Mold Remediation

ServiceMaster Advanced Cleaning & Restoration, "The Master of Disaster" - Mold Remediation Overview

CERTIFIED Mold Damage Remediation and Cleanup

We are the original ServiceMaster Restore disaster restoration company operating in Mobile and Baldwin County in South Alabama, serving the area for over 30 years. We have handled some of the largest fire damage, water damage and mold remediation cleanup jobs ever performed on the Gulf Coast and we would be honored to serve you. (251) 653-9333, (251) 928-1028 and (866) 653-9333.

ServiceMaster Mobile, Alabama locally known as ServiceMaster Advanced Cleaning & Restoration, The Master of Disaster, has posted several guidelines about mold identification and mold remediation on their site.

Please see our videos and other articles on mold remediation to obtain a fuller understanding of how remediation companies handle this issue. One video that provides good overview and a resonable approach is: http://www.servicemastermobilealabama.com/Mold-Remediation-Overview-Mobile-and-Baldwin-_1.html, another video that shows us on an actual job in Alabama is here: http://www.servicemastermobilealabama.com/Whole-House-Mold-Cleanup-Remediation-Mobile-AL-Daphne-Alabama-1.html

CERTIFIED Mold Remediation Requires Training & Knowledge - Mobile, AL, Baldwin County, AL & The Alabama & Mississippi Gulf Coast

If you have a mold issue, make certain that you hire a CERTIFIED mold remediation professional. Ask to see their certifications. Ask to see their insurance. Mold can be a serious health hazard, and you shouldn't take a chance with anyone that says it can simply be torn out! The airborne spores left from the removal of affected drywall and contents, are typically the very thing that will cause health problems. If every square inch isn't properly cleaned and the air filtered, the resulting spores can be enough to cause serious health issues. We will not take a chance with your health. We only know one way to do the job - the right way. This involves total elimination and removal of all visible and airborne mold spores. - ServiceMaster Advanced - The Master of Disaster (251) 653-9333, (251) 928-1028 & (866) 653-9333.

Water Damage, Mold and Home Insurance

You’ve had water damage in your house due to a burst pipe, a roof leak or a heavy summer storm. You hope that your insurance will cover the damage. What to do? First, read about mold below. You may not know the implications of water and mold damage.

What Is Mold, and Why Should You Care?

Molds are part of a group of micro-organisms called fungi that also includes mushrooms and yeasts. Molds are familiar to most people as food spoilers on items such as bread or fruit. Molds are nature’s decomposers in the food chain.

Mold requires the following conditions to grow:

Mold spores (which are always present indoors and outdoors)
The right temperature range, from 2°C to 40°C
A food supply, which means anything organic such as books, carpets, clothing, wood, drywall, etc.
A source of moisture

The last condition, moisture, is the only practical factor to control in most houses.

If allowed to grow inside your house, mold can be a problem because:

It can damage your possessions
It can cause health problems, for example:

“ … mold … can cause … allergic reactions such as asthma or allergic rhinitis, non-allergic reactions such as headaches, and other symptoms [including] lung and breathing infections” (Health Canada, 2003).

Dry Quickly to Avoid Mold!

How did the water damage occur?
Is this damage covered by your policy?
Did the damage occur during the period your policy was in effect?
Are you reporting the water damage promptly (within 24 hours) to allow quick drying and repairs?

Call ServiceMaster Advanced

ServiceMaster Advanced will clean up the water and make repairs as needed to your house.

A thorough and fast cleanup will help avoid mold growth. If you wait too long and mold growth starts, cleanup costs will increase significantly. This is what you should be looking for:

Speed
Mold grows quickly; that is why you need us in your house promptly.

Knowledge
ServiceMaster Advanced Cleaning & Restoration is certified and trained in water damage restoration and mold remediation. Not only are we certified and trained, unlike many of the other "national" companies who advertise that they perform these services in Mobile and Baldwin Counties and the Gulf Coast, we actually perform this work here. All of our pictures and videos are of actual jobs that this entity actually performed here! We are experienced HERE on the Gulf Coast. Our pictures are not stock corporate photos provided to us by the franchisor, they are OUR pictures of jobs that we have done!

