The best way is to contact a mold remediation contractor. A contractor can NOT supply a certificate stating that the premises are within acceptable limits for mold. This must be done by a company such as Driscoll Environmental, Rimkus, or Gurtler Bros. They are certified mold inspectors. The keys to proper mold removal are to sanitize the premises before any building materials are removed and to prevent the further spread of mold by airborne spores. The air ducts should be sealed and negative pressure developed in the work area. The area should be dehumidified (the inspectors look for under 15% moisture content in wood) the studs, sills etc. are then sprayed with the disinfectant. NOT BLEACH, jomax, etc. Products should be EPA rated such as Sporicidin or Microban. The wood should then air dry and be wire brushed/sanded to remove the visible and invisible mold. All debris and dust should then be vacuumed with a HEPA vacuum. After this the premises can be fogged with ULV foggers with a product such as Benzarid. The premises are then inspected by the Certified company of your choice and the wood may or may not be sealed with an encapsulant paint such as Fosters 40/20 that prohibits further mold growth. To further enhance the air quality prior to testing, air scrubbers may be rented from Emergency Supply? on the Westbank. They should be run for at least 48 hours and shut off at least 48 hours prior to air sampling. If you need a good company, Dry Guys, LLC does nice work for a reasonable cost ($3-$5 per sq. ft.). (504) 452-6588.

Oh my goodness - waaayy overkill. $10k for a 2000sq ft house?!

Next thing will be a post about the deady "BLACK MOLD", or maybe how "MOLD EATS WOOD".

A Note of Caution - Always check the validity of contractor and proper licensure. Dry Guys, LLC is NOT A LOUISIANA LICENSED contractor and it appears, may be price gouging. Many contractors have come into New Orleans and are not familiar with licensure. The State Contractors License Board and LA. State Attorney General's Office requires licensure and registration. Always ask for license information and VERIFY IT prior to hiring any contractor for your repairs, INCLUDING remediation activities.

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Prices for biological decontamination range from $.50 upward.

Every house is different and most owners have varying needs for decontamination. For a simple chemical treatment with Microban AND Sporicidin, the average cost is $.50 per square foot. Both chemicals are used for a broad spectrum decontamination and prevention measure. Sporicidin is a broad anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal disinfectant. Remember, a lot of bacteria (E. coli) was present in the water. Viruses normally have a very limited lifespan after drying. We have however still found damp and wet areas within walls all over New Orleans, so the old addage, "An ounce of prevention..." Microban is a very good antifungal and fungal inhibitor. It also provides a deodorant to the equation, leaving the treated area with a clean smell. Through many applications in New Orleans both before and after Katrina, I find a combination works most effectively. Sometimes additional methods and remedial activities are required but the above is minimum and for most instances all that is required following demolition activities.

One item needing attention is you owners that have brick exterior. Dependent on the sheating material, you may want to consider treatment of the air space between the sheathing and the brick. Certain building materials promote mold growth. Without proper treatment, NOT DECONTAMINATION, mold may perpetuate and spread as the temperatures warm and humidity conditions rise. I have treated several houses in the Lakewood area. This process involves drilling small holes above the waterline and spraying and fogging the air space. As a result, the sealed interior surfaces are saturated with the chemicals and mold, bacteria and viruses are killed. If a person has a severe allergy to mold, further remediation may be required. To date I have NOT had to perform additional activities to exterior sheathing in New Orleans.

If anyone has further questions I will be happy to discuss them with you.

I would perfer email due to heavy phone usage but will provide both telephone and email contact information.


Norm Ryan - Ryan Environmental Services, LLC

norm @ryanservices.com
Norm Cell Phone 225-955-6676

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There is no requirement that your remediation contractor be certified, just properly insured and licensed. The most important matter is whether your inspector is certified. Dry Guys never claimed and specifically informed me that they were not certified. If you can do it for $50 a square foot, I have a house in Lakeview you can put on the schedule. You give me 1 contractor who does an adequate job for that price. That would not cover the cost of materials alone, much less equipment, labor, insurance, etc. I will patiently wait for those remediators names.

The few certified inspectors I am familiar with (Driskill, Rimkus, Gurtler Bros.) all require that the premises pass a visual inspection before any air sampling is performed. By only spraying the premises with Microban or Sporicidin, you are NOT properly remediating the area. The mold must be physically removed from the premises (i.e. wire brush and HEPA vac to fulfill this requirement, yet you fail to mention this point in your criticism of people doing the job properly. You should be promoting your field instead of undercutting without giving appropriate treatment.

Pbooth,

Please do call me on the number listed... As I stated, each residence is individual, I will be glad to provide you an estimate on what YOU want done in regards to the property you mention. I am scheduling inspections and estimates in New Orleans for the week of April 24.

I AM A CERTIFIED AND LICENSED REMEDIATOR AND INSPECTOR. Feel free to check with the your references. I have worked with all of them on previous projects both prior to Katrina and ongoing.

As I stated and you reiterated the point, Dry Guys, LLC are niether Licensed nor Certified.

