Call us at 604-932-3618 or
If you’ve experienced major water damage, you may have noticed a lot of mold growth in the aftermath. After all, mold needs three things to grow: moisture, air, and a source of food (like building materials) – and when the floodwaters strike, no matter how guarded against moisture you are, the third ingredient has been added. Once the call to your insurance company has been made, you know that it’s time to deal with the mold, but where do you start?
People often don’t think about the work that goes in to the process, and think it’s as simple as doing a quick Internet search and phoning the first person on the list – believe me, it’s not!
This is where you don’t just call the first person on the Google page. A good place to start is by asking some of your local friends and family if they have used a specific company and if they were satisfied with the work. As a contractor, I always found that the best advertising was word of mouth.
Once you’ve assembled a short list from your friends, go online and look for companies. Here’s where you’ll want to carefully look at ratings and online reviews. See what people are saying about the company (if anything), and start adding any promising looking companies to your list.
Call up as many remediation companies as possible. I’ve often said that it can take more time to find the right specialist than it can to complete the project itself. This is especially true for something like mold remediation which puts your family’s health at risk.
Be wary of a specialist who is able to start a job immediately. While cancellations do occur, any specialist who has their schedule wide open may not be the best choice – and worth a hard look before you sign any agreement.
If your neighbourhood experienced a big flood, and mold is a problem for many homes – beware of the door-to-door mold remediation specialist. They may seem like your angel sent from above, but they could be a devil in disguise. Even in the event of a natural disaster, don’t skimp on doing your homework before you hire. It can save you an even bigger headache in the future!
Once you’ve got your list of specialists, it’s time to put them to the test. There are a few questions you’ll want to ask them to gauge their abilities to find out if they’re going to make it right for you. Did you know that even the pros use Concrobium Mold Control to kill mold? If you’re a fan of the product, you may even consider asking your specialist to use something that you trust.
You want to know that your mediation specialists will be testing your air. Doing an air quality test before remediation will help them find the source of the mold, and performing the test afterwards will help ensure they’ve properly dealt with the issue.
You definitely want your team to be properly insured – but also make sure they keep their employees safe too, by requiring all necessary protective gear. This not only protects the specialists, but helps prevent mold spores from spreading to other areas of the home. Believe me, it’s important.
Sometimes even the best can miss something, but if a company is reputable, they’ll guarantee their work, and if you have any mold issues come up because they missed something, they’ll take care of it.
A company that won’t provide references from past customers is a huge red flag to me. You want a chance to talk to previous clients to find out if the company truly stands behind their work. If they don’t, move on to the next name on your list.
Once you’ve done your research, asked the right questions, and are satisfied with the answers, it’s time to hire your pro. As tempting as it is to rush, especially in the aftermath of a big disaster, it’s worth your time and effort to make sure it’s going to be done right.
And remember, mold growth that exceeds 10 square feet MUST be dealt with by a specialist. That’s not a DIY job.
Receive periodic updates about new projects we’ve worked on and initiatives we’ve undertaken.
Your privacy is very important to us and your email address will not be shared.
CAREERS | SITEMAP | PRIVACY
TERMS | CLIENT LOG-IN