Finding mold in your home is never a pleasant surprise. Mold can be dangerous to both your home and health so it’s important to have it taken care of by professionals. While you want to have your mold issue addressed fast, take the time you need to hire a qualified company. Here are the key qualifications a reputable mold remediation company should have in order for you to hire them.
Qualifications a Mold Remediation Company Should Have
Once you’ve looked online to find a couple of companies you’re comfortable working with, the next step is to make sure they have the proper qualifications. If the company you are considering hiring promises a great price but is missing one of the following, you should not hire them. Instead, look for a company that has all of the following qualifications.
1. The Company Has Liability Insurance
It is very important that the company you hire has liability insurance and that their policy clearly states that they are covered to work with mold. If they do not have this in writing, they are not carrying the right coverage.
2. The Company is IICRC Certified
IICRC stands for Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification. The company you hire should have a certificate issued by the IICRC that clearly states their company name. Having this certificate means that the company’s employees have undergone the proper training and testing on removing mold. Without this certificate, you cannot be certain of their training and methods. Only hire a certified company.
3. The Company has Extensive Experience with Mold
It’s important to ask how long the company has been in business and how long its employees have been working with mold. While the company may have been in business for many years, it’s important that their employees are also well experienced. When asking about experience, be sure to ask for examples of jobs so you can see the work for yourself.
4. The Company Considers Mold a Health Hazard
As you interview potential companies, be sure to ask if they consider mold a health hazard or not. The answer you want to hear is a strong yes. When the company understands the potential health issues mold brings with it, you can trust will be meticulous in removing it. A company that doesn’t see mold as an issue might not be as passionate about completely removing it using the right measures.
5. The Company Wears Protective Gear
A company that considers mold a health hazard should also wear protective gear. Having mold in your home is not healthy for anyone, including the workers removing it. Be sure to ask the company if their crew will be wearing the proper gear to protect themselves.
6. The Company Has Clear Containment Measures
Keeping mold contained is essential in the remediation process. As it is so important, you need to ensure that the company you hire has a clear understanding of their containment measures. They should be able to easily explain them to you. If not, consider going with a company that can.
7. The Company Tests Before and After Remediation
The company you hire should test both before and after remediation. You need to know how bad things were before so that you can accurately see the outcome after the work is done. Ideally, after testing should be done by a different company. Ask the company you’re planning to hire about their testing procedures. They should recommend using a different company for the after testing so that the results are impartial.
8. The Company Will Remove the Mold
This may seem like it’s obvious but you need to check that the company is going to completely remove the mold from your home. Ensure that the company is not going to “seal,” “encapsulate” or “cover” the mold. If the company simply offers to clean the area and paint over it, that is not removing the root of the problem. Be sure to get it in writing that they will remove the mold.
9. The Company Provides You With a Written Contract
Last but certainly not least, you want to make sure that the company will provide you with a written contract. This contract should state the scope of work, their mold clean up protocol, and a guarantee of the mold removal. Be sure that the company has all of the above qualifications before signing on the dotted line.
While you want to address mold issues as soon as possible, it’s important to hire the right company for the job. Take your time viewing their HomeStars profile, reading reviews and looking at before and after photos. Once you’ve found a few companies that look good, ask them the above questions to check out their qualifications. Be sure to hire a company that will take your mold issue seriously and keep you and your home safe.
