Re: How do I get a remediator to do what I want?

[Guest guest]

Surella,

An overly simplistic answer is to write down a list of what you

want done. Then ask for bids on what you put on the list. If they

want to make changes to your list (to either add or remove tasks)

ask them to specify what they are and why. Check it out with

others and . Don't sign a contract you don't agree

with.

You are the one in control. Not the contractor.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

> I currently have a gutted basement that is still very very dusty (I'm

> afraid the dust will allow mold to grow) and would like to have

> someone come in and hepa vacuum the dust up and then maybe spray a

> little bleach around just for good measure.

> Who does this? Will regular mold remediators listen to me? Or is there

> someone else to hire?

> It goes without saying that I do not want to spend thousands and

> thousands on this and I'm afraid a remediator will just see me as a

> cash cow.

> I can't do the work myself so in the end I may need to spend on this

> but am I hiring the wrong people for the job?

>

> Thanks for your help, Surella

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

> FAIR USE NOTICE:

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, Surella,

I had that problem, and talk to different handymen and cleaners. The

handyman was fine with cleaning everything down with a mild bleach

solution, as was suggested here some years back. I would not use a

vacuum- most of the stuff that bothers me is too fine. Wet wash and

wet mopping worked really well. Just used mops and buckets.

After that, he patched the cement walls and painted, then sealed the

joists with 's water seal. Then the cement floor had to be

sealed, we used a grey epoxy paint. Once it was dry and aired out for

a couple of days, it was a hundred percent better. I could actually be

in the basement and spend time down there. Hope this helps...

--- In , " surellabaer " <surellabaer@...>

wrote:

>

> I currently have a gutted basement that is still very very dusty (I'm

> afraid the dust will allow mold to grow) and would like to have

> someone come in and hepa vacuum the dust up and then maybe spray a

> little bleach around just for good measure.

> Who does this? Will regular mold remediators listen to me? Or is there

> someone else to hire?

> It goes without saying that I do not want to spend thousands and

> thousands on this and I'm afraid a remediator will just see me as a

> cash cow.

> I can't do the work myself so in the end I may need to spend on this

> but am I hiring the wrong people for the job?

>

> Thanks for your help, Surella

>

[Guest guest]

http://www.moldlaw.info/pdf/181274_1.pdf

[Guest guest]

> >

> > I currently have a gutted basement that is still very very dusty (I'm

> > afraid the dust will allow mold to grow) and would like to have

> > someone come in and hepa vacuum the dust up and then maybe spray a

> > little bleach around just for good measure.

> > Who does this? Will regular mold remediators listen to me? Or is there

> > someone else to hire?

> > It goes without saying that I do not want to spend thousands and

> > thousands on this and I'm afraid a remediator will just see me as a

> > cash cow.

> > I can't do the work myself so in the end I may need to spend on this

> > but am I hiring the wrong people for the job?

> >

> > Thanks for your help, Surella

> >

>

[Guest guest]

>You are right of course-I need to be a little bit more bossy and in

control-something I'm not naturally good at.

(below) suggested a total wipe down with bleach & water might

be better than a vacuuming and that makes sense to me. How does that

sound to you?

Thanks, Surella

> Surella,

>

> An overly simplistic answer is to write down a list of what you

> want done. Then ask for bids on what you put on the list. If they

> want to make changes to your list (to either add or remove tasks)

> ask them to specify what they are and why. Check it out with

> others and . Don't sign a contract you don't agree

> with.

>

> You are the one in control. Not the contractor.

>

> Carl Grimes

> Healthy Habitats LLC

>

> -----

> > I currently have a gutted basement that is still very very dusty (I'm

> > afraid the dust will allow mold to grow) and would like to have

> > someone come in and hepa vacuum the dust up and then maybe spray a

> > little bleach around just for good measure.

> > Who does this? Will regular mold remediators listen to me? Or is there

> > someone else to hire?

> > It goes without saying that I do not want to spend thousands and

> > thousands on this and I'm afraid a remediator will just see me as a

> > cash cow.

> > I can't do the work myself so in the end I may need to spend on this

> > but am I hiring the wrong people for the job?

> >

> > Thanks for your help, Surella

> >

> >

> > ------------------------------------

> >

> > FAIR USE NOTICE:

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Surella,

The first point is to effectively remove the mold from surfaces,

regardless of which method is used to remove it. Removal vs

killing or painting over it.

