How To Select A Mold Contractor - Written By Robert York Article

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How To Select A Mold Contractor - Written By Robert York

Mold in the indoor environment can be a major health hazard. If you are the victim of water or mold damage you should consider these factors. First of all determine if you need professional help with your water or mold damage. Clean water if dealt with & dried quickly will not result in mold growth. Left untreated the results can be disastrous. If mold is growing on a shower or counter top a mild detergent is all that is likely required.

Author: Robert York

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However if mold is growing on drywall, plaster, wood or carpet you should consult a professional for advise. Read on for a more detailed guide to dealing with mold remediation firms.

Make certain the contractor is qualified and up to date on current protocols. The contractor should be IICRC certified in Applied Microbial Remediation, licensed if required, should have general liability as well as pollution insurance. (regular liability insurance DOES NOT cover mold) and the contractor should warranty their work for at least 3-5 years. Also the Better Business Bureau is a good resource. There is no shortage of misinformation and bad contractors out there so do your homework.

In the mold remediation business 3rd party air quality specialist known as industrial hygienist should always be hired to guide the process in all but the smallest projects to verify through scientific means that the mold levels have been reduced similar to background levels. All too often the contractor leaves without testing only to find out that the mold was not properly removed, leaving the home owner at risk. Up to a million mold spores can be present on a surface as small as a tack and not be visible to the naked eye (testing is critical!). Next lets discuss the process. The first step should be to develop a remediation plan. Often the hygienist can assist with this.

On every remediation project the work space should be isolated by setting up poly barriers, sealing off critical barriers such as duct work, cracks, windows, holes in the flooring where pipes enter, etc. Next, negative pressure (a vacuum effect in the area) should be established and maintained during remediation work to isolate the work space from the other areas. This prevents mold spores from being sent into unaffected areas. Also air scrubbers which are large HEPA filters should be set up to clean or scrub mold spores from the air.

Porous materials with contamination such as carpet, drywall & insulation should be bagged sealed and disposed of as normal waste in accordance with local regulations. All salvageable framing should be aggressively wire brushed or media blasted followed by a HEPA vacuuming and damp wiping with a mild detergent (soap and water works well). Harsh chemicals ARE NOT NEEDED to clean, treat or remove mold. In fact I would go so far as to say that if a contractor says they will be using bio-cides or antimicrobials to remove mold in your home I would look elsewhere. These are considered pesticides in most states and pose a major risk to occupants and users.

In states such as Maine, remediation contractors must be a licensed master pesticide applicators to apply any disinfectant or antimicrobial agent. Sadly many firms (even large franchises) do not conform to this law. These chemicals can often pose more of a risk than the mold itself. A detergent with good surfactants works best (dawn dish soap, pine sol, etc). It is critical to understand that killing mold is not the objective, removing mold is the objective through aggressive cleaning and good engineering controls.

Disinfectants and antimicrobials should only be used in sewage or black water situations where harmful pathogens are present. With mold the key is to REMOVE the organism (dead mold can still be a dangerous irritant to the respiratory system) and to keep the indoor environment clean & dry to prevent new growth in the future. I hope this article helps to guide you in the right direction.

About Author

Robert York. General Manager
Octagon Cleaning & Restoration

www.octagonrestoration.com
Water Damage
Master Applicator
IICRC Certified Technician

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