water just sits there and then, most of the time, evaporates creating high humidity or allowing the random debris in the gap to get moldy and decompose; neither being a good outcome. 2.) It allows the floor to “float” slightly and prevents the cracking that may result from excessive vertical pressure from rising water under the floor. 3.) Every state has different laws regarding warranties for new home. Homes in NJ come with a 10-year structural warranty and a 1-year water guarantee. This perimeter gap conveniently keeps the water off the floor long enough for the warranty to expire and the builder to get off the hook. A French drain can be used inside or outside. They were developed in 12th-century France – hence the name – to deal with pooling and rainwater run-off. Much like the Northeast here, they have a lot of clay and, as a result, poor drainage. A true interior basement French drain contains a few elements. There are many bells and whistles but the guts of it remain the same.
   • Perforated pipes and gravel under the floor around the perimeter that are pitched toward the sump pump pit.
   • The pipes terminate, or drain, into a pit, or sump.
   • The pit has a pump capable of ejecting the water out and away from the building.

   If you want to know whether you have a true French drain or not, this requires some investigation. Here are a few questions to get answered:

   • Can you see gravel or stones in the gap?
   • Do you have a sump pump pit with a working pump and pipes that drain into the pit?
   • If you pour water into the gap, does it disappear quickly no matter how much you pour in (think: garden hose full-blast for 10 minutes)?
   • Does it make it into the sump?
   • Can you see a “scar” around the perimeter where it looks like concrete was removed and replaced?
   • If you have a concrete or cinder block foundation, are there holes drilled into the block walls all the way around the perimeter that allow for the cells/voids within the walls to drain into the gap?

   If you answered “no” to more than a few of those questions you probably have a floating slab. If you want confirmation, open your phone book to Waterproofing and call a few of them to come and take a look. Be prepared to endure a sales pitch and sift through the B.S. But you should be able to find out what kind of drainage you have….or need.

2. If you have a sump pump, a battery backup unit is a must. Just think, when do you lose power? During a thunderstorm or hurricane, right? When do you need a sump pump most? Exactly.
3. Make sure that the discharge from the pump goes far enough away from the house.
4. If you get an interior French drain installed or are willing to add to your existing one, a round floor drain tied into it is a great idea especially in the middle of the floor, in the bathroom, or anywhere else that flood and spills are probable and likely.
5. This one will make my friends in the waterproofing business hate me, but you will love me for speaking the truth. Most installers are crooks. Check the BBB and call at least 3 references. Get an insurance binder, not an insurance certificate, with your name and address on it BEFORE the work is started. Do not give more than a 10% deposit and make sure it is refundable if they fail to deliver the insurance binder. Get everything in writing and go with your gut feeling. You will probably be right.
6. It is often a high-pressure sales pitch so put on your thick skin and don’t fall for the scare tactics. Most of the systems are so similar in design that the main variable is the quality of the company. Since what you are really buying is a warranty, make sure they will be there when the system leaks or the sump pump fails. Both will probably happen at some point.

Oh, and good luck. Remember my first piece of advice… don’t finish your basement.

But if you insist, at least do it right.

Things are not always as they appear.

The big question is this: Where did all of these certified mold inspectors get their valuable experience and education? What government agency established the curriculum for the courses & requisite examinations that enables one to become a certified mold inspector or certified mold remediator? When you investigate the validity of the qualifications that your local certified mold inspector holds forth, you will quickly find out that, with the exception of Texas, there is no regulation, no certification or licensing requirements to be a certified mold inspector or a certified mold remediator. Furthermore, there are no government standards that provide Personal Exposure Limits (PELs) or Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for mold like we see with other environmental hazards such as lead or asbestos.

Not only is there no regulation, anyone that wants to become a certified mold inspector can pay $95, take a 30-question online exam and VOILA!, they are instantly a Certified Mold Inspector. Now I am not saying that all certifications are worthless. On the contrary; I have nearly a dozen myself. There are a few quality non-profit training organizations such as the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA), the Indoor Environmental Standards Organization (IESO) and the American Indoor Air Quality Council (AmIAQ) that provide meaningful and relevant coursework. But nothing takes the place of hard-earned experience, a multi-disciplined education, state-of-the-art equipment and an honest-to-goodness desire to help people. So far, I have not seen a single course, or even a series of courses, that covers enough ground to truly bestow upon an individual the knowledge one needs to have earned the moniker Certified Mold Inspector. The best education, as in most industries, comes from field experience, not from the classroom.

