Perform Initial Inspection for Mold Remediation
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Follow this how to guide for inspecting a mold loss prior to remediation.
Step 1: Confirm your appointment with the homeowner
Once you receive the file you will want to confirm the appointment with the homeowner.
Step 2: Arrive on site
Take a photo of the exterior of the home. This is required by most insurance carriers.
Step 3: Introduce yourself to the insured
Introduce yourself to the insured and ask some initial questions about the loss.
- How long has this been going on?
- Has there been any recent losses or renovations in the area?
- Have them show you the area of the microbial growth (KEY: do not say mold to the insured)
- Once you have established key facts from the insured, you will want to start your inspection
Step 4: Put on PPE for your protection
Depending on the location of the damage you may need PPE to protect yourself while you are estimating the loss.
Step 5: Inspect and sketch out the area
Now that you have the key information on the loss you will want to inspect and sketch the loss.
Key items to measure:
- What is the COL (cause of loss)
- depending on the COL what will have to be removed to access the area?
- Cabinets, countertops, plumbing, air handler, contents, etc.
- Length, weight, and high of the room. This is key are these measurements are going to be needed for building containment and the hepa cleaning that will be needed.
- determine if the damage extends into other areas or is contained.
- If the damaged area looks like it might be going into other areas are it is unclear how much damage there is without ripping out material you may consider getting an industrial hygienist to put a protocol together to verify this scope.
Step 6: Create your scope sheet
Now that you have the general room measurements you will want to put your scope sheet together
- what will need to be removed and the LF or sf of those items
- examples
- sf of flooring to be removed
- lf of baseboard being removed
- sf of drywall being removed
- sf of countertops being detached
- any plumbing items that are being detached
- sf of any underlayment that needs to be removed
- what needs to be removed to get this area to a clean state
- once these items have been removed how much work will be needed on the studs, encapsulated area, antimicrobial is needed.
- how much drying equipment is needed
- dehumidifier, air scrubbers, hepa vacuum, ect.
- How much PPE will be needed for this loss
- How much content manipulation is needed
- How may filters are needed
- Make sure to count the air returns in the home incase the air ducts need to be taped off or cleaned as those items are easy to overlook.
Step 7: Take photos
You will need to have as many photos of the area as possible. You will need photos of inside your containment and outside. You will want to make sure if there is any continuous ceilings you take good photos as when removing the plastic there tends to be ceiling damage and it will require paint.
Make sure to take photos of any items that are already broken or of high value to the insured.
Your photos will be taken from the top down of the room making sure to get photos from each corner of the room.
Step 8: Take off PPE, clean, and store for next use
Step 9: Thank the insured for their time
Once you have all the information you need to write the estimate thank the insured for their time and head back to the shop. Depending on the program your company uses you can upload the photos before you leave the site or when you get back to the office.
Step 10: Estimate the loss
You will want to put your estimate together in which ever program your company uses. You will have to factor enough labor to set up containment, demo, cleaning, and time for the negative air machine to work, before the post testing can take place.
Step 11: Submit to the insurance carrier for approval
Upload the estimate for the adjuster's approval.
