Cliff Grost

Q: What do you enjoy most about mold remediation?

A: I really love the science of mold, the different species, and how and where mold grows. It’s fascinating to investigate and try to predict where it would be. In addition, I think helping people recover from a disaster or mold growth, and the impact we have on the quality of our clients lives. I try to live by Barry Costa’s daughter Kim’s life lessons; especially number five: “touch as many lives as you can.”

Q: What are the top tools mold remediation professionals should have in their toolbox?

A: Education is number one, which should include an understanding of our standards ANSI/IICRC S520- S500, building and construction science. Be creative and able to improvise. By this, I mean modify your technique or procedures at the job demands. Additionally, a well-written contract, detailed record keeping and a very detailed final report describing what you did, including photos, are important tools.  

Q: What are the most common missteps or misconceptions you see related to mold remediation?

A: Many remediators miss hidden mold growth because they don’t do a thorough inspection during the remediation process and before submitting to the post-remediation verification. Using a powerful spotlight is important to focus the attention of the inspector and will light up hidden or dark areas. If there is dust or debris, the remediation process is not complete.  

I also see very poor documentation. Many remediators submit an Xactimate price sheet as their final report and all that does is show how much they charged. It is important to describe in detail where the mold was and how you remediated it.

I see a lot of “mold remediators” spray juice and call it remediation. While solutions do have a place in the remediation process, source removal is still the best way to remediate mold. Bank-owned properties get remediated by spraying a white paint all over the place and they call it discoloration restoration. Many unsuspecting buyers purchase these properties and are left with a big mess and bill to remediate the “discoloration” mold properly. I felt so bad for a young, pregnant couple who purchased their dream home only to have me come in and tell them how much to remediate the mold; I don’t know what they eventually did but I did not get the job.

Q: What key steps should mold remediation contractors take to keep themselves safe during projects?

A: That is a very interesting question in this time of a global pandemic. The notion of being safe has many facets – safe in business practices, safe from the hazards of remediating mold, safe from construction accidents, safe from legal action and safe from COVID.  

A good contract, continuing education, keeping up on the changes in the industry standards, sound business practices, insurance coverage written for mold remediation contractors, sending all workers to mold remediation class and appropriate pricing are ways to protect the business. Sometimes you have to walk away from projects that make the hair on the back of your head stand up. Always listen to your gut. Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) is the main thing to protect your workers, following all regulations and knowing what you don’t know.

Q: Can you highlight your most memorable mold removal project and why it stands out?

A: I did have one bank-owned property where the village was involved and we were required to remediate properly, as the village was sending an inspector to document our procedures. This job had been vacant for two years and without any electricity. The basement had four feet plus of water for much of that time. When we pumped out the basement, we were required by the village to pump the water into the sewer system. It is the correct way to dispose of contaminated water, but the neighbors went to a board meeting to complain about this property.

Walking through for the first time was like walking on an alien planet. The different molds that grew on the varied substrates were fascinating and so was seeing the different species growing on top of others. The basement was a total gut down to the concrete walls. There was fiberglass and cellulosic two-foot-by-four-foot ceiling in most of the basement. Interestingly, very little to no mold grew above the fiberglass tiles on the wood subfloor structure. However, extensive mold grew above the cellulosic tiles.

Q: What are your top predictions and/or hopes for the near future of mold remediation?

A: I hope that the science and research into new methods of remediation continue. In the very early days of water damage we just sprayed cherry deodorizer and eventually the mold and bacteria smell went away. Did we leave the building wet? Yes. Did we leave the building moldy? Yes. So we learned to dry better. Now we need to learn to remediate better too.

I think it is time for the insurance industry to step up and educate their insureds about how to prevent water damage. They did it with fire; they should do it with water too. Back when the Ballard settlement was announced, and the insurance companies panicked and wrote mold out of the policies, I thought it was like writing smoke damage out of a fire claim. If you don’t properly dry out water damage, mold will grow. I think it is also time for big banks to actually remediate the mold in their owned properties. Maybe the banking industry needs a big settlement from a lawsuit to wake up.  

Q: What key resources do you turn to for continued education in mold remediation?

A: Attending trade shows, retaking classes and reading trade magazines are ways I keep up. But I also talk to local industry colleagues. Being involved in the volunteer work for standards and testing, I have made great friends in the industry who have forgotten more than I will ever know about mold remediation, so I also turn to them.