Until the pending legislation mandates certain educational and experiential prerequisites necessary to become a Certified Mold Inspector or Certified Mold Remediator, it will be like the wild, wild west; BUYER BEWARE. And when the government gets involved – and they most certainly will – it will more likely take the form of some sort of licensing. The term Licensed Mold Inspector or Licensed Mold Remediator will hold some real value. Until then, you will have to sift through the moldy muck like the informed consumer that you are.

Now that I have pounded that table about the absence of professional standards and low certification requirements in the mold industry, as you navigate this site you will see the term “Certified Mold Dog”. I am not being contradictory. This is a different animal altogether.

Allow me to explain.

Mold Dog™ is a trademarked term. Mold Dogs are trained at the Florida Canine Academy in Safety Harbor, Florida by Master Trainer Bill Whitstine. These mold detection dogs are sold once they have completed a rigorous training program. Many would-be Mold Dogs don’t make the cut but once a Mold Dog completes the program, the soon-to-be handler receives a one-week class at the Safety Harbor-based training facility before the Mold Dog is finally handed over to its new owner. The team is then deemed to be certified. But here’s the difference between a Certified Mold Inspector or Certified Mold Remediator and a certified Mold Dog: the Mold Dog and handler teams are required to be re-tested quarterly, maintain training logs, and be re-certified annually. Additional certification requirements are being developed and will soon be implemented by the International Mold Detection Dog Association (IMDDA).

So in summary, unless a mold detection dog is trained by Mr. Whitstine at the world renowned Florida Canine Academy, and the team maintains the certification requirements put forth by the Academy and IMDDA, it is not a certified Mold Dog™ and cannot be called a Mold Dog. It may have been trained to be a mold detection dog at some point, but unless the certification is maintained the accuracy and reliability is in question.

Mold is not new but the problems you face while trying to select a professional are. At some point soon, once licensing requirements shake out in the industry, it will be much easier. Until then, remember that you get what you pay for and in this business sometimes you get a lot less. Do your research and soon you will see the difference between a “Certified Mold Inspector” and a qualified indoor air quality professional that specializes in mold & moisture problems.

Once you see the difference, we look forward to hearing from you.

Why?

Do you think you have a mold problem somewhere? Can you see it?

If it is visible, the EPA says that mold testing isn’t necessary. They feel that the type of mold you have doesn’t matter. Since mold growth is caused by excess moisture, what matters is getting rid of the mold growth and fixing the water problem. And, since all molds can cause allergic reactions and trigger asthma attacks, it does not matter whether your mold is “toxic” or not. Asthma attacks kill people every day. No one knows how many asthma attacks are caused by mold exposure. Mold’s adverse health effects are not restricted to “toxic molds” alone. The bottom line is that there is no such thing as good mold growth indoors – unless it’s on the brie in your fridge.

What if you think you may have a mold problem that isn’t visible? In this case, the EPA suggests finding a competent professional with experience in finding and diagnosing such problems.

So you flip open the phone book and place a call to the local “mold guys.” For a few hundred bucks they’ll look around and for a little more money, they’ll do some sophisticated air testing (otherwise known as air sampling). Sounds good, right? After all, they’re a certified mold inspector! They must be good.

Let’s see.

We’ll assume you’ve got a good mold inspector. He really knows what he’s doing. After the visual inspection, whether he finds something or not, he tells you that it’s usually a good idea to do some testing to verify the findings and have some peace of mind. After all, we are talking about a microscopic organism here.

So how many mold tests do you do?

Well, you have to have at least one outside air test because there are no standards yet stating how much mold is acceptable in indoor air. And we expect indoor air to be as good, if not better, than outdoor air.

Then you do the inside air samples. When the lab analyzes the samples, you will then compare the results from the indoor samples to the results from the outside samples and see whether there are unusual quantities or types of mold spores floating around in the air you breathe every day.

So, how many tests? I don’t know. And neither does the inspector usually. Maybe three or four. Maybe one in every room. (Big bucks at $100 or more per sample.)

