Living in Florida is a dream. Warm, sunny days on the beach make it a desirable place to live. One thing residents of Florida must be aware of is the humid air. The moist air allows for growing tropical plants but is also great for something pesky to grow; mold.
Mold grows plentifully in the homes of Florida residents. In the summer, humidity levels reach upwards of 80% in southwest Florida. This humidity is the perfect environment for mold to grow. If you are thinking of moving to Florida, be aware that you are very likely to have mold in your home.
Some people have a higher sensitivity to mold than others. Mold allergies can cause a plethora of health issues, including excessive eye-watering, a constantly running nose, sneezing, itching, coughing, headaches, and trouble breathing.
Repeated exposure to mold results in an increase in a person’s sensitivity, making their allergies worse. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and know there is mold in your home, you probably have a mold allergy.
It is not healthy to live in moldy conditions. If you have mold in your home, you should consider having mold remediation. Mold remediation is a term used to describe all of the processes used in eliminating harmful mold growth. It includes testing, demolition, sanitizing, mold cleaning, and mold containment.
Finding a good mold remediation company is an important step in your mold remediation process. After all, Florida is notorious for a few things: mold, gators, and sinkholes. When you move, you’ll need to be prepared for all of them, but especially the sinkholes.
What License Should They Have?
In Florida, both mold assessors and mold remediators require legal certification as licensed mold experts before they can perform any action for you in your home. Florida law recommends homeowners keep mold assessors and mold remediators separate.
If your mold assessor and remediator are the same people, they could be dishonest in their assessment. They could assess your problem as a high-risk, labor-intensive job and then charge you more than needed to remove the issue.
This issue made Florida lawmakers separate the two jobs. Mold assessors may not offer to perform the mold remediation within one year of their assessment.
A good license to look for in a mold remediation company is from the National Environmental Training Institute. NETI is a state-certified training company that offers Mold Remediator and Mold Assessor training.
Another reliable mold remediation license comes from the Florida DBPR licensure. Companies with this license have completed a minimum of 24 hours of education in mold remediation. This education includes how to assess mold and moisture problems and how to maintain respiratory protection.
What Questions Should I Ask?
Being informed on the process of mold remediation is an important aspect before hiring a company. If you are not properly informed, you may overpay your contractor. Below are 10 great questions to ask a mold remediation company prospect.
- Is the technician properly certified?
- What testing will be done?
- What is the inspection going to cost?
- What’s your mold removal process?
- What gear do you wear during the testing process?
- Am I as a homeowner responsible for getting rid of materials?
- Are you familiar with my insurance policy?
- Will you contact another professional if needed?
- What’s your plan for protecting other areas of my home?
Showing mold remediation companies that you have done your research and know the overall process gives you less likelihood of being taken advantage of. Get clear, concise answers from contractors. Compare their answers to other companies, and mention that you have contacted others so they will give you a better rate than the competition.
What Kind of Procedure Should I Expect?
There are three main steps in mold remediation.
- Identify the problem
- Eliminate the problem
- Inspect to ensure the problem is gone
A mold assessor will carefully perform industry tests to identify the location and severity of the mold and water damage in the home.
Next, a mold remediator comes in to remove the source of the problem. They will remove all of the molds from the home using different techniques. The remediator may make repairs to damaged areas, depending on the situation.
The mold assessor will then return to perform a post-remediation inspection. He will ensure that the mold removal process was done correctly. This inspection will conclude the clearance test for the mold issues.
Outline of Remediation Procedure
After a mold problem has been established and you have chosen your mold remediation company, it is time to start the clean-up. Below is a rough outline of a typical mold remediation procedure that you can use to know what to expect.
- Repair the water problem. This prevents new mold from growing. You might need to fix a leaky pipe or get a dehumidifier to help limit the moisture in the air.
- Isolate the area. You do not want mold to spread. Cutting off access to the affected room will help prevent it from traveling to other rooms of your home.
- Remove materials. Get rid of any mold-filled materials. Make sure you’re placing them in a garbage bag and taking them to your trash can immediately.
- Clean. Clean all wood surfaces and areas with nonporous materials. Clean thoroughly and ensure no mold has been left behind.
- Dry. Let the areas you just cleaned air dry.
- Replace. Replace any mold-infested belongings.
Conclusion
If you’re thinking of moving to Florida, or to another state that’s ripe with humidity, you need to be prepared for mold remediation. Part of that includes knowing what to look for in a mold remediation company, to set yourself and your new home up for success.
Restore your home to a healthy, mold-free haven. Increase your quality of life with mold remediation!