Mold is frequently discovered following water damage to a property. It typically begins to grow where undetected moisture is present. However, mold can grow anywhere as long as there is a food source and moisture. If you’re worried that mold is getting the upper hand in your home or commercial property, contact RestorTech, Inc. at (703) 204-0401. Located in Herndon, VA, we serve Fairfax County and the surrounding areas.
Unattended homes that are not climate controlled can become breeding grounds for mold in the hot, humid months of summer. Common dust is an excellent food source for mold as are building components and personal property made of natural materials, such as wood, paper (paper-covered drywall), wool, cotton, and so on.
Is the damage caused by mold covered by homeowners insurance?
Property insurers continue to debate the coverage for mold damage in homeowners policies —mostly due to the “one-time” and “sudden and accidental” nature of covered perils (fire, wind, water, lightning, and so on). Mold can be growing in concealed spaces (e.g., behind finished drywall and exterior foundation walls) for long periods of time, eluding discovery, as long as there is moisture and food present. It is always a good idea to call your homeowners insurance company or agent to see if mold damage is covered, and if so, what exclusions apply.
Most frequently, covered mold damage is for damage that can be traced back to a single event that caused the property to become wet (e.g., broken water pipe, icemaker or dishwasher leak). This is particularly true if the mold is growing on surfaces that got wet.
What should you do if you have mold in your home?
Contact us. We are happy to come out at no cost to you for an inspection. The problem that caused the mold will need to be identified so that you can discuss whether it will be covered under your homeowners insurance policy. Depending on the amount of mold present, we can also make recommendations on how to remediate the damage.
More often, we will recommend that you use the services of an environmental firm that is certified to test for mold. Scientific methodology is used to test surfaces and the indoor air to identify the type of mold and quantity of mold spores present. The indoor environmentalist will also be able to confirm the cause and write a remediation protocol, which will describe the steps needed to remove the mold. See below for a list of qualified indoor environmentalists that we work with.
RestorTech is not certified to test for mold, which is why we recommend you seek an independent evaluation and assessment. RestorTech is, however, IICRC-certified (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification) in microbial remediation, and we strictly adhere to the guidelines set forth in the ANSI/IICRC S520 Standard for Professional Mold Remediation. This means that once we receive the protocol from the indoor environmentalist, we can more accurately estimate the cost of the remediation.
Once RestorTech completes the remediation, the indoor environmentalist will return to test the surfaces and air to see if the remediation was successful. Our goal is to achieve clearance on the first post-remediation test. Sometimes there are hidden areas that are missed during the inspection and testing; sometimes we miss something. In any event, we will return to your home and continue to remediate until we achieve clearance. If the reason it failed was due to any other reason than our workmanship, there may be additional charges for the additional work needed to achieve clearance.
Educate yourself. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have accurate, reliable information about mold that you can find online — and it’s free.
Will my insurance company pay for the mold testing?
Some do and some don’t. Mold is not a regulated hazardous material like asbestos or lead, for example, so some insurers don’t take it as seriously as others. We believe that it’s always a good idea to know the facts going in. Once the areas and levels of mold contamination are established by testing, we know what we’re dealing with. This simplifies the process of attaining clearance. If you’re not sure what to do, we recommend at least having a conversation with an indoor environmental professional. Here is a list of some of the companies we have worked with:
- MMTS Environmental – Jon Given 443-3090-2128
- NoVa Environmental Solutions – Paul Berger 540-550-7745
- Inlogix – David Young 703-218-2870
- True North Consultants – Craig Ramich 571-217-3172
Why Choose Us?
Family-owned business with local service, not a franchise.
IICRC-certified technicians and members of RIA.
Quick response time within hours, free consultation, and quick turnaround.
Emergency 24/7 answering service.
Established business serving since 1990.
Experienced in fuel oil spills, skunk odor, vandalism, and damage from fallen trees.
When looking for a mold remediation company that will issue a fair and honest remediation estimate based on independent testing results, we’d like you to consider RestorTech. Even if you have already been given a remediation cost by another mold removal company, we are happy to provide a competitive bid. Our goal is to do the work exactly as prescribed by the certified tester and to obtain clearance on the first post-cleaning test.
RestorTech is ready to help with mold remediation services. Contact us at (703) 204-0401. Located in Herndon, VA, RestorTech proudly serves Fairfax, Arlington, Loudoun, and Prince William counties, as well as Alexandria, VA, and all nearby areas. For more information, see our FAQ and about us pages.