Mold

A laboratory report gives spore counts and genera, not a verdict. How to read one by water activity and outdoor control, with Florida reference numbers.

A musty smell with no visible source is a reason to start looking for water, not a diagnosis. Where hidden moisture sits in a Florida home, and what MVOC testing can and cannot establish.

Colour does not identify mold species, and the CDC says knowing the species is not required for cleanup. What actually signals a problem is the condition around the growth, not the stain itself.

The EPA defines mildew as a kind of mold rather than a separate organism. What decides the scope of the work is the material, the affected area, and whether the growth returns.

When to clean mold yourself and when to call a specialist, explained by the EPA’s 10-square-foot rule: the exact dividing line, how to clean small patches safely, when a job needs a pro, and why humid Florida crosses that line faster.