Next question is where? Do you sample only where you are concerned or where you have an odor? Do you sample in areas that don’t have a problem? Do you sample in the middle of the room or near the walls? Most inspectors have no idea. But they’ll never tell you that.

Let’s pretend you do the tests in every room and spend a small fortune. The results come back with no unusual levels. Now you can sleep well. Your family is safe. Right?

Not necessarily.

The results from air sampling often create a false sense of security. If nothing unusual shows up, it does not mean you don’t have a mold problem. This is known as a false negative, and it’s all too common in air sampling. Air tests are prone to false negatives because 1) some molds make small numbers of spores so there aren’t many to become airborne, 2) some make large spores and/or sticky spores that do not easily become airborne or stay aloft long enough to be captured, and 3) mold spores are far too large to pass through the pores of sheetrock or paneling, so it’s quite possible to have mold growth in wall and/or ceiling cavities that air testing will never pick up.

And to make things worse, even when abnormal spore counts are found through air tests, the location of the source is often still a mystery.

Here’s what the Institute of Medicine had to say in a study titled “Damp Indoor Spaces and Health” published in 2004, on page 66: “Fungal types vary remarkably in their capacity to produce and release spores. Penicillium and Aspergillus typically produce large numbers of spores that are easily released into the air. Stachybotrys and Chaetomium are examples of fungi that produce fewer spores and release them only occasionally. Penicillium and Aspergillus spores are regularly found in air samples, and Stachybotrys and Chaetomium spores are rarely found in the air, even in environments where they are growing (Andersen and Nissen, 2000)”

I emphasize the final sentences in the last two paragraphs because part of the reason mold is on your mind is that the media has made a mountain out of a mold hill. A few stories of devastating mold problems have made this the newest modern plague; “the next asbestos,” as some people are fond of saying. The mold everyone talks about – “black mold” or “toxic mold” – is called Stachybotrys Chartarum (pronounced: stack-ee-Bah-tris). It can produce a potent chemical toxin, hence the reason for it to be called the “toxic mold.” The truth is hundreds of molds create toxins, known as mycotoxins. Stachybotrys is just the one that gets the spotlight.

Some people who have been exposed to Stachybotrys and its toxins report nosebleeds, neurological disorders, memory loss and many other frightening symptoms. While many of these symptoms are anecdotal, and the jury is still out as to the direct relationship of mold exposure and severe illness, it is well known and widely accepted that the indoor environments in which molds like Stachybotrys grow are not exactly healthy for human habitation. But, as you read, spores of Stachybotrys rarely show up in air samples. So how do you find it?

When mold grows, it creates vapors and gases as byproducts of digestion, just as we do. They are called microbiological volatile organic compounds (mVOCs). The mVOCs molds produce are what we pick up on when we smell something that smells musty. According to the New Jersey Department of Health (PDF file), these mVOCs can cause allergic reactions, headaches, nausea, dizziness and fatigue. This makes even more sense when we realize that mVOCs emitted from mold growth can include ethanols, methanols, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, benzene, methyl chloride and many other chemicals we associate with the petroleum industry and other sources of air pollution.

So exposure to spores is not the only issue. Even if the mold is growing peacefully inside your walls, exposure to the mVOCs can still cause adverse medical effects. This complicates the whole thing doesn’t it? But, ironically, mVOCs are actually the solution to finding hidden mold.

Twenty-five years ago, Swedish scientists concerned about mold growth indoors, and knowing the power of the nose, trained a dog to find mold in buildings (PDF file). Five years ago, a small group of people in the US, including me, picked up on this idea and began using dogs to find hidden indoor mold growth on this side of the Atlantic.

As a culture we’ve trusted dogs for nearly a hundred years to find truffles, missing people, bombs, drugs and arsonists. Now, according to a study from the Alberta Children’s Hospital at the University of Calgary published recently in the medical journal Neurology, they even have dogs that can sense their owner’s epileptic seizures. And in England a recent study found that dogs were more accurate at diagnosing people with bladder cancer than traditional testing methods! So why not mold?

