Flooding in Calgary and Mold

This major emergency of flooding in Calgary has impacted so many here in this fine city, most home owners that have had water in their basement will discover mold in their home within a week, a safe assumption would presume these people will have to remove the hazardous fungus as soon as possible.  That is, until researching the cost of a mold remediation specialist.  However, time is of the essence and choosing a lower-priced mold removal services may cost the property owner more in the end.

An age-old axiom warns consumers with six simple words: “You get what you pay for.”  While driving a hard bargain may behoove some shoppers looking for a good deal, paying for safe, efficient service is vital when it comes to a person’s most valuable investment.

Should a home or business owner encounter mold in their property after the flooding, they can count on one thing: depreciation of the value of their property.  Insurance companies and inspectors will deem a property value “zero” when mold is involved due to the innumerable legal implications that may surface during or after a sales transaction.

It is important for property owners to fit mold removal into their budget, most home owner should be covered by insurance because of flash flooding, seepage claims will probably not be covered.  Property owners will use this reason as an excuse to hire the services of an inexpensive alternative to a more reputable mold removal specialist.  On the contrary, home and business owners should measure the value of service they will be receiving by spending some time researching the companies credentials.

Insurance – Property owners must ensure the remediation specialist they choose is sufficiently covered for potential damages caused to their property during the mold remediation process.  Companies without enough insurance, or none at all, may make a mistake, the property owner is stuck with the damage and the bill.

IICRC Certified Technicians – The IICRC is a non-profit company that creates and governs ethical mold remediation practices.  The IICRC S520 Guidelines are critical to ensuring safe, healthy and efficient mold removal.  The likelihood is that all lower-priced restoration companies will not be able to provide certified techs for the project due to costs of obtaining proper certification and training. (ask if the tech has his or her AMRT or CMS designation from the EAA)

Containment of the Mold Outbreak – For the same reasons properties owners are not advised to handle mold removal on their own, some restoration companies may not  provide proper safety precautions by charging less for their service.  Containing the fungal outbreak is essential for two main reasons:

Mold will do its best to survive.  If mold is touched, it will send thousands of spores, or seeds, into the air to find a new area to colonize (called dissemination).  By failing to set up a containment area, mold can grow in other rooms of the property, in carpets, on furniture, on clothing and even get into the ventilation and HVAC systems.

Touching mold without proper personal protective equipment can cause severe allergic reactions like, high fever, shortness of breath, eye irritation and skin irritation.

Unbiased Mold Testing– Low-cost companies who advertise “free” testing are selling a conflict of interest to potential clients.  Mold testing should always be completed by a non-affiliated, third-party industrial hygienist.  Without an unbiased tester, restoration companies can manipulated test results to benefit themselves and take advantage of the consumer.  Dependable restoration companies will only work when a third-party hygienist is involved and even have a comprehensive list of non-affiliated testers for the consumer to choose from.

- See more at: www.amityenvironmental.ca

Water Seepage and Prevention

The season for potential water in your basement is now coming to a basement near you. Are you ready? Monitoring your home is discussed below may prevent water damage.

·         It should be understood that it is impossible to predict the severity or frequency of moisture penetration to a home. Almost all basements exhibit signs of moisture penetration and virtually all basements can indeed leak at some point in time. Further monitoring of the foundation will be required to determine what improvements, if any, will be required. Basement leakage rarely affects the structural integrity of a home.

Flooding potential

·         The vast majority of basement leakage problems are the result of insufficient control of storm water at the surface. The ground around the house should be sloped to encourage water to flow away from the foundations. Gutters and downspouts should act to collect roof water and drain the water at least five (5) feet from the foundation or into a functional storm sewer. Downspouts that are clogged or broken below grade level, or that discharge too close to the foundation are the most common source of basement leakage.

·          In the event that basement leakage problems are experienced, lot and roof drainage improvements should be undertaken as a first step. Please beware of contractors who recommend expensive solutions. Excavation, damp-proofing and/or the installation of drainage tiles should be a last resort. In some cases, however, it is necessary. Your plans for using the basement may also influence the approach taken to curing any dampness that is experienced.

Annual Precipitation

 

Wet Basement Causes

-Annually the province receives about 355 millimeter of rain from May to October. On a typical 40 x 110 foot lot, this will produce 144,800 liters of water. 

- 6 millimeter of rain on the 40 x 110 foot lot would produce 2,596 liters of water. 

- The 355 millimeters of rain on a roof of a 2000 square foot house would produce more than 167,200 liters of water, which must be directed away from the foundation of the home. 

- The 6 millimeters of rain on the same roof would produce 1,200 liters of water that must be directed away from the foundation of the home.

With these things in mind, I hope your basement stays dry, if you have experienced water damage please call or email us at jason@amityenvironmental.ca, or check us out on our site www.amityenvironmental.ca