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Mold Facts and Choosing a Remediation Company
Specialized equipment - The use of HEPA filtered negative air machines and vacuums are a must. The use of negative air containment is a must.
Biocide - A biocide should be used as part of the CLEANING PROCESS. 95% of Industrial Hygienists I have worked with over the last 15 years recommended a bleach and water solution to be used as a biocide. A biocide is not a cure all. Even if you manage to kill mold and its spores, which require a 12 to 15 minute dwell time in a biocide, the allergens are still present on the mold and its spores. A person could have an immediate reaction to the mold, even if dead. If a trained staff with the proper personal protection equipment performs a thorough cleaning, it does not matter if the mold is dead or alive because it is not there! Don't get fooled into thinking you can spray some chemical and everything is just fine. Other products can be used on items that are otherwise adversely affected by bleach.
Remediation Plan - Ask for the custom remediation plan specifically tailored for your project, not some boiler plated version that someone else typed up and includes on all their estimates. The emphasis should be on cleaning (removal) not just treating.
Encapsulating - An encapsulate should be used on areas where deeply rooted mold has grown on a building material that has been cleaned but the framing cannot be replaced easily such as in the roof or crawl space. It should only be used for small areas and should NEVER be applied throughout entire areas such as attics, inside walls or crawlspaces. An encapsulate can drastically change the dynamics of the building when applied to large areas and cause severe problems such as warping and condensation. Some restoration companies do this on every job. Unfortunately, this is a huge mistake and can cause the property value to drop drastically when discovered by a real estate inspection. Some companies don't clean at all but just cover up active mold. Of course this is not the proper way of performing mold remediation either.
Air Duct Cleaning - The Heating system as well as the air ducts need to be inspected for possible contamination. This type of cleaning is very specialized and the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) produces the only national standards. These guidelines should be followed for proper cleaning.
"Black Mold or Stachybotrys" - Mold comes in all colors. The color does not necessarily indicate it is particularly more dangerous than other colored molds. Black mold is not always the "toxic" mold. Only trained microbiologists or mycologists can identify molds under high powered microscopes. Stachybotrys is a mold that can produce what is called mycotoxins. These mycotoxins are potentially harmful if inhaled or touched with bare skin and can cause all kinds of health problems. There are around thirty or so species of mold that produce this mycotoxin. Stachybotrys is not the most harmful species of mold however, it is well known due to the media and its catchy name. Many governments have used these mycotoxins from mold to create biological weapons and have been in the military's inventory for over twenty years.
How do I know if my house is contaminated? If there is a visual presence of mold growing anywhere in your home, there is a problem and the mold needs to be removed properly. If you see mold growing in your house you should contact a professional to look at the problem. You should be aware that your house could be contaminated but you may not see the mold growing. It could be hidden inside wall cavities, the attic or crawl space. This is another reason to consult a professional.
Mold remediation from a certified company with properly trained staff members and quality equipment does not necessarily have to be expensive. The estimate should not be confusing or vague either. If you are not comfortable with some of the answers you received, get a few more estimates and interview a few more companies, estimates should be free. You should feel comfortable with the people working in your home. If the estimate seams unreasonable, it probably is.
Choosing a remediation company:
Experience - How many projects has the company completed? Get referrals not only from their previous clients but also from other Indoor Air Quality professionals that every good remediation company works with such as Industrial Hygienists, Environmental Engineers, health care professionals and Attorneys specializing in mold litigation.
Insurance coverage from the contractor
I encourage you to check with any companies you are considering to make sure they are properly insured to do mold remediation. A special environmental policy is needed to do this kind of work. If a company without this special insurance causes a problem in your home you are not protected. This special environmental policy is not issued to any company willing to pay the premium but the company has to be approved. Many companies are not approved at any cost.
It is a common practice for clients to ask contractors who are potentially doing work in their property to provide an insurance certificate. We provide insurance certificates almost every day without hesitation. Please call us and we will provide you with our insurance certificate and put you in touch with my agent if you are interested. Also, our insurance coverage is seven million dollars far from the standard minimum policy limits.
Education - Make sure the remediation company is certified thru a nationally recognized NON-PROFIT organization that has been in business longer than five to seven years. Some examples are the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA), Associated Specialist in Cleaning and Restoration (ASCR), American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) or the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygiene (ACGIH). This list of organizations is nationally recognized and has been around for a while. Any other so called mold inspection, testing and remediation certification organizations not listed above may have been formed to add credibility for a profit driven personally owned company. There are literally hundreds out there. Don't be fooled. A two day class is not enough training to properly perform a service that can cause a serious health hazard or potentially be life threatening to it's clients. (Web links are listed below)
Specially Trained Staff - Look for a company who specializes in the indoor air quality field. Companies who offer many services such as water proofing, remodeling, roofing and general contracting usually do not have a designated staff for indoor air quality projects but use their general labor. Their employees could be painting all week but then come to your property to perform mold remediation the next. This type of operation usually does not have a very well trained staff. Would you call an electrician to fix a broken toilet?
If you have any questions feel free to give me a call.
Tom Egan CR, CIE
Certified Restorer
Certified Indoor Environmentalist
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