Great read for hiring a Chicago Mold Remediation Contractor. If you are reading this article, you know you have a mold problem that needs to be fixed. First thing, go to the website of the Indoor Air Quality Association. Their website address will be at the end of this article. Look up on their list of Certified Mold Remediation Contractors and find one near you. Look up the names of three of them and call them to get a bid. Remember, the lowest price is not always the best price for the job. Ask for references of satisfied clients.
Next, when you meet with them, ask questions. If you have any questions that you need answered, feel free to call Safe Homes Environmental Consultants to help you out. The number is at the bottom of this article. When it comes to contractors, you always want to get the best service at the best price, but sometimes it's difficult to know what questions to ask.
Hiring a certified remediation contractor is not required but when it comes time to sell your home, you are required by law to disclose any mold incidences in your home including floods. If the work was done by a licensed certified Remediator, they should require a mold clearance test for the area. This gives your buyer proof that the work was done by a competent licensed remediator.
If you decide to hire one, it is generally safer and more effective than a "do-it-yourself" approach because they use special equipment. In either case, always follow safety precautions to reduce exposure to mold by using protective clothing, a respirator, and eye protection. I have seen lots of "Handyman Disasters of Mold Remediation" that go wrong and contaminate the entire house. Remember to always protect the rest of the house from contamination with the proper containment.
The latest disaster happened in Coral Gables, Fl. The homeowner called us because she was concerned about how the Handyman was doing the job. We told her to have him stop immediately and we would evaluate what was done. When we arrived on the job site, the wall was closed with new drywall ready to tape and seal. You could see water stains on the floor. The homeowner wanted us to look at the inside of the wall, so he took the drywall down. Guess what, the wall was loaded with mold with rotted wood everywhere. Apparently, this water leak was going on for a long time. A licensed Certified Mold Remediator would not have done this type of work.
I have seen lots of stuff on the Internet regarding what and what not should be required by the remediator. Just reading half of the posts shows me that these individuals have never done any form remediation work. A remediation job can be very complicated or simple. The New York City Guidelines for Mold Remediation can be helpful. A protocol can be written by a Certified Microbial Consultant but can be expensive due to time and costs to do a proper inspection.
The last job we did was a simple A/C water overflow job. Very little visible mold, minimum water stains on drywall, the mold was approximately 1 square foot. Sounds simple, doesn't it. Well, after we got into the job, this simple job starting expanding. Apparently, this A/C had been leaking off and on for a long time. The job expanded to include the adjoining bathroom. After we opened up the wall, you could see where the water had run under the adjoining wall into the Guest Bathroom.
The homeowner was not happy, a simple job can get real expensive when you add in a granite topped 10 foot Bathroom Cabinet. Had the homeowner hired a Handyman to do the job, they would have left the rest of the damage still hidden. Remember, always remove two additional feet on each side of the damaged area till it is clean. The sad part is that the Insurance Company denied the claim due to failure to maintain their A/C properly.
The positive outcome of that job was, the daughter no longer suffered from Allergies while in the house. The little girl had been suffering since the family moved into the house two years prior. The mother took the little girl from Doctor to Doctor with no help. They told her she would outgrow her Asthma.
In conclusion, mold removal can be simple or complicated. Trying to save money using Handyman Services is not the answer. They are not trained and certified Mold Remediators. Always check with the Indoor Air Quality Association for a Certified Mold Remediator before hiring a contractor to remove the mold. Ask to see their credentials and check with the provider of the credentials to see if they are up to date on their education requirements.
To learn more about your home, visit our website at http://www.safe-homes.com
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