Mold may have become an ugly word to many home and commercial property owners but managing mold is a very important aspect of building maintenance. In short, when you see mold it is natures way of telling you that there is uncontrolled moisture damaging your investment. Additionally, although the media has often been misleading in the typical health effects of mold, many people are allergic to mold and can have very adverse health affects when confronted with poor air quality.

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For Professional and Commercial Clients (Any water release must be dried quickly or mold/fungal growth will occur. Basically, if a material can not be dried within 3 days or at maximum of 5 days, it is often prudent and cheaper to remove the material than engage in more elaborate drying techniques that may not limit fungal growth and turn the project into a mold remediation project and all the head aches that can entail).

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First it is important for all commercial clients to realize that the Texas mold rules do not release you from the Texas Asbestos Protection Rules. If you have a water release in a public building you are not allowed by state law to immediately begin removing wet materials until you know for certain that the materials are asbestos free. So you either need a survey on record for the area of concern or you will need a survey of the affected materials before any demolition can begin. Drying activities are not included in this requirement so long as you are not disturbing any building materials that may contain asbestos. It is ok to install fans and dehumidifiers so long as there are not collapsed ceilings or other uncontained suspect materials that could become airborne as a result of the drying process. It is also important to note that glue down carpet, and base molding can not be removed until after the adhesives and wall materials have been cleared as asbestos free.

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If fungal growth is found a Mold Assessment Consultant must determine if there is more than 25 contiguous square feet of fungal growth in the area. This is called a mold assessment. Sampling is not required for this stage of the process if work is to begin immediately and there is not administrative need to document the air quality prior to beginning the remediation. If less than 25 contiguous square feet of fungal growth is found, the repairs do not require a mold remediation contractor or a consultants oversite and as long as there are no asbestos containing materials present, the damage can be repaired by any building maintenance person or skilled contractor. If you have more than 25 square feet, the Texas Mold Rules apply and you will need the services of both a Mold Assessment Consultant and a Mold Remediation Contractor to remove the damage before any other work can be performed in the area.

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Click on the following link to see what a typical Mold Consulting Project looks like.