Before you pay for mold removal, get an independent test.

What an independent test tells you

• Whether there's really a problem. Indoor air samples are compared to an outdoor control taken at the same time. Some mold in the air is normal. The question is whether your levels or types are out of line with outside.
• Where it is. Moisture readings and a visual inspection show which rooms and materials are affected, including areas inside walls, under floors and in crawlspaces.
• How big it is. The size of the affected area decides how much material has to come out and whether containment is needed. That's most of what a remediation job costs.
• Why it's there. Mold always follows moisture. If the leak, humidity or drainage problem isn't fixed, the mold comes back after any cleanup.

Why the test should be independent

A company that tests and then sells the cleanup earns more when it finds more. We don't perform remediation, and we don't take referral fees from companies that do. Our fee is the same whatever the samples show, so the only thing we're paid to do is get the answer right.

Preston Johnson is a licensed residential contractor with the SC Residential Builders Commission, certified in indoor environmental assessment and in supervisory microbial remediation. He knows how remediation is done and what it should cost in scope, and he chooses not to sell it.

How testing first can save you money

• If the results are normal, you may not need remediation at all. Fixing the moisture source and cleaning a small area can be enough.
• If there is a problem, our written report describes where it is and how large it is. Every remediation company can quote the same scope, so you can compare prices fairly and spot a quote that's padded.
• After the work is done, clearance testing confirms the job worked before new drywall or flooring goes in.

When you can skip testing

If you can see a small patch of mold, roughly 10 square feet or less, and you know why it's there, such as a bathroom without a working fan, you usually don't need a test or a remediation company. Fix the moisture, clean the surface, and watch for it to return. We'd rather tell you that than sell you a test you don't need.

Choosing a remediation company

If you do need remediation, ask each company:

• Will you work from a written scope based on an independent assessment?
• How will you contain the work area and protect the rest of the house?
• Do you carry liability insurance, and what training or certifications does your crew have?
• Will you fix or coordinate the repair of the moisture source?
• Will you agree to independent clearance testing before the area is closed up?

A good company will say yes to all five. Be cautious with any company that insists on doing its own testing and its own clearance.

Spartanburg, Anderson and the rest of the Upstate

The same approach applies everywhere we work. We serve Spartanburg, Anderson and all ten Upstate counties, with no travel fee.