That said, however, there are acceptable (translate “normal environmental”) mold levels of certain varieties. Much like bacteria, we will need to continue to co-exist with mold. Also like bacteria, there are some beneficial mold applications (e.g., penicillin antibiotic is derived from mold).

Here’s the rub: It’s extremely difficult for the untrained eye to know whether mold is dangerous and/or has spread beyond “acceptable levels.” A major exception is the type of mold that appears on shower tiles. Generally, this is not harmful and can be relatively easily removed.

Where it gets tricky is when mold gets insidious—hiding undetected until smells or health issues emerge. So, given that mold will be around, how do you know when to call in the professionals? There are three primary rules to live by when it comes to mold:

• By the time a leak can be seen, it’s a safe bet that the leak is worse where you can’t see it (e.g., behind the wall). In these cases, it’s always worth a mold inspection because where there’s water and darkness, mold can’t be far behind;
• When a qualified mold remediation specialist advises getting rid of it, pay close attention. It doesn’t go away by itself, and will continue growing as long as dark, wet conditions exist. So, dealing with it later really means more money, stress and possible threats to health;
• Prevention is by far the best way to deal with mold threats according to Purofirst Repair Division Production Manager Hunter Pitts. For example, that’s why emergency crews will immediately cut away wet drywall and insulation—and dry everything out thoroughly. However, a key step in prevention is examination. It may be worth the relatively small investment to consider such preventive measures as examining accessible areas for any obvious signs of mold (e.g., crawl spaces and basements), as well as conducting periodic infrared inspections of such “invisible areas” as inside the walls.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, “While certain molds are toxigenic, meaning they can produce toxins (specifically mycotoxins), the molds themselves are not toxic, or poisonous. Hazards presented by molds that may produce mycotoxins should be considered the same as other common molds which can grow in your house. There is always a little mold everywhere – in the air and on many surfaces. There are very few reports that toxigenic molds found inside homes can cause unique or rare health conditions such as pulmonary hemorrhage or memory loss…A common-sense approach should be used for any mold contamination existing inside buildings and homes. The common health concerns from molds include hay fever-like allergic symptoms. (Source: http://www.cdc.gov/mold/stachy.htm#Q1)

Bottom line: Be vigilant, observant and proactive when it comes to property mold—you’ll save money, lessen stress, and avoid unnecessary health hazards.

When a property crisis occurs, owners and managers should count on immediate response and professional assessment of the areas involved. This means both addressing the physical problem and reassuring the affected parties that everything possible is being done to expedite repairs.

Here’s what you can rely on from Purofirst:

• Emergency response and remediation starting within 1-2 hours. As part of this process, Purofirst confirms its role through an emergency authorization form that “allows us to do what we need to, including dispatching the appropriate division to take care of the emergency,” says Curry Palm, Purofirst Repair Division Coordinator;
• Discussion with lead technician on-site during this initial response to address the process and next steps;
• Extensive communication from first contact through completion. “We would rather over-communicate than under-inform,” notes Purofirst President Robert Schattner;
• Estimator arranged by/through Purofirst to examine and estimate needed repairs. In some cases, there is “assignment through a third party administrator that tells us what we need to do,” Palm notes. In other cases, Purofirst contacts the applicable insurance adjuster to address the estimate.

First and foremost, where we need the policy holder’s help and understanding is in the area of “insurance relations.” While Purofirst always attempts to work out the best win-win scenario for owners and managers in terms of insurance company coverage and outcomes, there are several areas where upfront planning can prevent holdups in an emergency.

“Insurance company approval and authorization can go very smoothly when policy holders confirm ‘rules of the road’ before a problem happens,” notes Palm. “Generally, this eliminates guesswork in the first responder phase of the job, and can go a long way toward minimizing later snafus that can take days or even weeks to resolve. “Of course, depending on the insurance company, policy, and scope of needed repairs, it still can take awhile to work out the bugs. And, that’s something we have to live with, as well.”

Above: Photos from an apartment building fire affecting 12 units. There was fire and water damage throughout – walls, floors and appliances were all affected and restored or replaced.

In his zeal, he forgot to turn off the basement laundry tub, which resulted in about two inches of water covering the entire recreation room and basement area—along with a floating carpet.

On advice of their insurance company, the Cortons started contacting restoration companies, attempting to beat the hurricane bearing down on the city. Purofirst of Metropolitan Washington was the first to respond. Arriving at 9:30 PM with two large trucks, they worked for four hours suctioning excess water; and removing the soaked rug, floor boards, about a foot of drywall from the bottom of the walls, and any wet insulation. They cleaned up the area and set up large fans to dry everything completely over the next three days.

The following week, contractor 1st Source began reconstruction, handling drywalling, painting and carpet installation. “The entire project start to finish took about five weeks, which we thought was remarkable,” notes Corton. “We have never had to put in a homeowner claim in our 25 years of owning a home, but all parties involved, Erie Insurance, Purofirst, and 1st  Source worked together with us to make this process as painless as possible. For that we are extremely grateful.

“Plus, the final product was outstanding and the contractors were extremely professional. It was amazing to see how quickly and efficiently the Purofirst crew worked, even late on a Saturday night with a hurricane approaching!  We never smelled any mold or mildew. Our recreation room is better than ever and we are really enjoying the ‘new’ space!”

According to Purofirst’s Hunter Pitts, being proactive is critical to preventing or minimizing damage. He points out, “A lot of times, there can be mold in the house, and you won’t smell it. It’s trapped in walls,” where it continues to grow unabated. In some cases, simple inspection can reveal problem areas. Pitts recommends:

1. Examining crawl spaces, cellars and basements for any sign of water damage or leaks. “If you see a stain in the wall or up in the ceiling, it’s very possible you have an active leak—which can cause mold problems as well as structural damage,” Pitts notes.
2. Paying attention to any smell that could indicate the presence of mold. In older structures especially, people tend to ignore odors, attributing them to “old building” smell. This can be a costly mistake.
3. Perodically conducting a comprehensive “behind-the-scenes” infrared inspection—which is a non-invasive and relatively inexpensive alternative to water damage repair and mold remediation.

Despite the obvious wisdom of containing water and mold, only about 5% of property owners are proactive, according to Pitts. “Usually, if it’s not seen or smelled, people assume there’s not a problem. Generally, they uncover it when mold growth is advanced, and therefore emits a very strong smell, water spots appear, or there’s a noticeable defect in a subfloor or other structure. At that point, it may require thousands of dollars, cordoning off areas, even moving out of the property while the repairs are made,” he emphasizes.

The Cobern project involved a slow water leak from an old copper pipe with a hole in it. Over time, it had rotted bathroom subflooring and caused water damage and mold in the walls. Water damage repair, mold remediation, rebuilding, and replumbing took three weeks and featured mold and water resistant materials—including Durock® board.