Competence
We follow basic, good clean up practices after your water damage. Here are some things to look for:

The moisture source is stopped
Wet items that can’t be salvaged are removed
What can’t be removed is dried quickly
Ideally, drying is done within 48 hours (to minimize mold growth)
No refinishing is done until the area is thoroughly dried

WHAT IS MOLD?

We have probably all encountered mold at one time or another. It might have been in the shower, or on a stale piece of bread or cheese/ There are many different species of mold, but all molds share some common characteristics.

Molds thrive in moist and humid environments.
Molds require an organic food source. One common food source is cellulose, which is found in building materials such as wood and drywall.
Molds are spread by microscopic airborne particles called “spores.”

Molds and spores are naturally present in the outdoor environment all around us. However, indoor mold growth can become a tenacious problem. Mold spreads rapidly and produces an unpleasant musty odor. If allowed to grow unchecked, mold can impact indoor air quality and can be difficult and costly to remove. Mold contamination is a growing concern for homeowners, property managers, insurance providers and restoration companies. Below is a picture of air sampling actually being performed in one of our offices here in Mobile, Alabama. To learn, we made certain that our own environment was mold free!

MOLD TESTING

When a customer has a significant mold issue, we will typically recommend the services of an Industrial Hygienist. This person should be hired by the customer to pre-test for mold spore levels, write a remediation plan, and conduct post-testing spore counts. In the actual printouts from lab reports from an actual job that ServiceMaster Advanced performed, one can see the before and after results below. Note the "after" spore counts (highlighted in yellow), which are actually significantly lower than outside air quality!

WHAT IS THE BEST DEFENSE?

Mold can start to grow in as little as 48 hours. To prevent the spread of mold, it is important to react quickly in the event of a water loss. By identifying and eliminating the source of the water and implementing rapid drying processes, mold growth can be curtailed. The most effective drying techniques involve the use of sensitive tools to measure and record the temperature, humidity and moisture content of both the structure and contents of the home or building. Professional water damage restoration can mean the difference between a small water problem and a structure covered with mold. ServiceMaster Clean professionally trained technicians use the latest water restoration and drying techniques to deliver quality results.

For 24 hour emergency service, call (251) 653-9333. For more information about ServiceMaster Mobile, AL and ServiceMaster Advanced Cleaning & Restoration, disaster restoration services, visit www.servicemastermobilealabama.com.

This article refers specifically and only to ServiceMaster ADVANCED Cleaning & Restoration. Make certain that you call this specific company as there are vast differences in capabilities between companies. We can be reached at (251) 653-9333, ServiceMaster ADVANCED, enterprise number 7027.

APPROPRIATE ACTION KEY

If we observe mold, we will respond appropriately, immediately reporting our observations to the insurance company. When the extent of mold contamination is isolated and/or less than 10 square feet, expensive testing and protocols are generally not required. ServiceMaster Advanced can proceed with the claim and perform emergency water mitigation services, including remediation of the 10 square feet or less of mold. We will isolate the contaminated area and remove the mold, while protecting the surrounding areas from the possible spread of mold spores.

When we encounter an affected area of more than 10 square feet, we will contain the contaminated area, stop normal water mitigation procedures and immediately notify the insurance company, and notify the customer. In these cases, we strongly recommend the use of an environmental testing service to establish baseline levels of mold, identify the types of mold present and develop a written remediation plan. Our goal is to work with the insurance company to establish the proper procedures to handle the mold situation.

ServiceMaster Advanced, The Master of Disaster (251) 653-9333. http://www.servicemastermobilealabama.com.

Remember that YOU AND YOU ALONE, decide who works in your home or business. YOU decide who handles your most precious of possessions! Tell your insurance provider that you want SERVICEMASTER ADVANCED or call us directly. Make sure that there is no confusion. There are other mitigation companies, and even others with similar sounding names. We are ServiceMaster Advanced, The Master of Disaster. "WE WOULD BE HONORED TO SERVE YOU." (251) 653-9333 or (251) 928-1028.

Printable mold remediation guide. Below.

What IS This? Is It Mold? Do I Need a Certified Mold Remediation Specialist? - Gulf Coast of Alabama