Hey mold guy! Can plaster get mold?

[CANative]

LOL.. Sorry. I couldn't remember your name.

I am involved in a review assignment that includes an interior inspection of the subject. The report is a huge lie and the property is overvalued by more than $100,000.

But here is what I was wondering. The upstairs has plaster walls, probably new plaster. It doesn't appear as though it has been painted. It seems kind of "pourous" or rough or little tiny holes or something. Standing back a few feet it looks "dirty" but getting up close the "dirt" is really tiny little dots about half the size of a pencil point. Some are black, some are brownish and some are kind of greenish. Could this be mold or fungus?

Here's a picture but it doesn't show much. The lying homeowner was shagging my every step and I had to be careful about taking pictures. The photo shows a large area of unifnished work but look at the left side and upper left.

 

[Mr Rex]

Greg, I'm not a mold guy, but mold/fungi can grow anywhere there is organic matter for it to feed on. The dust on the wall or in pores etc can grow it and most likely if there are any organic materials in the plaster itself, it could support fungal growth if the conditions are right, which is basically high enough moisture levels.

 

[JRS at OBX]

Yes, mold can grow on plaster. I'm not the mold guy but I did take several mold classes with my former job. (I'm an insurance adjuster in recovery)

Oh yeah, I'm not a mold expert and I did NOT stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

 

[Greg Bell]

In Kansas it's everywhere.Heck , it's great food source.Squirt some bleach on it and listen for the screams..

 

[Jeff Squire]

I don't like to use the "M" word. Not qualified. Not a scientist. Don't know the difference between fungus and seaweed.
I also took some seminars, and learned that I don't know anything.
I just submit pictures, and call for an expert opinion.

 

[CANative]

I don't know anything either. But I don't want to call for a $900 inspection only to be called a dumba$$ because everyone else knows "Venetian" plaster looks dirty and has areas of little dots all over it.

 

[Jeff Squire]

Venetian plaster? Know your talking about something I'm VERY familiar with.
Ole... sol... la.... miaaaaa.......

 

[Ross (CO)]

Just trying to figure.....why the possible m-stuff on the one wall area and not on the other near that corner where they meet ?

Could this be the visual appearance of a wall which saw some heavy-duty scrubbing with an aggressive cleaning product......like maybe some over-splash at the top of the discoloration ? Is this in a child's room ? Is there a bathroom on opposite side of wall, or above ?

I guess one has to see it directly to know better.

 

[CANative]

It's all over the upper floor of the house. It's not an obvious mold problem. The walls just look dirty and when you look at them up close you notice that it is thousand of little "specks" of assorted colors.

This guy bought the house 3 months ago for $425k (per the report I'm reviewing and now is supposedly selling it to a family member) and has remodeled it and added 1,000 square feet underneath. Very high quality kitchen and bath stuff (granite, travertine, etc,). But it was all done without permits, the lower area is just drywall which has been taped and textured but not painted. The report states bamboo flooring but it is just laminate flooring with a bamboo pattern. The report states a permit was not needed because it is all within the exterior walls. This is true for the PUD's archtectural committee but you positively must have a permit from the county. The report states all workmanship is of the "utmost" quality and professionalism but it looks like something I would have done. It's very amateurish. Things like door trim that has been gouged out to to make room for a light switch, areas of unfinished plaster or drywall work in some areas. There is no handrail on the stair case going from the upper level to the lower level and I almost fell down to the bottom floor. The report lists a fireplace but it is just a portable fireplace that plugs in. The garage doesn't even have interior finish.

Even if this was done with the best quality everything and had a sensible floorplan it would only be worth about $550,000. The report has a value of $675,000.

 

[Renee Healion]

I think his name is Caoimhín.

The way you describe it, it sounds like the specks were put in the plaster mix.