Mold Remediation

A Journey of Innovations In Restoration Technology

June 10, 2022 8:00 am

You know the old saying, “an education is what you get when you don’t get what you want.” And extrapolating that to “wisdom is what you end up with when you have learned your lesson more times than you care to admit.” Therefore, I am not sure if I bring you this from the high and mighty position of having been in this industry for 30 years, or from the lowly position of having learned the hard way more times than I care to admit. But I do feel that the best way to

Is Pizza the New Sandwich for Mold Remediation?

April 28, 2022 8:00 am

For many of us who were involved in the early development of mold remediation as a separate subsection of restoration, it is sometimes difficult to realize that 20+ years of development means that the industry is not “new” anymore. Along with the recognition that mold remediation is a respected part of the cleaning and restoration world, comes the tendency to be complacent about the status and the standards that surround legitimate mold remediation efforts. However, such complacency would be a mistake. With an expected release date of early 2022, the heated discussions about every

RIA Insider: Essential Lessons In Mold Remediation

April 8, 2022 8:00 am

Help your clients resolve their mold issues once and for all. To restore a space that has been affected by water loss and mold, either as an inspector or a remediation contractor, you need to undertake many detailed steps and essential processes. However, taking those steps may require thinking outside the box to help you reach the best solution. For more than 30 years, Michael Pinto, CSP, SMS, CMP, CFO, FLS, CEO of Wonder Makers Environmental in Kalamazoo, Mich., has been working to help people resolve indoor environmental issues. In that time, he has

Safety First: Exploring Chemical Compatibility

April 1, 2022 8:00 am

There is no doubt restoration professionals wear a lot of hats. Owners, managers, and supervisors often act as estimators and customer service representatives, while also handling human resource issues of restoration team members (especially in this tight labor market, where finding and keeping workers is so critical to the success of an operation). And, of course, somewhere in the mix, there is a desire and duty to keep everyone safe. Dealing Properly with Chemicals Is Just One Slice of the Safety “Pie” Generally, only the larger restoration companies have the flexibility to employ a

Making It Rain: Structural Drying Solutions

March 3, 2022 6:00 am

A Note from the Editor: This is the final installment of a 3-part series by someone long-considered a structural drying expert. In parts one and two, R. David Sweet discusses an issue plaguing our industry: a lack of thorough drying, which is leading to additional structural damage. He also outlined what industry standards say about drying. Mr. Sweet has been an independent adjuster, owned and run his own restoration company for more than two decades, has a number of IICRC and other designations and certifications, is a Registered Third-Party Evaluator, and more. This series

Flurona: Disinfection for COVID-19 + Flu Season

February 8, 2022 3:35 pm

This article is sponsored by SteraMist. Flurona, a new word and a new disease. What is it? A potential ‘Twindemic’ which people have the seasonal flu and COVID-19 at the same time which has already hit the shores of America. Although COVID-19 has been at the forefront of controversy, discussion, and concern, many medical professionals are worried about a potential rise in Influenza cases as infections last year were significantly lower than average (Nirappil 2021). What this means, according to Rochelle Walensky, Director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is that “because

Invisible Dangers: The Importance of IAQ Testing during Remediation

January 24, 2022 4:38 pm

Some of the toughest threats restorers face are unseen – mold spores, mycotoxins, VOCs, etc. When it comes to indoor air quality, there are few duos more popular or well-known for their IAQ expertise than Dave and Shannon Luce, owners of Luce Air Quality. Dave has been in the restoration and remediation industry since 2006, and tells the story of a mold job he went on in 2011 that changed his view of IAQ and mold remediation. Hear Dave and Shannon’s story, some truths and myths about mold and IAQ, and why air quality

OP ED: The Value of Mold Assessments

January 10, 2022 6:18 pm

Dear Michelle, This letter is to thank you for publishing the article entitled Mold Assessments: Value Added or Waste of Money? By Scott Walden on January 3, 2022. Mr. Walden’s main point, that mold assessments and sampling prior to remediation take up resources that could be dedicated to the actual mold removal and cleanup, is certainly true. His corollary, that there are many cases where such assessments by an independent third-party appear to be redundant when a competent mold remediation contractor is involved, is also true. It was interesting to see that the author

Mold Assessments: Value Added or Waste of Money?

January 3, 2022 11:25 pm

Let me set the stage just a bit for this month’s topic: I am a Florida licensed Mold Assessor and Mold Remediator. I am an active member of NORMI and I believe they are a value-added organization, provide great training, and I support most of their initiatives. I also generally agree with the ANSI IICRC S520 determination that an assessment SHOULD be performed prior to starting remediation – WHEN APPLICABLE. Here’s the kicker: even though I can make money doing assessments, I generally think they are unnecessary, often extremely vague, inconsistent, and often a