Florida requires licensed contractors for mold mitigation

Homes throughout the region bear the telltale scars of water inundation, their walls tainted by waterlines reaching feet above the floor. Floodwaters not only made a visible mark, but they also left behind an ideal breeding ground for mold and a slurry of e coli-contaminated category-3 black water, said Brian Bland, a licensed Florida mold remediator and owner of iMold Water Damage & Mold Restoration.

Lab-tested samples taken by iMold in 195 Southwest Florida homes — from St. James City and Cape Coral to Fort Myers and Bonita Springs — revealed fecal matter in 190 of them.

"It's definitely there if your home was flooded," said Mr. Bland. "If your roof leaked, it might also be there."

Although some home surfaces can be properly cleaned and sanitized, cabinetry, moldings, drywall and any wood exposed to water needs to be replaced. So should tile flooring, said Mr. Bland, noting moisture will seep into its edges, eventually working its way into new walls and causing future mold a decade from now.

"Your insurance only pays once," he said.

Removing water-logged surfaces should be done as soon as possible. Tony Leeber, CEO of Cornerstone Builders, a building contractor and licensed mold remediator, said insurance companies are expediting water-damage claims.

"They know the longer water sits it's going to cause mold, increase the damage and result in a larger claim," he said. "It's important to get in there immediately and most insurance companies are facilitating this. We're replacing base cabinetry, molding, dry wall and countertops. There are also the additional concerns of plumbing and electric exposed to water."

Andrea Pelletier, a client advisor in private risk services at Gulfshore Insurance in Naples, says homeowners should take photos of waterlines with a measuring tape showing the distance to the floor. She also recommends salvaging 1-by-1-foot floor samples.

"The water remediation companies have been very responsive," said Ms. Pelletier. "They're getting into homes and cutting out drywall as we can all see by the debris piling up along the roads."

At the three-week milestone since the hurricane, the do-it-yourself window has long since slammed shut. Removing mold-infested drywall is best left to experts to prevent even more damage, said Mr. Bland.

"People are freaked out by wet drywall and the growth of humidity blooms, but if it's cut out improperly, you're dispersing spores," he said. "Mold is worse once it's airborne. You're breathing it in, it's toxic and can cause serious illness and death."

Mr. Bland advises homeowners to contain growth by sealing off visible mold with plastic and duct tape.

While the Florida Department of Health defers to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding cleanup of large-scale mold growth, the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation is responsible for licensing mold assessors and mold remediators who complete required training and pass an exam. State legislators tightened mold remediation laws just last year, requiring Florida licenses to conduct business in the state.

"In the state of Florida, it's a felony to touch anything over 10 square feet if you're not licensed," said Mr. Bland.

Records show Southwest Florida has about 170 individual mold remediators with active licenses — about 20 in Charlotte, 50 in Collier and just over 100 in Lee.

In Florida, mold assessors conduct tests and evaluate the severity of mold in homes. Remediators, like iMold and Cornerstone, perform the actual cleanup. ¦

In the KNOW

What are molds?

Molds are types of fungi. They grow in the natural environment. Tiny particles of molds are found everywhere in indoor and outdoor air. In nature, molds help break down dead materials, and can be found growing on soil, foods, plants and other items. Molds also are very common in buildings and homes. Mold needs moisture to grow. Indoors, mold growth can be found where humidity levels are high, like basements and showers. Molds produce microscopic cells called "spores" that are spread easily through the air. Spores also can be spread by water and insects. Live spores act like seeds, forming new mold colonies when they find the right conditions.

How do you identify mold or potential for mold when coming back to your home after a disaster?

Things that stayed wet for two days have mold growing on them even if you can't see it.

Sight — are the walls or ceiling discolored or do they show signs of mold growth or water damage?

Smell — Do you smell a bad odor, such as musty, earthy smell or a foul stench?

If yes to either, it's mold.

More tips

Mold can look gray, black or even brown. Mold colonies may appear cottony, velvety, granular, leathery or glassy.

Mold will begin to grow on most surfaces after just 24 hours in a damp environment.

Certified/licensed mold inspectors are available in most communities.

The color of mold does not impact the choice of mold cleaner, the cleaning methods are the same.

Use bleach to clean mold off hard things, like floors, sinks, countertops, flatware, plates and tools.

Items soaked with water such as clothes, carpet, etc. have to be discarded.

Never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners.

Mix no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water.

If the surface is rough, scrub with a stiff brush.

Rinse with clean water.

Dry the item or leave it out to dry.

Take out items that have soaked up water and that cannot be cleaned and dried, carpet, clothing, mattresses, furniture, all other items that cannot be disinfected. Flood waters generally contain sewage, so take protective precautions.

Florida Department of Health