I have a spot of mold above where my bathroom fan vents into the attic. The spot is on the bottom of the roof sheathing plywood. The spot in question is about 6" across, and there are a few other smaller spots near that area.
Brian C
Built our home in 2004. Found ants coming from wall near tub, sprayed and opened wall and found black mold. Called builder who stated it was from grout in shower that has fallen out. Builder refusing to fix. Wife has been having trouble breathing, and have a 6 year old with a bad cough. I have drywall piece to replace hole in wall, just want to make sure mold is removed the right way. Please help!!
Brian P
Selecting a mold removal contractor is not as easy as you think. For one thing, mold remediation contractors aren't bound by hard and fast certification rules, unlike other trades. What this means is that there aren't any certifications that are absolutely recognized by the industry, and as such you can take your mold remediation contractor's 4 page long list of certifications at face value. They don't mean much, because they are not the industry standard. This lack of industry guidelines for mold remediation companies has made it difficult to distinguish genuine experienced mold removal contractors from handymen. Use your best judgment, never underestimate experience, and make sure your mild removal company has experience removing mold from the area of the house that you want it to be removed from.
If you really feel better about hiring a mold remediation contractor who has some kinds of certification in this industry that are more frequently cited than others, look for one who has a certification from the National Air Duct Cleaner's Association or the Indoor Air Quality Association. But, certification or the lack of it shouldn't be the basis for your selection. Check if your mold remediation contractor has experience in the sort of mold remediation you're looking for. Some mold removal companies may have extensive experience in removing mold that has intruded into the house through dampness in the kitchen, basement etc. Other sorts of mold infiltrates your HVAC system. Whatever the source of the mold, your mold removal contractor should have sufficient experience dealing with that kind of mold infestation. Different sorts of mold contamination require different sorts of remediation processes. Your mold removal contractor shouldn't be content with a generic method of remediation.
Before you select a mold removal specialist, make sure that you know who's going to be actually performing the remediation on your site. Ask who the point of contact is going to be, and how many workers are going to be on your premises. Ask if all these workers will be sufficiently trained in mold removal techniques. In many cases, large companies will send out teams to different locations, and you need to know that the actual mold removal is being done by thoroughly professional people. Your mold removal contractor has to be insured, and should carry sufficient coverage for liability.