Why would you recommend a company to provide services of which they are (1) not qualified nor (2) legally authorized to provide ?

As for as promoting my industry, I hope I am doing just that by providing accurate information.

I do not feel that I have been undercutting my fellow contractors. I have done numerous remedation projects in New Orleans prior to Katrina and ongoing. I hold several memberships and board certifications. One group with which I will not be affiliated, however, are those that will take advantage of a situation. Pricing within my organization has remained the same with the exception of a small increase to offset the cost of fuel to and from New Orleans. (Total increase of less than 5 % and it varies dependent on fuel) !

"Inadequate remedation," is done by the fly-by-night companies spraying a house with clorox and charging $ 3-5 per sq ft.

Most homes have already been gutted with no regard to spread of mold or remediation procedures of which you describe. PROPER PROTOCOL would have required every item you listed in your reply. Unforntuately, remediators are having to modify protocol due to extenuating circumstances. I was formally trained with textbook remedaition procedures, but, I was educated with field experience.

To me, "acceptable" is a better term for mold remediation. Some people have deeper pockets and more resources and have higher levels of "acceptance". Again, individual remediation requirements. YOU may have the resources and higher level of "acceptance" to require your residence to be wire brushed. The widow in the low income bracket might be receptive and view "acceptable" the Sporicidin and Microban treatment.

My priority is to get people back into their houses and protect them from the predetors posing as legitimate contractors and professionals.

Please feel free to contact me with additional comments or concerns,

Norm Ryan

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225-955-6676

I would refer them (DRY GUYS) because 1)they do have the proper licensing to operate this type of business, certification is not a requirement only an advantage. Certified mold inspectors, as you know, will provide the protocol (for a fee) that even the homeowner can perform themselves provided they have access to the proper equipment; 2) they are local; 3)they have a certified inspector approved and physician approved protocol; 4) they have properly remediated homes allowing homeowners to get a certificate showing that mold was within acceptable limits AFTER Katrina, and 5) they were timely, not coming into town at some point in the near future. Why would I refer You?

As a person trying to get my house back where it was pre-Katrina, I'm looking at all possibilities. In my experience, that are great price variations in all services. Looking for whatever suits your needs is important. Time vs expense vs expertise sent me all over looking for affordable leveling/elevation contractors. I found what I needed at affordable prices. I will follow the same plan for my mold remediation problems, even if it takes a little longer. I'm not going to use someone just because they are local. I would like to, but I won't be limited to it: there are local people gouging too...Let the buyer beware!

DRY GUYS, LLC ARE NOT LICENSED...they may be local BUT they do not have the license REQUIRED to operate remediation business in Louisiana. State law requires all remediation contractors to be state licensed and if you check the link I have provided (for all contractors) they are NOT.

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All protocols can be approved, USUALLY by the homeowner. Protocols stipulate what will be done and provides a starting and ending point to remedial procedures. I would not want a physician approved protocol unless he is also a certified industrial hygienist or certified safety professional.

As far is coming into New Orleans in the near future...I go to New Orleans 5 - 6 days a week. My crews are driving 2 hours each way to put people back in theire homes. We have been on this schedule since 2 weeks after the storm. For the first 2 weeks following Katrina, my crews were working on critical care facilities and nursing homes to get them operational and move the elderly out of temporary housing and schools. The second week after Katrina, my crews were decontaminating the New Orleans International Airport from fungal, biological and chemical problems.

I do not make false commitments and unlike some contractors, I believe in a timeline. I will not take on more work than is practical. I told you I would be scheduling appointments the week of April 24. I NEVER said I wasnt already in New Orleans.

Did I ask for a referal ? My crews work speaks for itself !


Norm Ryan
225-955-6676

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Again, you assume that this company is doing business as a mold remediation business. This is inaccurate. The company provides decontamination and sanitation services. Within this envelope, mold is treated and remediated, as well as bacteria, viruses, etc. I appreciate what you have done and are doing to perform in our city. However, my initial post was not meant to be taken as the bible, and I took issue with your price quote of $.50/ s.f. My quote of $3-$5 was a ballpark figure which also included proper demolition of the site concurrent with the remediation. Regards, pjb

Before and after Katrina, I have purchased and flipped properties in Baton Rouge as well New Orleans. Since mold is an ever present problem in both of these areas, I have forced myself to become familiar with the standard protocols of proper mold remediation. I always get a mold certificate on my properties in order to assist me with selling the property as well as covering myself legally.

I stumbled upon this forum and noticed that Norm Ryan with Ryan Environmental Services had written extensively here. I have personally utilized Mr Ryan on several projects of mine and have always been very satisfied with his work. I felt obligated to say that his company always delivered a clean house back to me for a fair price. On top of that, I have always been comfortable with the crews that he brings on the job site.

I do not know anything about Dry Guys so I am not qualified to pass judgment on them. I do know that Mr Ryan has tackled my small jobs with the same energy that allows him to compete for large size contracts that he seems to be earning here in New Orleans. I highly recommend him and I will continue to use him in my upcoming projects.