Then the second point is what removal methods work best is your

particular situation. Different surfaces will require different

methods.

The third point is which effective removal methods don't put

residue back into the air or leave it on the surface.

Smooth surfaces can be effectively damp wiped but rough

surfaces cannot. Rough surfaces can be better cleaned by

vacuuming - but only if the exhaust is filtered with a true HEPA

filter.

Damp wiping smooth surfaces is done cheapest with warm water

and a small amount of mild detergent. Cleaning doesn't require

special super killing products, just cleaning. Using bleach risks

putting a chemical into the air causing respiratory irritation and

some cannot tolerate bleach. It's not needed anyway. Use of

bleach does nothing to improve success.

As for needing to be more assertive with contractors, if you aren't

who will? Also, if we don't make our needs clear then the

contractor/remediator/handyman has no idea how to meet them.

Once agreed upon, the procudures need to be monitored and

enforced unless you have previous experience with that specific

crew successfully doing mold removal.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

>

> >You are right of course-I need to be a little bit more bossy and in

> control-something I'm not naturally good at.

> (below) suggested a total wipe down with bleach & water might

> be better than a vacuuming and that makes sense to me. How does that

> sound to you?

> Thanks, Surella

>

> > Surella,

> >

> > An overly simplistic answer is to write down a list of what you

> > want done. Then ask for bids on what you put on the list. If they

> > want to make changes to your list (to either add or remove tasks)

> > ask them to specify what they are and why. Check it out with

> > others and . Don't sign a contract you don't agree

> > with.

> >

> > You are the one in control. Not the contractor.

> >

> > Carl Grimes

> > Healthy Habitats LLC

> >

> > -----

> > > I currently have a gutted basement that is still very very dusty (I'm

> > > afraid the dust will allow mold to grow) and would like to have

> > > someone come in and hepa vacuum the dust up and then maybe spray a

> > > little bleach around just for good measure.

> > > Who does this? Will regular mold remediators listen to me? Or is there

> > > someone else to hire?

> > > It goes without saying that I do not want to spend thousands and

> > > thousands on this and I'm afraid a remediator will just see me as a

> > > cash cow.

> > > I can't do the work myself so in the end I may need to spend on this

> > > but am I hiring the wrong people for the job?

> > >

> > > Thanks for your help, Surella

> > >

> > >

> > > ------------------------------------

> > >

> > > FAIR USE NOTICE:

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

>What a terrific resource! Best thing I've read on mold remediation in

a long time-it's clear and concise and everyone should take a look at

this.

Thanks so much, Surella

> http://www.moldlaw.info/pdf/181274_1.pdf

>

[Guest guest]

That is an EPA document that really, has information that is useful

for ALL buildings.

" Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings "

The main URL is

http://www.epa.gov/mold/mold_remediation.html or

http://www.epa.gov/mold/pdfs/moldremediation.pdf (for the current PDF

version, which is around 5MB)

It's comprehensive, discusses a LOT of important issues, and the best deal out

there (its free!) for information on how to

effectively clean up (and prevent) mold!

On Mon, Oct 6, 2008 at 8:50 AM, surellabaer <surellabaer@...> wrote:

>

>>What a terrific resource! Best thing I've read on mold remediation in

> a long time-it's clear and concise and everyone should take a look at

> this.

> Thanks so much, Surella

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Live, never would have figured that out without you.

> > --- In , " llaci2003 " <jjaksic@>

wrote:

> >>What a terrific resource! Best thing I've read on mold

remediation in

> > a long time-it's clear and concise and everyone should take a

look at

> > this.

> > Thanks so much, Surella

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Jeanine, the reason I think its important to get documents from the

source is that sometimes, a document is updated semi regularly, and

the copied version may be an older revision - by going to the source,

you have a better chance of getting the best quality info (although

with our current administration, God knows- ugh)

Thats what DOI is for..BTW, when you see the little " doi: " info..

http://www.doi.org/

On Mon, Oct 6, 2008 at 3:47 PM, who <jeaninem660@...> wrote:

> Thanks Live, never would have figured that out without you.

>

>

>>

[Guest guest]

oh, I think it's very important to get quality information to Live,

even if it doesn't go along with your and your budy's way of thinking.

> >

> >>

>