The Mold Issue: Part Three of Three
Advisory Report - November 2003
The Mold Issue: Part Three of Three
What To Do Now
Toxic mold sits near the top of today’s hotbed of issues for home inspectors. With uncertainty and ambiguity surrounding regulation and measurement standards, coupled with the media attention on mold’s health risks, U.S. Inspect receives daily inquiries regarding mold and the mold evaluation process. The last article in this series on mold, we will discuss what to do if mold is found in the home.
Relocation professionals, homeowners, and real estate agents are often left wondering what to do once mold has been identified within the home. There is a problem, but what should be done about it? The following information outlines standard remediation practices in order to better understand the scope of work that should be performed to address mold contamination. Then we’ll cover how to locate a remediation company.
Remediation
Common mold remediation practices state that all non-porous materials should be cleaned with a biocide, and all porous materials such as drywall should be removed and replaced. Mold is often found on drywall since it provides a great food source. Drywall is porous and must be removed during remediation. When removing drywall due to mold contamination, 12-18 inches of additional drywall on all four sides of the contaminated area are removed. This clearly is a far more destructive process than cleaning, but this preventative measure is used to ensure that all mold is removed.
Wood framing members in a crawl space or attic are often sanded, cleaned, and sealed to minimize the amount of reconstruction work. A containment area is set up in the problem areas to avoid cross contamination, which spreads mold spores into unaffected areas of the home. By using 2 plastic curtain doorways, there is minimal air disturbance during exit and entry. Within the containment area, a negative air machine is utilized. The purpose of a negative air machine is to ensure proper containment by removing air from the contaminated space faster than air from an uncontaminated space can enter.
Once all remediation work has been completed, a mold clearance test is performed to determine whether the remediation has been effective and that no previously unaffected areas have been contaminated. The final test should indicate that the mold levels have decreased since the original inspection and are lower than the outdoor control sample.
Finding a Mold Remediation Company
The Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) has an extremely resourceful Web site (www.iaqa.org) for locating a Certified Mold Remediator (CMR). When possible, it is always advisable to utilize the services of a remediation company that has a CMR on staff. In order to obtain the CMR designation, the individual must have a minimum of 5 years work-related experience or a combination of college education and work experience, attend IAQA approved training courses, and successfully complete an examination. It is usually the CMR that visits the home to provide a bid and scope of work to be performed and supervises the remediation technicians. Bids can vary greatly between companies so it is recommended to receive 2-3 bids. Each remediation company may take a slightly different approach for cleaning and it will reflect in the price.
Click here to find a mold remediation company.
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Contributed by Elizabeth Watts, CRP
Relocation Account Executive
U.S. Inspect, LLC