Although mold spores are too big to pass through walls, the gases and vapors which the dogs are trained to detect and locate the source of, can and do permeate the walls. When detected and pinpointed by dogs, the area can be thoroughly investigated and evaluated, thereby reducing the probability of false negatives, enabling source detection instead of symptom detection and making diagnostics and mold remediation planning more efficient and less expensive.

Also, if we do normal, non-invasive air tests, a calibrated handheld laser-based particle scanner helps us find areas where the greatest concentration of airborne microscopic particles exist. This eliminates the guesswork of where to take the air samples, enabling the technician to develop a sampling plan with more confidence and ultimately with less cost to the customer.

I founded a company called Lab Results on March 3, 2003 to specialize in the detection, location, diagnosis and prevention of mold and moisture problems in all indoor environments.

To eliminate wasteful testing and save valuable time, we employ specially trained mold-detection dogs – specifically Labrador Retrievers - to help us find sources of hidden mold growth. All of the dogs we use are rescued from local animal shelters and put through a rigorous training program at the world-renowned Florida Canine Academy by Master Trainer Bill Whitstine.

We were the first company in the Northeast, and one of the first nationwide, to employ Mold Dogs™ for this particular application. We also pioneered the combined use of infrared thermal imaging cameras and numerous other high-technology tools with our canine-based approach and have created a mold detection and mold inspection method that is second to none. After about two-and-a-half years, we had built a loose coalition of roughly 86 independent dog-and-handler teams from coast to coast.

The problem was that we couldn’t effectively transfer the knowledge and protocols I had developed to these other teams, each of whom operated according to their own ideas. But we started getting inquiries about franchising from all over the country, so naturally a franchise organization became our goal.

Once we screen a property using our innovative, non-destructive approach, we investigate the potential areas of concern using conventional and industry-accepted mold testing and investigation methods. In other words, we don’t just use dogs and air samples. We do what all the other mold inspection/mold assessment companies do but we also use the most advanced non-destructive screening tools available (Mold Dogs™, laser particle scanners and infrared thermography) to help increase the accuracy and efficiency of our mold inspections. This translates into huge savings in time and money for both us and our customers. More importantly, our unique process enables us to get to the bottom of our customers’ complaints rapidly and with a remarkably high degree of success. In other words, it enables us to locate and verify the sources of indoor mold growth.

Now, allow me to take a step back and explain why I am so deeply passionate about this. Let me explain why Lab Results was formed in the first place.

After losing nearly 30% of my body-weight in a 3-week period when I was 4 years old, I was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Several of my father’s cousins had died from cystic fibrosis before reaching adulthood so, needless to say, the diagnosis devastated my parents. My mother, however, being a Registered Nurse and a strong-willed woman, dug deeper and demanded additional testing. Six weeks later, a second set of tests at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia revealed that the first diagnosis was wrong – I did not have cystic fibrosis. I was suffering from asthma compounded by pneumonia. To exacerbate the situation, allergy tests revealed that I was allergic to nearly everything in my environment; eggs, milk, grass, wheat, cotton, pollen, cats, dogs, soybeans, etc. A few doctors recommended a “bubble-boy” approach to treating my severe allergic sensitivities.

When I was 12 years old I moved out of the house in which I had grown up. Almost instantly, my allergies disappeared. I have not had an asthma attack in more than 17 years. When I look back, it is clear to me that I was living in a home with a damp indoor environment. I distinctly recall the odors, the dampness in the basement, the feeling of a hundred-pound weight on my chest. The medical community had not yet accepted indoor mold growth and other aspects and byproducts of damp indoor environments as potent triggers for asthma attacks and allergies. It is now clear that the mold in my home had very likely made me hypersensitive to nearly everything. In the absence of this long-term exposure I have become extraordinarily healthy. It is hard to believe that the solution was so simple.

No child, or family, should have to suffer through such an ordeal. The only problem is that there are not enough well-trained, properly equipped professionals in this country who understand indoor mold and moisture problems and their solutions. Those who do prefer to avoid residential work. Children with asthma don’t live in offices. Although we work in all types of buildings, we prefer residential work for that very reason.

In addition to being featured in over one hundred newspaper and magazine articles, we recently appeared on Good Morning America because of a beautiful 5-year-old little girl named Caitlin Murray whom we helped. After being treated by nearly 40 doctors and enduring dozens of hospital visits, she was still so sick that she would often cough all night until she vomited.

