MoldHelpUSAWhat mold inspection includes
- The crawl space: vapor barrier, vents, joists, ducts, and soil moisture
- Attic sheathing, roof vents, and where bath fans discharge
- Window sills and the exterior walls beneath them
- Hillside basement walls and drainage on the uphill side
- Indoor humidity, moisture-meter, and thermal readings
- A report naming the source and what needs to change
Mold Inspection in Seattle: local factors
Seattle houses often show mold in several places at once, because the cause is the whole house: damp winter air, too little ventilation, and cold surfaces. An inspection links the spots to their source, so the repair does more than clean them.
What gets checked in a Seattle home
Crawl space. The inspector goes under the house to check the ground cover, standing water, insulation that has fallen from the subfloor, and stains on joists and ducts. Many older homes have not had anyone in the crawl space in years.
Attic. Dark patches on the roof deck, frost or drips on nail tips in cold weather, and fans that end in the attic instead of outside.
Windows and exterior walls. A thermal camera shows the cold spots where condensation forms, and meter readings below the sills show whether water has reached the wall.
Basements on a slope. In hillside neighborhoods like Queen Anne, Magnolia, and West Seattle, the buried uphill wall is read with a meter along its full length, and the inspector looks at how water is routed around that side of the house.
Signs it is time to book
- A musty smell that comes back each fall when the heat goes on; see what a musty smell means.
- Black spots that return on the same walls or sills every winter.
- Before buying an older house with a crawl space or a finished basement.
- After a leak that stayed wet for more than a day or two.
Choosing an inspector in Washington
Washington licenses home inspectors through the Department of Licensing, but there is no separate license for mold inspection. Ask for training such as ACAC or IICRC certification, proof of insurance, and a sample report, and ask whether the firm also sells remediation. An inspector with nothing to sell afterward gives you the plainest answer.
Price
Angi's national figures put a mold inspection at about $300 to $1,000; a crawl space, an attic, and lab samples in one visit move it toward the top. For lab work alone, see mold testing in Seattle, and for the removal, mold remediation in Seattle.
Scheduling
Mention roughly when the house was built, whether it has a crawl space or basement, and where the problem appears. The company on the line will price the visit, and there is no charge for calling.
Mold Inspection cost in Seattle
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Mold inspection, national (Angi) | $300–$1,000 |
| Lab sample, each, national (HomeGuide) | $50–$350 |
Licensing for mold inspection in Seattle
Washington has no mold inspector license. Ask a Seattle inspector for training, insurance, a sample report, and whether the company also sells remediation.