It took 12 hours, but an inspector went through all five of the new homes in Wheatland Monday to test for mold.

Gary Gazda of HomeSure Home Inspections and Environmental Services, Baden, said the samples were sent to a laboratory and could be back as soon as late this week.

"Everything went pretty well and everyone was pretty amiable," Gazda said.

Gazda was hired by the Woodland Avenue homeowners, but developer Community Homebuyers Inc., a nonprofit affiliate of Mercer County Housing Authority, is paying his bill.

Mold was visible in all five houses.

"I can safely say we have areas of (mold) growth," Gazda said. "There was a good amount of growth."

One house had much less visible mold, Gazda said. Not all mold is visible and air test samples will better show the extent of mold in that house, said Gazda, declining to specify the house.

Gazda said he surveyed all levels of the houses and, although he did not cut into any walls to check behind them, there was access in some of the bathrooms through a panel, and he was able to see mold and take samples, he said.

Gazda had tested one house in February and since then mold has "visibly expanded," he said.

The inspector added there was a "tremendous" amount of water on the site.

"It was amazing to see the discharge from the sump pumps," he said. "They've got to take care of that or it will continue to spread."

Constant moisture promotes mold growth in cellulose building materials, such as drywall and wallpaper, he said.

CHI has hired an engineering firm to come up with a plan to alleviate the drainage problem, and the plan is being presented to homeowners.

Authority Executive Director L. DeWitt Boosel said he needs more information from the engineering firm and the results of the mold tests before a plan can be set.