On the recommendation of one very wise doctor, Scott Kay, MD, we were hired and, within one hour in her house, and after a 30-minute repair, she was able to return to her home with no irritation or adverse health reaction. Although another hidden problem appeared a few months later, which we also found and helped solve, she has been healthy ever since. It has now been several years, and she has been 100% symptom-free.

Normal families without major illness are under more and more pressure every day. Families with someone suffering from respiratory illnesses, allergies, asthma or some other symptom of a sick indoor environment often crumble under the weight and stress. When we find a hidden problem lurking inside their walls, and the problem is corrected, most people gain dramatic relief from their symptoms.

When we heal a sick home, and just one person is healed, the whole family often heals. This was the purpose of Lab Results, and it’s the ongoing purpose of 1-800-GOT-MOLD?. Our company grows and evolves by the day, but our mission and purpose remains the same.

If you feel that your home or workplace is contributing to health problems in you or those you care about, you have an obligation to investigate the problem. We are here to make that process as easy and painless as possible.

We are available at 1-800-GOT-MOLD? (1-800-468-6653) to answer any questions you may have.

Kindest regards,

Jason Earle

Founder

Lab Results LLC

1-800-GOT-MOLD? LLC

Princeton, New Jersey

As a long time allergy sufferer, with severe reactions to mold and mildew, and five years of allergy shots which only partially cured the problem, I was horrified to smell that “musty” smell in two places in my home. So I went searching for a specialist and found Jason and Oreo online. As a dog lover who understands how perceptive animals can be, Oreo’s skills made perfect sense to me. I called Jason and got an appointment right away.

Jason spent a good deal of time going around and through my house and pointing out how to minimize mold accumulation and sources of poor indoor air quality in spots like the basement (Example: my central vacuum exhausts unfiltered, particle-laden air into my basement instead of exhausting outdoors. This dirty air, and all that comes with it, is reintroduced into the rest of the house through the air ducts and furnace – located only 10 feet away from the central vacuum exhaust – Yuck!).

Then Oreo got to do her thing. It’s wonderful to watch her work. After sniffing, sitting, and pointing out exactly where she smelled mold, Jason investigated what might be causing the mold with moisture meters and other tools. I found that the places that I was worried about were not really a problem, but that I had several OTHER problems brewing that could become huge mold issues. Oreo pointed to the bottom of the window in my bedroom, which is right next to the chimney for the fireplace in the living room below. Jason speculated that there may be a leak around the chimney. After he left, I took out the window screen, stuck my head out, and there it was….a crack in the caulking, and some rotting cedar siding right next to it.

Before leaving, Jason recommended further investigation, testing and analysis of the areas he & Oreo discovered but because I chose not to pursue professional mold removal at this time, I opted not to make the additional investment that day. It was simply enough for me to confirm my suspicions: I have a mold problem – several actually. When I am prepared to remedy the situation I will most certainly call Jason back to help design the solution and guide me through the process. Since he does not perform repairs or remediation, I am comforted in knowing that his recommendations and guidance will be free of conflicts-of-interest and ulterior motives.

I’d recommend this team to anyone who even THINKS they have a problem with mold in their home.

Margie Flagg
Stockton, NJ

I am writing you in hopes that this information may rescue one of your patients, as it did mine.

I am an otolaryngologist who had the pleasure of taking care of a blonde haired, blue eyed, beautiful 5-year-old little girl who was constantly sick. She had a severe upper respiratory infection, pansinusitis and asthma. At some point, her mother came to the realization that she might be allergic to something in the house that they were living in. She made the dramatic decision to move out of the house.

They lived with the grandfather for a short period of time, and during that time, the child did remarkably well. Her sinusitis and asthma cleared. Her parents bought a brand new house, which they built themselves. Within weeks of moving into the new house, the little girl began to develop the same symptoms all over again. Her mother became frantic and desperate, not knowing what the problem was this time.

I had heard about Oreo, the mold-sniffing dog on television, and given the prior history, I thought it might be a good idea for her to seek out this form of investigation. Little did I know, Oreo and his owner, Jason Earle, were located in my own town of Princeton, New Jersey? When Jason showed up with his dog, he identified a stairway that had been built with mold-infested wood. Once this was removed, the little girl’s health was restored.

