Mold Inspection in Metairie, LA

Triggers that bring Metairie homeowners in

• Post-Katrina / post-Ida recheck. Property came through a storm event, rebuild done at the time, now smelling musty or seeing spotting years later. Very common baseline call across Old Metairie, Bucktown, Lakeview.
• Real-estate contingency. Buyer's home inspector flagged moisture readings or visible growth; scope needs documentation before closing.
• Insurance-carrier request. Adjuster wants independent moisture assessment before authorizing coverage.
• Slab-leak suspicion. Metairie slabs on saturated soil. Any subtle floor warmth, damp baseboards, or elevated water bill triggers a check.
• Landlord/tenant dispute. Tenant complaint about health symptoms or visible growth; landlord needs independent documentation before any repair decision.
• Attorney-referred inspection. Documented, defensible sampling and chain-of-custody for litigation support.

What the inspection covers — on-site protocol

Standard residential mold inspection runs 90–180 minutes on-site plus report time. The technician runs:

1. Homeowner interview. What you're noticing, when it started, what the property's storm history looks like, HVAC age and service history.
2. Systematic walk. Every conditioned space: bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, laundry, HVAC closet, attic access, slab edges, exterior wall bases.
3. Moisture mapping. Pinless meter readings on every suspect wall, floor edge, plumbing chase, and HVAC closet floor.
4. Thermal imaging. Infrared scans on exterior walls, plumbing chases, HVAC returns, along baseboards where flood history is known.
5. Slab-edge check. Metairie-specific: readings along the perimeter at floor level, looking for slab-edge moisture intrusion.
6. Attic access if safe. Deck sheathing visual + moisture reading, ridge and soffit vent condition, HVAC supply-plenum check.
7. Sampling based on findings. Air cassettes if HVAC involvement suspected; surface tape lift for visible growth ID; bulk if material salvage/removal decision hangs on it.
8. Verbal walkthrough. Before we leave, homeowner hears what was found and likely next step.

Sample types and when each fits

What each sample type tells you about a Metairie property.

Sample type	What it measures	Typical Metairie use
Air (cassette)	Spore count in ambient air, indoor vs outdoor comparison	HVAC involvement question; whole-house exposure claim; post-remediation clearance
Surface tape lift	Genus/species ID of visible growth	Confirming what a wall stain actually is; insurance documentation
Bulk material	Extent inside a specific piece of drywall or insulation	Salvage vs remove decision on a boundary material
Swab	Same purpose as tape lift, for non-flat surfaces	Grout, tile edges, HVAC coils

Most residential inspections take 0–3 air samples + 0–3 surface samples. Storm-legacy scopes and HVAC-borne suspicions often take more.

The Metairie storm-history extension

For properties with documented Katrina, Ida, or intervening tropical-event water damage, the standard inspection is extended:

• Extra readings at every previously-affected wall, going higher up the elevation than the recorded flood line
• Subfloor humidity data-logger placed for 24–72 hours
• HVAC coil visual + swab default rather than optional
• Air samples in every conditioned zone, not just the affected zone (because HVAC redistributes)

Extension is priced separately — flagged during phone intake if storm history is mentioned.

What's in the written report

• Property overview — address, date, technician, ambient conditions during inspection (temperature and humidity affect meter readings)
• Room-by-room findings — what was observed, what was measured, photographs
• Moisture map — floor plan sketch or annotated diagram with meter readings
• Thermal images with interpretation notes where thermal added information
• Sample results (independent lab, 3–5 business days)
• Recommended next steps (scope described but not priced — that's a separate quote so the inspection stays independent)
• Photographs (wide + close-up) of every observation of concern

What a Metairie inspection costs

Standard residential inspections $300–$650 depending on square footage, sample count, and whether attic or crawl-space access needs confined-space PPE. Add-ons:

• Air sample (with lab): $50–$100 each
• Surface sample (with lab): $40–$80 each
• Storm-history extension (moisture data-logger + expanded sampling): $150–$300
• Attic entry with PPE: $75–$150
• Post-remediation clearance only (no full inspection): $200–$450

The inspection fee is paid whether or not remediation follows — that's how the report stays independent. If the property shows no active moisture and no visible growth, the report says so.

Frequently asked questions

My property came through Katrina "dry" — is there anything to inspect?

Depends on whether the rebuild involved wall openings for drying, HVAC decontamination, and sill-plate documentation. If the rebuild was cosmetic (drywall replaced without full cavity dry-out), residual moisture can drive slow-growing colonies visible only years later. If you're smelling anything musty in 2026, the inspection is cheap insurance.

Should I do a home test kit first?

Home test kits confirm spores are present, which they always are in coastal Louisiana — indoors and outdoors. They don't identify source, extent, or HVAC involvement. Fine for curiosity, not for a remediation decision or an insurance file.

Will you find growth that's hidden inside walls?

Sometimes, via moisture mapping and thermal imaging that identify wet or previously-wet cavities. Confirming actual growth behind a wall requires a small inspection opening or a bore-scope camera — discussed and approved before any opening is made.

How long is the report valid?

Conditions can change (new leak, new storm), but the report is a dated snapshot. Real-estate transactions typically accept 60–90 days. Insurance claim files typically want a report from the current claim window.

Do you serve New Orleans and the West Bank too?

Yes. Metairie primary, but Lakeview, Mid-City, Uptown, Garden District, and West Bank (Gretna, Marrero, Terrytown) are routine. Response time is faster inside Jefferson Parish; we still take Orleans Parish work.

Can the same firm do the remediation later?

Yes. Some homeowners prefer separate firms for independence; others prefer one-stop. Both are fine. If you want an independent inspection with a different remediator later, the report hands off cleanly.