At home we’ve been coping with toxic mold since January. That means almost 5 months! We’ve dealt with multiple contractors, paid over a thousand dollars to the inspector for multiple inspections (we’ve had the area inspected at least 4 times), we’ve met with lawyers to help us deal with unlicensed contractors, we’ve had about a kajillion estimates, talked to the labs they send the tests off to… I know more about toxic mold than half of the professionals I’ve talked to.
So, for any of you who are dealing with this, here are few helpful hints. First, use only licensed, insured contractors who are certified through the IAQA (Indoor Air Quality Association) – get physical copies all these documents. Second, get multiple estimates. Third, your inspector should be independent of your contractor. If a company does both, you have a good reason to be skeptical of their integrity and ethics.
Some of the key points when you’re dealing with mold are: keep humidity low. If the humidity levels are high your contractor should be able to use a dehumidifier. Your contractor should also use a negative air machine or air scrubber. Any time they’re actively working on the area that machine should tunnel its exhaust outside of your home or building. The EPA has some helpful guidelines for dealing with mold.
Check on your state’s legislation about mold remediation. In most states it’s still entirely unregulated.