This whole thing sounds too good to be true, but I can assure you that this is exactly what happened. It may be hard to identify your patient who would benefit from this type of service, but indoor mold growth should always be a consideration in the workup of chronic upper respiratory tract infections and chronic illness that does not have an apparent cause or remedy.

Respecfully,
Scott L. Kay, M.D., F.A.C.S.

We just received your report on our complimentary canine-assisted mold inspection performed on June 25th, 2003. It was thorough and written in an easy-to-understand (non “moldspeak”) format.

Our district is very appreciative of this valuable service you provided for us. The information confirmed some suspected problems as well as alerted us to some possible problems that we were not aware. Our board is appreciative of the adage “Penny-wise and pound-foolish” as we operate under a very tight budget. Mold can be one of those issues that “grows”(pardon the pun) when not addressed and your service allowed us to be proactive, both fiscally and health wise, since providing for the well-being of our students and staff is our greatest priority.

I want to compliment you on the personable service you provide. Your enthusiasm for your work and your “workmate”, Oreo, were inspirational. Also appreciated was your willingness to take the time to review each item and provide an explanation of each finding with possible causes and suggestions for remediation.

I have been in contact with various media sources that have or will be publishing articles. Feel free to utilize me as a reference for other schools in the area (Just be aware that I have limited support staff so my time is limited.)

I wish you good luck in your future endeavors.

Sincerely
Suzane Ivans, CSA
Stockton Borough School District

It’s been a year or so since you and your wonderful dog came and worked in our home. As you know our 1 1/2 year old son, Kainoa, was suffering from chronic colds which often led to respiratory distress. Our doctor at the time was somewhat stumped but she recommended we check the air quality in his room. Only a few days after we hired you, and during your first visit, you located and pinpointed the cause of Kainoa’s problem, MOLD! All of your testing was clear and concise, fast and painless. Not only did you quickly locate the problems, but you also recommended some quick cost effective solutions such as the IQAir air purifiers. Since we were renting our apartment and could not do the necessary remediation it was extremely important that we were able to do something immediately to improve my family’s health and give us peace-of-mind.

I just wanted to update you on how we’re doing now. Kainoa is 100% better. He no longer gets a monthly cold that grows into a wheezing cough. I can’t express how happy that makes us. You have made an invaluable difference in my family’s life.

Thank You,
Anthony Ruivivar
Actor, TV series “Third Watch”

I am writing you this letter to express how much I appreciate your personal attention and the fantastic service your company provides.

After suffering from chronic sinus infections and difficulty breathing for far too long, I finally went to Wellington Tichenor M.D., a well-known and highly-regarded sinus & allergy specialist on Park Avenue. He immediately suspected that I might have a mold problem at home. He gave me your phone number and insisted that I call you to have you come to my apartment to check it for mold.

I had read about major mold problems like the one Bianca Jagger had. Naturally, I was scared of what you would find and how much everything would cost. The second I met you, however, you put me at ease. You patiently took the time to explain everything to me and made a very complex subject simple and easy-to-understand.

Your four-legged partner, Oreo, is so magical. To see her work is such an absolutely amazing thing. She immediately targeted places I knew were a problem, confirming my suspicions and, at the same time, giving me great confidence in the two of you. Oreo also found several areas that I would have never found. I cannot imagine getting a mold inspection done without the assistance of a Mold Dog after seeing you and Oreo at work.

Even though I have to change the filters more than I would like to, I am quite grateful for the IQAir air purifiers which have helped me breathe more easily while negotiating with building management to get the mold remediation and repairs done in my apartment.

Please use me as a reference for your potential customers that are considering whether or not to use your service. I know firsthand how scary it can be. I also know firsthand how wonderful you are.

Say hello to Oreo for me.

