AI Damage Analyzer

No. This is a visual triage tool that identifies visible patterns in your photos and produces a structured next-step plan. It does not replace a professional inspection, moisture survey, mold test, or structural assessment.

It can identify visible spotting, staining, and discoloration patterns consistent with possible mold growth — but it cannot confirm mold species, distinguish mold from dirt or mineral deposit in many photos, or detect mold hidden behind walls. Surface testing or air sampling is required for confirmation.

For visible signs (staining, bubbling paint, warping, water lines, active moisture, spotting) accuracy is typically high when photos are well lit and include both wide context and close-up detail. For hidden moisture inside walls, sub-floors, or insulation, photos cannot detect anything — you need a moisture meter and infrared camera on-site.

This report is a documentation aid, not a claims determination. It can help you organize evidence, capture the right photos, and prepare questions for your adjuster — but it is not a substitute for an adjuster inspection or a certified damage assessment. Insurance carriers make coverage decisions based on policy language and field findings.

Start with one wide shot of the full room, one mid shot showing where damage sits in context, and one close-up of the worst area. If the source is visible and safe to photograph (the leaking fixture, the pipe, the open ceiling), add a fourth image of the source area. Better lighting and context improve AI confidence more than more photos do.

EPA and CDC guidance say mold can begin colonizing damp porous materials within 24 to 48 hours of water exposure. The AI Damage Analyzer surfaces a live mold-prevention window countdown based on the time since your event so you know whether you are still inside the prevention window or planning for remediation.

No. Visual color is not a reliable indicator of mold species — many non-toxic molds appear dark, and Stachybotrys chartarum (the species commonly called "black mold") cannot be confirmed without lab testing. The AI will flag visible spotting consistent with possible mold but will never name a species from a photo.

IICRC S500 (the industry standard for professional water damage restoration) classifies water by contamination level: Category 1 is clean water from a sanitary source; Category 2 is grey water that may contain contaminants; Category 3 is black water that is grossly contaminated (sewage, flood water, water sitting longer than 48–72 hours). The category drives PPE, demolition decisions, and reusable-vs-disposable scope.

CDC guidance recommends against unprotected DIY cleanup of sewage or flood water because of bacteria, viruses, parasites, and chemical contaminants. If you must enter the area, wear waterproof boots, gloves, eye protection, and an N95 respirator at minimum. The AI Damage Analyzer fires a deterministic contaminated-water safety flag when you select sewage or flood water as the source.

Images are sent to the Anthropic API for analysis and are not stored on Palm Build servers after the analysis completes. Past-analysis history (headlines and small thumbnails) is stored in your browser localStorage only — never uploaded to our servers. Anthropic states that API inputs and outputs are automatically deleted within 30 days.

When you tell the tool how long ago the water event happened, we map that to the EPA 24–48 hour mold-prevention window and show a live ticking countdown of how much of the window remains. The countdown turns amber when you are inside the second half and red when the window has been breached.

Yes. Every Palm Build tool is designed to produce a polished PDF and an email-friendly summary so you can share it with a spouse, landlord, property manager, insurer, or adjuster.