NYS Licensed Mold Assessor Chris Long

Independent Mold Assessment and Moisture Investigation

Chris Long of Longs GCS LLC, Mohegan Lake NY, is a New York State licensed mold assessor serving Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland and Orange Counties in New York and Fairfield County, CT. He documents what can be seen, finds the moisture behind it, and tells you plainly what an assessment can and cannot establish.

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What Is a Mold Assessment?

NYS Licensed Mold Assessor Chris Long performs every assessment. A mold assessment is an inspection and moisture investigation by a New York State licensed mold assessor. It documents visible growth and the conditions and moisture sources that support it, takes samples where they add real information, and produces a written report and, where remediation is needed, a remediation plan.

Learn More Facts About Mold from the CDC
Mold assessment by Longs GCS in the Lower Hudson Valley
Mold assessment by Longs GCS in the Lower Hudson Valley

Why You Need Our Mold Assessment Service

Mold can grow silently in walls, basements, or ceilings. It is often triggered by moisture, leaks, or poor ventilation. Common signs you may need a mold assessment:

  • Musty or earthy odors in your home
  • Recent water damage or flooding
  • Visible mold spots on walls or ceilings
  • Allergy-like symptoms (coughing, sneezing, headaches)
  • Respiratory issues, especially in children or seniors

Not sure? An assessment documents what is visible and the moisture conditions behind it. Symptoms alone do not show that mold is the cause; for health questions, see your physician.

Mold assessment by Longs GCS in the Lower Hudson Valley
photo of mold. this property is in need of home inspection services in NY or CT

What a Mold Assessment Includes

Each assessment is personalized. The written report typically arrives within 24 hours.

1. The assessment. A visual inspection of accessible areas plus moisture meter readings and, where available, thermal and humidity readings.

2. Moisture investigation. Finding the water source, because mold is a symptom of a water problem. Fixing the water is what keeps mold from coming back.

3. Sampling when appropriate. Air or surface samples go to an independent lab only when a sample will answer a real question. A sample shows one place at one moment in time, not the whole building.

4. Remediation planning. Where remediation is needed, a written scope that a licensed remediation contractor works from.

5. Independent follow-up. Post-remediation verification by the assessor. Under New York State mold licensing rules (Labor Law Article 32), the assessor who writes the plan may not perform the remediation on the same property. That is your benefit: nobody is diagnosing a problem they get paid to fix.

What an assessment can and cannot establish

  • It covers readily accessible areas. Areas blocked by storage, finished surfaces, standing water or unsafe access are reported as not assessed, not as clear.
  • Nothing is opened or dismantled. Where the evidence points behind a surface, the report says what is suspected and what step would confirm it.
  • A sample describes one location at one moment in time. A clean sample does not prove a building is mold-free.

Questions, or ready to schedule? Call (914) 260-8571 or book online.

Mold assessment by Longs GCS LLC in Westchester County, NY

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Frequently Asked Questions About Mold Assessments

A visual inspection of accessible areas, moisture meter readings and, where available, thermal and humidity readings, and a search for the water source behind any growth. Air or surface samples go to an independent lab only when a sample will answer a real question. You receive a written report and, where remediation is needed, a remediation plan. It can be booked alongside a home inspection.
Consider one if the house has a water history, a musty odor, visible staining or past flooding, or if something in the basement or attic raises a question before closing. Mold is a symptom of a water problem, so finding the moisture source is the useful part. Allergy-like symptoms alone do not show that mold is the cause.
Not directly. An assessment is visual and non-invasive, so growth behind finished surfaces cannot be seen, and nothing is dismantled or cut open. Moisture meters, humidity readings and knowledge of how water moves in a building locate wet materials and the conditions that support growth. Where the evidence points behind a surface, the report says what is suspected, what it is based on, and what invasive step, such as a contractor opening a small area, would be needed to confirm it.
The written report documents what was inspected, the moisture readings, the conditions and likely moisture sources found, any sample results, areas that could not be assessed, and next steps, including a remediation plan where remediation is needed. It typically arrives within 24 hours.
Sampling is worth it when a result will answer a specific question, such as whether a suspect surface is mold. It is not routine. A sample describes one location at one moment in time. It cannot show how long growth has been there, and a clean sample does not prove a building is mold-free.
Under New York State mold licensing rules (Labor Law Article 32), a licensed mold assessor writes the assessment and the remediation plan and may not also perform the remediation on the same property. That keeps the assessment independent: nobody is diagnosing a problem they get paid to fix. You take the plan to a licensed remediation contractor.
When the contractor finishes, the assessor returns to verify the work against the plan, which can include a visual check and, where the plan calls for it, post-remediation sampling. Because the assessor did not do the work, the verification is independent of the contractor.
It cannot establish how long growth has been present, or whether anyone’s symptoms are caused by mold; that is a physician’s call. It also cannot establish what is behind a surface that was not opened. Areas that could not be reached are reported as not assessed, not as clear.

Where Moisture Problems Find Us

Flood-tested towns keep our moisture meters busy: Elmsford along the Saw Mill River, Mamaroneck with its two rivers, Scarborough basements on the Hudson slope, and Blooming Grove near Moodna Creek. Wherever you are in our service area, a musty basement is worth a look before you buy.

Related reading: Attic Mold in Westchester Homes: What Buyers Should Know.