Sincerely,
Louise Lasser
Actress, TV show “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman”
Manhattan, NY

Our family had a nightmare mold problem (like you would see on 60 Minutes) and we had to move out of our house and live with my parents for a year. Our daughter, then 3 1/2, had been chronically ill for 2 1/2 years. Up to that point, hundreds of tests on our daughter brought no answers. Instead of dissecting Caitlin, we should have ripped apart our house. I was dismissed by more than 40 doctors every time I brought up the possibility of an environmental problem. I only wish I had met Jason and Oreo back then. It would have saved so many headaches – mostly my daughter’s. Fortunately I took Caitlin to Dr. Kay for her untreated, horrid sinus infections. He noted that a trigger like mold can do such damage, especially if a person is allergic.

After a full year of 100% perfect health, our brand new house was built and we moved out of my parent’s home. To my horror, Caitlin’s problems started again. After a near nervous breakdown and six months into the new house, I found Jason Earle and Oreo. Dr. Kay mentioned that he had seen a mold-sniffing dog on Channel 6 Action News but he didn’t know anything about him (yet). We tracked them down and got their number through the internet. I called him immediately and left a message.

Jason called me back immediately. He gave me about 30 minutes of his time listening intently. He gave me websites to download mold related information from medical journals, the EPA and the Mayo Clinic. All of this was very informative. We scheduled an appointment for 4 days later. My skeptical husband was fine with Jason & Oreo because “dogs don’t lie” and Jason does not work for a remediation company. Thus he has no reason to sucker us into unnecessary work and/or payments.

Jason was on-time and extremely professional. It was incredible to be validated by someone so knowledgeable. He took copious notes as we walked together though my home. Then he and Oreo went though all 7000 square feet of our home. He spent another hour showing me areas of concern.

Unfortunately, our new basement stairs were held up with moldy lumber. I had walked past it countless times and never noticed. It was so black with mold that I actually thought it had been painted black. He gave me thorough instructions on how to remove it. In addition he sent a timely letter reiterating this information.

Caitlin’s health dramatically improved immediately.

Then, three months later, out of nowhere, her respiratory nightmare suddenly resurfaced.

At or around the same time of her newest flare-up, during a severe rain storm I noticed a pinging sound in our chimney and also noticed that the surrounding carpet was damp.

I panicked and called Jason immediately, even before calling my husband. Not sure if this new problem might be a trigger for her recent relapse, I felt it imperative to investigate it immediately without any further delay.

Jason & Oreo arrived within hours like a knight in shining armor to confirm my suspicion and determine the solution. Oreo alerted on the sheetrock surrounding the fireplace and the carpet. Jason isolated a roof leak, specifically a flashing problem around the chimney. Our roofer confirmed Jason’s diagnosis and made the necessary repairs to prevent a recurrence. The affected carpet and drywall was removed by professionals. The carpet crew later told me that they were out of work for two days with headaches and nausea from the mold exposure. I think they, like most people, underestimated the possible adverse health effects of mold exposure and will probably take further precautions when dealing with similar situations in the future.

Nobody is happy to have a mold problem in their home – especially not two. I was, however, relieved to isolate the source of Caitlin’s illness and ailments and to be able to rectify and remove it to restore my daughter’s health and, at the same time, heal our family.

We chose to do the remaining mold remediation ourselves for several reasons. Although it prolonged the process and was not the ideal choice, my husband Brad took care of it while Caitlin and I moved out of the house for a few weeks. We took the opportunity to fly to the Mayo Clinic where they evaluated Caitlin. The doctors there verified her mold-triggered asthmatic condition. At the writing of this letter, Caitlin has been 100% symptom-free for 2 years.

Prior to meeting Jason and Oreo, I had been so traumatized by the fears surrounding Caitlin’s health that I was ready to seek therapy. I was so paralyzed by my own fears and feelings of inadequacy as a mother because of my inability to help my baby girl that I felt like I was truly losing my mind. And this is coming from a certified Master of Social Work (MSW); skilled and trained in stress management techniques and strategies.

My gut feeling was that there was some environmental trigger that was the underlying cause of her illness and no one was able to confirm that and provide a final solution until we hired Jason Earle, Oreo and Lab Results (now 1-800-GOT-MOLD?) to do what they do best.

I now know what we are dealing with. I am so thankful to have found Jason and Oreo. If you are reading this and contemplating hiring 1-800-GOT-MOLD?, take it from me – it is worth every penny to know that your family is safe and healthy in your home.

Respectfully,
Jill Murray
Pennington NJ