How to choose the right mold remediation company
Check your phone book or the web for a local mold remediation company.
Refer to the 3 critical questions to ask every mold company before they enter your home.
Call a company on the list and ask them each of the 3 critical questions.
I hope this guide has helped you regain control of your home. If you use us for your mold project, we’d be thrilled, but more importantly I hope this guide will lead you to a clean and healthy home
How To Choose A Mold Remediation Company
Discovering a thriving mold colony in your home presents a host of complex, potentially expensive problems – none of which should be addressed by any less than certified professionals. You may wonder how your property became infested in the first place and just how extensively the spores may have spread and multiplied beyond the first spot of growth you see. Likewise, it’s understandable to fret the potential health risks that accompany a mold invasion and just how costly remediation can become when compared to the estimated dollar amount of damage mold can do to your property.
The best mold remediation companies in any market will address your infestation in as thorough and timely a manner as possible while clearly answering any questions you may have and minimizing costs to the greatest degree possible. As with the process of comparison-shopping contractors for any professional service, you owe it to yourself to ask a battery of probing questions and gather several estimates before making a choice.
How experienced are the employees who will be working in my home?
First off, rule out any and every contractor with no proof of up-to-date insurance. Yes, they may have the edge in price, but the risks in the event of a catastrophe are not remotely worth it.
How familiar are your employees with the inherent environmental hazards of mold?
A quality mold remediator doesn’t have to be a medical expert or experienced health practitioner to grasp indoor water damage’s potential toxic risks. Your contractor should concisely explain the difference between symptoms of a minor mold allergy and a serious toxic reaction and what makes mycotoxins potentially lethal, especially to individuals with compromised immune systems.
What safety precautions do you take before, during and after mold remediation
To avoid cross-contamination, the contractor should lay down plastic sheeting and additional protection at all containment site entrances. Only HEPA-filtered negative air machines (NAMs) should be used during mold remediation, all of them exhausted outside the home. Scratch off any contractor who attempts to negate or minimize the importance of containment measures to avoiding the creation of additional hazards during the project.
MOLD REMEDIATION COMPANIES
Mold remediation companies provide a number of services necessary to deal with the problematic growth of mold in the home – mold inspection, mold removal, repair of household damage due to mold. Some mold removal companies are certified in mold remediation, though certification is not required of mold remediation contractors so that’s something you want to inquire about when selecting a company to take care of your mold problem.
Why Hire Someone?
Some people decide to just handle their mold problems on their own, and in some cases that might work out fine. However, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends not attempting to clean up a mold problem on your own if the mold covers more than ten square feet. The thing is, even though you may only notice a few square feet of bathroom tile affected by mold, mold spores spread easily through the air and mold can hide in many places, including your heating vents and air ducts. You probably won’t see it there yourself, but certified mold remediation contractors know how to track it down and take care of it.
Choosing Among All the Different Mold Remediation Companies
Unless you live in a very small town, you probably have several mold remediation companies from which to choose. Don’t just settle for the one with the biggest ad in your local yellow pages. You can call your local Department of Health for suggestions, or check with the Better Business Bureau. The important thing is to make sure you choose a company that will do the job right.
What to Expect
Most mold remediation companies offer a free inspection and assessment, during which they will examine your home for mold, tell you about the extent of your mold problem, advise you about the best way to resolve your mold problem and let you know what they will charge to handle the problem for you. Request that a certified mold remediation specialist perform the inspection. You can consult with more than one company if you like before deciding which one to hire.
When You Need to Consult a Professional
We recommend all homeowners consult a professional before beginning the process of mold remediation, and since most mold remediation professionals offer free consultations, that’s easy enough to do. In some instances, though, it’s particularly important to speak with a professional before you proceed. You may need to hire a professional, but even if you hope to do the work yourself,
How to Find a Trusted Mold Remediation Professional
When you discover mold is growing in your residential or commercial property, immediate action is important. The presence of mold can not only ruin the materials it is growing on, but mold can also cause individuals exposed to it to suffer from health problems, such as allergic reactions and other symptoms.
Mold growth is triggered when mold spores, which are naturally present, encounter a food source and a moisture source. This is also why mold growth is so common in the aftermath of water damage. If the water source that triggered the mold growth is not properly addressed, then the mold will continue to grow, and the damage will get worse
In cases where there is minimal mold growth, home remedies might be sufficient. Some people may choose to clean mold up themselves, too, as a way to save money. But home remedies should not be relied on, especially if you just want to save money.
Look into the Services’ Specifics
When you come across a mold removal company you might be interested in hiring, take a further look at what their services entail. The company should provide complete services that include initial inspection, containment, mold cleaning and removal, and final inspection.
The inspections are important, because the initial one allows the technicians to create a proper mold removal plan, and the final one ensures the mold has been completely removed. Meanwhile, the testing should be conducted by an outside source to ensure impartiality, and the cleaning should be conducted using safe, nontoxic cleaning products. Mold on its own can already be toxic, so you do not want the cleaning work to introduce further toxins into your environment.
PRACTICAL TIPS FOR CHOOSING A MOLD REMEDIATION CONTRACTOR
Roof leaks or high indoor humidity leads to excessive moisture which can cause a lot of damage to your properties. Undetected water damage in a home can lead to dangerous mold problems and cause many health issues. Attempting to resolve the mold issue yourself can cause the mold to spread quickly to other parts of your home
Mold removal is a complex process that needs extensive training, experience, and specialized tools so you should not just hire any mold remediation contractor that comes your way. Making sure they are worth your money is essential.
Make sure you’re dealing with professionals
You need to know you’re dealing with professionals. You can ask the remediation contractors to evaluate the affected area in your home. The manner they present themselves and how they answer your questions will tell you a lot. Look out for confident answers based on ensuring your health not just a price quote. Find out if they conduct air testing before and after remediation. Get the remediation contractors to explain the type of mold testing they do. If they do not conduct air testing, look elsewhere.
Make sure they are licensed and insured
Insurance is necessary for remediation contractors because it provides coverage in case of an accident. A license, on the other hand, says that the contractors are recognized and permitted to operate in your area. One thing that comes with being licensed is belonging to an association that emphasizes standards. This means licensed remediation contractors are equipped with the best standards available to rid your home of molds. Always choose contractors who are properly insured and licensed.
Check for free mold assessment
It is a popular practice for remediation contractors to provide an evaluation of your home at no cost. You can then take the opportunity to evaluate their professionalism. If a remediation contractor cannot provide a comprehensive assessment, you should not put them in charge of your project.