Mold Testing

We offer no-obligation testing to see whether your home or building is affected by mold, and to establish what species and what concentrations you are dealing with.

Why testing exists — and when it is worth paying for

Testing answers questions that looking cannot. If there is a large patch of visible growth on a basement wall and an obvious water source above it, a lab report will not change the plan: it has to come out either way. But there are situations where testing is the only way forward, and in those cases it is money well spent.

You should test when the problem is invisible, when the extent is unclear, when someone in the building is ill and you need to know what they are breathing, or when you need documentation that will stand up to a landlord, an insurer, a buyer or a court.

The three kinds of samples we take

Air sampling (spore trap)

A calibrated pump draws a measured volume of air across a sticky cassette that captures airborne particles. The lab counts and identifies the spores. Crucially, we always take an outdoor control sample at the same time — outdoor spore counts vary enormously with season and weather, and an indoor number is meaningless without something to compare it to. Indoor counts substantially higher than outdoor, or a species profile that does not match outdoors, indicates an indoor source.

Surface sampling (tape lift and swab)

A clear tape lift or a sterile swab taken directly from the suspect material. This confirms whether the discoloration you are looking at is actually mold — it is sometimes soot, mineral efflorescence, or simply dirt — and identifies the genus. Fast and inexpensive when the question is "what is this?"

Bulk sampling

A physical piece of the affected material sent to the lab. Used where the growth is embedded in porous material and a surface sample would not represent what is actually there.

Post-remediation verification testing

This is the sample that matters most and the one homeowners most often skip. After remediation is finished but before containment comes down, we take clearance air samples inside the work area and compare them against a fresh outdoor control. If the indoor counts are at or below the outdoor baseline and the species profile matches, the area passes and containment comes down. If it does not pass, we go back in and re-clean at our cost, then re-test.

Without a clearance test you have no evidence the work succeeded — only an invoice.

Reading your results without a science degree

Lab reports are dense. Ours come with a plain-English summary that tells you three things: what was found, how the indoor numbers compare to the outdoor control, and what — if anything — you should do about it. We will go through it with you on the phone or in person. Bring questions.

Some context worth knowing: there is no federal or Wisconsin state standard for an "acceptable" indoor mold spore count. Anyone quoting you a legal limit is mistaken. Interpretation is comparative — indoor versus outdoor, affected room versus unaffected room — which is exactly why the control sample is non-negotiable.

Common species we find in Manitowoc County

• Cladosporium — the most common mold worldwide, found on damp window frames, bathroom surfaces and fabric. A frequent allergy trigger.
• Penicillium and Aspergillus — usually reported together. Very common in water-damaged buildings, in HVAC systems and in damp basements.
• Stachybotrys chartarum — the "black mold" of headlines. Needs sustained wetness and grows on cellulose material like drywall paper and wood. Less common than the internet suggests, but a genuine signal of long-term water intrusion.
• Chaetomium — another indicator of chronic moisture, often found alongside Stachybotrys in basements and behind wallpaper.
• Alternaria — common outdoors, and a strong asthma trigger when it establishes indoors around showers and sinks.

Serving Manitowoc County

We provide mold testing throughout Manitowoc, Two Rivers, Mishicot, Kiel, Valders, Reedsville and the surrounding communities. See our full service area, or take a look at recent jobs we have completed nearby.