As someone with a background in mold assessment and remediation in Texas, I can say there are a few key steps you need to follow when dealing with mold. First, it is important that you work with a company that is licensed in Texas to ensure the highest quality of service including the necessary training and experience to effectively deal with mold issues. Second, do not let your insurance company tell you that you cannot use a company of your choosing. Saving a few bucks by not using a licensed company may be very costly in the long run.
Red Flag Issues!
A contractor you find on the internet comes to your home or business and tries to assess and write a protocol (work plan) all at the same time. They also recommend a couple of companies who will do the remediation work at a very attractive price. There are many unlicensed companies who do this. Easy, Peasy (One Stop Shopping, Right)? STOP! STOP! STOP! They try to get you to sign with them and now you are stuck with a company that has deliberately avoided the state rules and they cannot deliver what you are looking for or need to protect yourself and your property.
First, ask whether or not the mold remediator has a Texas License. If he or she responds “yes” ask to see a copy of the license or a card showing the number. The license must be from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. And the letter/number sequence must have the following: MRC#xxxxx. That is the letters “MRC”, which stand for Mold Remediation Contractor followed by “#” and five numbers. Do not settle for any license other than this. Commonly, a non-licensed company will try to pass off a worker’s license which has MRW#xxxxx. This is a mold remediation worker who has attended a half day training and is not allowed to work on your property unless he is being actively supervised by a licensed Mold Remediation Contractor. This is a certification, not a icense. The state rules and regulations state this very clearly.
Second, ask this mold remediator if they can issue a CMDR. This is a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation which is a Department of Insurance form saying that the work done on your home/office has followed the protocol and has been inspected and cleared according to the rules and regulation of the State of Texas. It also does something else which is KEY. It relieves you of any Civil Actions/Penalities that come about as a result of a claim made by a future owner or someone coming onto your property saying thy have been harmed by mold that was not cleaned up properly, or you did not follow the state rules. The two licensed companies that you need will sign the CMDR are both licensed to do so. An unlicensed contractor cannot sign anything. Therefore, you are left without any guarantee or liability protection. An insurance company may choose to not insure your property unless you have a signed CMDR.
If the person or company you are intending to hire cannot produce a valid license issued by the state of Texas, from the Department of Licensing and Regulation you do not have any guarantee the work will be done right.
Mold is not a game. Mold can be very hazardous to you, your family and pets, anyone you work with or any guest that walks into your home/office (even for one minute). Mold is definitely not something you want to play around with.
Working with a licensed Mold Remediation Contractor ensures that the job will be done properly.