Found Mold in a house

[Chiun D. Ng]

What other recommendation you would suggest to a client when you find mold in a house?

[Russell J. Hensel]

This is in no way meant to be a slam. But if your asking this question you should automatically defer them to a professional dealing with the sitaution and then leave it alone. Offer NOTHING else, but to seek professional guideance. Mold assessor is the right person to send them to and can be found on the DBPR website.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by cng1

What other recommendation you would suggest to a client when you find mold in a house?

Determining the source is the first step. Eliminating it is the second. Remediating the mold and repairing any existing damage is the third.

There are professionals who specialize in each of these steps.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Determining the source is the first step. Eliminating it is the second. Remediating the mold and repairing any existing damage is the third.

There are professionals who specialize in each of these steps.

What's the difference between eliminating it and remediating it? You hire 1 firm to eliminate and another to remediate?

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by jfunderburk

What's the difference between eliminating it and remediating it? You hire 1 firm to eliminate and another to remediate?

Eliminating the source. That must be done prior to remediation of the mold.

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Eliminating the source. That must be done prior to remediation of the mold.

I consider that part of the remediation when the source isn't apparent.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by jfunderburk

I consider that part of the remediation when the source isn't apparent.

I don't. In my opinion, there should be no remediation until the source has been identified and corrected.

To do otherwise is a rip-off.

Unsuspecting consumers will be repeatedly paying for additional remediation efforts until finally correcting the issue causing the mold colonization ... which can be significantly less expensive than the remediation.

[KEVIN WOOD]

I also agree with you James.
The only person to find the moisture problem should be knowledgeable in all areas of water intrusion and vapor control.
IE: A Certified Environmental Inspector.
Remediation cleans and removes mold not fix the mold problems.

[Russell J. Hensel]

Must be different in different areas. Mold remediators here all fix the source before ANYTHING happens. I just assumed it was that was everywhere. Guess I was wrong.

[KEVIN WOOD]

Not in my area.

[James E. Braun, CMI]

Any real mold remediation protocol, I have seen, states that what source of moisture caused the mold needs to be corrected at the beginning of the recommendation or procedure page. Sometimes you do not know the true cause of the moisture until the affected porous materials are removed. ANSI/IICRC S520, Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation, Second Edition requires an Indoor Environmental Professional to evaluated if there is a sizable amount of mold (I do not remember the exact wording off the top of my head). The mold industry has established many rules when it comes to mold, they just need to be followed.

I just got done working on a legal case and during my research I have discovered OSHA actually has a procedure for the removal of mold. The procedure is not totally right (they need to use more current studies) but it is better then nothing at all.

[James E. Braun, CMI]

Originally Posted by rhensel

Must be different in different areas. Mold re mediators here all fix the source before ANYTHING happens. I just assumed it was that was everywhere. Guess I was wrong.

In my area, it is the building's owner who is responsible to fix the leaks. If the building owner does not fix the leak, the assessor notes it in his clearance letter. Only if the remediator replaces the porous materials after the cleanup could the remediator be held responsible. The smart remediators will only remove the mold for this reason.
A regular contractor can reinstall the porous materials without fixing the moisture problem and probably get away with it, because he can make the case the homeowner knows the leak needed to be fixed and he did not, because he did not see the mold remediation protocol.
A mold remediation protocol is a legal document (at least that is how a court sees it) if ignored, whoever ignored that document is responsible, nobody else.
There is sometimes, I do not bother to write a mold remediation protocol if I feel parts of it is going to be ignored. It saves everybody the big argument. Sad but true.