Can anyone recommend a mold remediation company? Looking for someone that offers a certificate/warranty and is licensed. So far the soda blasting techniques looks good.

I have a friend that asked an enviromental professor at Tulane that question.

He said spray the studs with bleach and water, let it dry then spray on kilz over all the studs.

Thats it.

Soda blasting is an excellent choice. After lots of research, it actually makes more sense than anything. The process is very similiar to sand blasting, but it is done at a lower pressure, and it is done with food grade baking soda. And it is a completely dry process too. The baking soda removes all mold, mud, bacteria, etc. from all of the interior framed studs, ceiling joists, etc. The wood then looks and smells new, literally. I know several people who have done this in Lakeview and you wouldn't believe the results. The baking soda even eliminates any odors that still may be present. The particular company that my friends used then sprays on an antimicrobial which prevents any mold from ever growing back, and it is backed by a 5 year, transferrable warranty. I haven't found anyone that offers a warranty like that. If I decide to rebuild, I am definitely going to do this.

How to Safely Clean Up Moldy & Toxic Homes

A Free One Day Train-the-Trainer Workshop
When: Friday, April 21, 2006
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m

Where: Preservation Resource Center
923 Tchoupitoulas Street, New Orleans

To Register or for More Information, Call or Email:
Ralph Scott, 202-543-1147,

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Staff and volunteers from New Orleans area organizations working
with homeowners, volunteers, day laborers, contractors, and other
workers on post-hurricane home cleanup are invited to participate in
a one-day train-the-trainer workshop to learn how to teach others
safe and effective home mold and sludge cleanup and proper use of
appropriate personal protective equipment.

The interactive, day-long workshop will consist of two deliveries of
a safe home clean-up training with discussion. Participants will
simultaneously learn how to deliver a 2-3 hour training on safe home
clean-up and help improve the training course to best meet local
needs. A safe mold cleanup manual and follow-up assistance will be
available to trainees. Lunch will be provided.

Principal trainer Dennis Livingston has more than 25 years of
experience designing and delivering worker training and other
community-based programs in renovation, weatherization, the
prevention and remediation of lead hazards, and other healthy
housing practices. The course includes knowledge gained from a
recently completed New Orleans home decontamination demonstration
project conducted by the National Center for Healthy Housing and
Enterprise Community Partners.

We strongly recommend that trainer-trainees be people with core
housing-related competencies and experience (such as housing
maintenance or repair), so they are familiar with basic terminology
and practices and thus have necessary credibility when training
others. Registration will be limited to 30 people, so please sign
up early!

The best way is to contact a mold remeiation contractor. A contractor can NOT supply a certificate stating that the premises are within acceptable limits for fold. 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 wtuds, 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. If you need a good company, Dry Guys, LLC does nice work for a reasonable cost ($3-$5 per sq. ft.). (504) 452-6588.

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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I would recommend using Ryan Eviromental Services as I have. They came out and performed a excellent job. The staff was professional, knowedgable and at an affordable price. If you want professional work, from an established, local company give them a call or email them. I am not no way affiliated with Ryan Enviromental Services, other than being one happy customer.

A company named AquaSteam has just finished my home on Gen Diaz..Very good. Reasonable price. Professional. They guarantee mold free verified by your independent inspector. Good folks. Lots of A+ references. Contact: Ken Welch 225-247-9713