Mould detection / removal in Melbourne?

Hi, I suspect that we have mould in our property in Melbourne, but have not been able to detect it visually. Can anyone here recommend a good mould detection / removal expert in Melbourne (we're in Fitzroy North)? Thanks!

 

I suppose the first question is that if you cannot see it visually how do you know you might have mould? If your answer contains the word ‘smell’ are you sure it’s not just a musty smell? Depending on where it is coming from, it might be due to a small roof leak or plumbing leak?

 

Get one of these beasts - (and preferably connected to someone who knows how to use it and diagnose the problem/cause) - Linky

 

Thanks for the clarifying question. The answer is that we don't know if it's mould, but we've been struggling to identify the source of the smell for 5 months now and I've had a building inspector, plumber, and electrician through to take a look - all with no success.

The bottom line is that for all that time the room has been unusable, and my wife and I get headachy if we've been in there for ever a few hours at a time. It's both a smell - dank and acrid - and also a feeling, liking being in a cave you shouldn't be in. It comes and goes, but is often there and seems to increase if there's been wind and rain recently.

What I suspect is that there is mould in a sealed-over fireplace that has improperly done without a vent in the chimney breast and without a vent in the top, but really I have no idea.

Really I just need a professional to come and tell me, conclusively, what the problem is and how to fix it.

 

Sounds like you need an exorcism

 

Agreed. Can you recommend anyone?

 

I think the Catholic Church has a number of priests that specialise in this sort of thing.

 

Hi Fortune

I’m not sure why people are treating it as a joke - mould can be a serious health hazard.

I had an issue with mould in the south-facing room of an old ex-housing commission house with concrete walls. It smelled too.

In a really air tight house you can get ‘sick building syndrome’ where condensation gets into the walls or roof space but can’t escape if non-permeable building wrap has been used - this leads to mould inside the walls.

There are a number of mould removal companies in Melbourne. Unfortunately, I haven’t used any of them. You could try calling your Council’s environmental health department and see if they have any recommendations.

 

Here’s a bit of information and a reference to an Australian guide. According to the linked Choice article, a professional mould removal company should be certified as such.

Black mould and renters' rights

 

It sounds to me like there is a substantial mould and odour issue. Detection can initially be achieved by using a moisture meter throughout the home with an alarm going off when above industry standards of moisture are present.
If the mould / odour is in a hidden away cavity or area it needs to be gassed using Chlorine Dioxide (CLO2) with a GITA (GAS INFUSED TECHNICAL APPARATUS) for up to 8 hours.
Any reputable mould remediator should have this technology. I have been doing this for over 10 years now coupled with carpet and upholstery cleaning.
Google Chlorine Dioxide (CLO2) remarkable stuff! Nothing beats it!
Don't expect it to be cheap however.

 

Try spraying this. I had mould in a bathroom and it seriously got rid of the mould in around 30 seconds! I was very pleasantly amazed. I actually thought I'd need to repaint the room.

 

That's not going to fix the problem in this case. OP needs a builder to find out what is wrong with the house, fix it, dry the house out, fix the mould.

 

Find a good builder to explore any water ingress or leaks, especially relavent to wet weather times. He can look at chimney to ease your mind, and also ventilate it if need be, if there is no aerated cap on top of the chimney, it will let in rain and in turn cause mould. It does sound like mould is the issue as your health is being affected. This should be resolved immediately. The best method to clean, eliminate and guarantee mould is gone is by using a company that fumigates with Stabelised Chlorine Dioxide.

 

Not all mould is visible, and it can cause serious health issues!!

You could do a google search for an occupational hygienist or environmental health and safety professional.

Some good places to check for visible mould that might be hidden:

• Opposite side of dry walls, wallpaper or panelling. Inside walls it often found around pipes that are leaking or condensing and drains.
• Roof materials above ceiling tiles (due to leaks or insufficient insulation) – cement roof tiles may lose their outer glaze and absorb moisture into roof spaces. Moisture in roof spaces accumulate, particularly if moist air is vented into the roof space but not allowed to escape
• The underside of carpets and pads, or curtains
• Condensate drain pans inside air handling units
• Porous thermal or acoustic liners inside ductwork

It sounds to me that you definitely have some sort of Indoor Air Quality issue, and might need some sort of air purifying or filtering and dehumidification.

 

Hey guys, late to the party! but here it goes;
If you have *had* mould growing in your house it probably started from your roof as water could have been leaking through it and then going on your ceiling.

I hope you did get it fixed as it's been a *few* years now since this post was created.
There's a few factors to take in consideration when you have moss growing on your roof.
what's causing it to grow? identifying whether it's moss, lichen or mould and lastly what type of roof is it? as different types get cleaned differently.
You could do it yourself however don't forget you could actually damage your roof if you're not too sure on what you're doing.
Generally speaking professionals would use chemicals mixed with water, obviously depending on what it is that you're trying to get rid of. If you're doing it yourself make sure you don't spill it anywhere you don't want it to go as it can damage your lawn/landscape.
After you’ve cleaned your roof (although i’d suggest getting it done by a professional) make sure you get your roof cleaned every three to five years depending on where your home is situated and how bad the weather/temperatures and moisture is. If there’s warping or cracking after cleaning the roof make sure you get that fixed ASAP as that’s actually not good for your health and whoever is living in the same house. Plus when it rains water will leak into your roof causing more moisture and damage and therefore speeding up the process of Mould growth and other fungis.

I’ve found and read this information on an Australian blog on a website, but the general knowledge applies worldwide i’d say.

If you want to have an in-depth read, check it out here : Lichen, Mould and Moss On Roofs - What It Is & How It Affects Your Home