Any area with high humidity is susceptible to black mold problems. A relative humidity greater than 55 percent is enough to support the growth of black mold. Indoors, humidity levels can fluctuate drastically due to the effects of HVAC systems. Humidity can even vary greatly from room to room, so it is important to monitor […]

In 2002, the U.S. International Trade Commission reported that according to one estimate, US insurers paid over $3 billion in mold-related lawsuits, more than double the previous year’s total. According to the Insurance Information Institute, in 2003 there were over 10,000 mold-related lawsuits pending in US state courts. Most were filed in states with high humidity, but suits were […]

With all the rain we’ve had in April, there’s a good chance your home or business might have mold due to recent conditions being perfect for mold growth. It doesn’t take long—24 hours is all—so if you’ve had water in your basement, around your foundation, or leaking from a roof or window, you should check […]

I remember the lawsuits and hysteria surrounding the mold problems of Erin Brockovich, the Ballards in Texas, and even Ed McMahon with his sheepdog, Muffin. “Black Mold” was called the “next asbestos” — and the media frenzy was on. But today, we just don’t hear very much about mold, do we? Did it go away? […]

Dr. Oz completed a great segment on dealing with toxic mold and the dangers the public may face when being scammed by unlicensed, untrained mold guys. NORMI and the IICRC were upheld as “the good guys,” credible, national training/certification organizations that help clients with assessing and cleaning up mold problems in indoor environments. NORMI, the […]

Good indoor air quality is important for homes, but also for businesses. A poor work environment leads to more sick days and sluggish employees. All of this combines to poor productivity and employee performance. An investment in clean air for a workplace can repay itself many times over. OSHA says the following about workplace indoor […]

Aspen Note: Commercial property owners be forewarned. You are responsible for illness resulting from mold exposure in your buildings. Repercussions from lawsuits and OSHA (as seen in this article) are much more common, as the public now realizes mold as a serious health threat. If you suspect mold, have had recent leaks or flooding, or […]

Water damage can be deceptive. Water penetrates into structural cavities creating trapped pockets of saturation. The detection of water in these areas can often only be discovered with sophisticated moisture detection meters. Undetected moisture will continue to cause damage. This damage, at a minimum, will cause odors. Greater damage will surface when materials delaminate, shrink, […]

The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study recently achieved LEED-NC v3 Gold certification* for its renovation of the historic Fay House, making it the oldest LEED certified building in the United States (the oldest LEED building in the world was built in 1453 and is located in Venice, Italy). Since its construction in 1807, the building’s lifespan has […]

How to Avoid Being Out of Luck and Make Sure Your Claim Gets Paid Water Damage and Home Insurance Water damage is one of the most common causes of home insurance claims. According to ISO, water damage claims are the second largest frequent insurance claim, following wind and hail damage. The percentage of claims due to […]