DanwithDT

Not on here looking for grammer nazi's. Just thoughts and opinions on the topic. Thanks, Dan

Hello Everyone, My Name is Dan, I'm a new member here and so far this sub-forum is very interesting. I remove mold by trade. Before I'm strung up an sent to the gallows by everyone, let me give you my views on it. First, the only thing I do is remove mold and water damaged materials AFTER the water/moisture problem has been addressed. The company I started with was one that used ''scare tactics''. Thats all I will say about them for now. Starting up my own company has opened my eyes to a lot of problems in the industry. The first thing that bothers me is certifications. They're so many out there it makes my head spin. On top of that, you have to have a certification in order to get liability insurance. And they don't care where the certification comes from. Neither do the Real Estate Agents, banks and many clients. Its just how it is right now. However, I do like the ACAC and the top members seem to despise the people who get into the business to strike gold. Their radio show ''IAQ Radio'' is also very informative and I highly recommend you give it a listen. Its not just about mold. I would also like to hear some member opinions on the organization. Another thing that bothers me is how a majority of the public thinks mold is so bad. Opening them up to the ''mold is gold'' crew. While I think high concentrations of mold in the household are unhealthy and need to be addressed, I'm often telling prospective clients to stop freaking out. I do not answer any health related questions about mold, I tell them to consult their Health Care Professional, as I think they are the ONLY ones qualified to give that type of advice. Now, testing. I always knew that if visible mold or the smell of mildew is present, testing is not needed, but I have had clients insist they get testing done. Its their money they're wasting, not mine. As far as post remediation testing is concerned, I've always felt that it was unnecessary. But sometimes it is necessary. Banks often want it done, and from what I've heard, Real Estate Agents and Landlords have to get air testing done in order to sell or rent a property. The test must show levels of mold similar to the outside of the property or they have to disclose a mold/water problem. And most people run away from a house that has had a lot of mold in it. The reason I made this post is to get everyones opinion on where the country stands on mold issues and to let everyone know that not all microbial remediators and companies have bad intentions, and that we do provide a valuable service. There seems to be a lot of people on here that think remediators are worthless. So far, I think it's pretty easy to spot the ''mold is gold'' crew from their websites. The two companies in MD, that IMO, are the best, have very simple websites. They don't use the ''killer mold'' scheme. Cheers, Dan

Call me, we'll have team of testers come over and swab your walls, ceilings and floors for a flat rate of $750 + lab fees

I know, mold is in the Fungi family and...Im just being difficult. These forums are awesome btw.

Im sure mold can cause structure failure. What else breaks down old, abandoned homes? Its not just bugs and water, mold needs food also.