Mold Testing

Our mold inspectors are licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation as Mold Assessment Consultants.  Per the Texas Mold Assessors and Remediator Rules and Regulations, Mold Assessment Consultants are licensed to perform the following environmental services:

 

  • Plan and/or conduct surveys to identify conditions favorable for indoor mold growth or to determine the presence, extent, amount, or identity of mold or suspected mold in a building;
  • Record visual observations and take on-site measurements, including temperature, humidity, and moisture levels;
  • Collect samples for mold analysis;
  • Prepare a mold assessment report, including the observations made, measurements taken, and locations and analysis results of samples taken by the consultant or by a licensed mold assessment technician during the mold assessment;
  • Develop a mold management plan for a building, including recommendations for periodic surveillance, response actions, and prevention and control of mold growth;
  • Prepare a mold remediation protocol, including the evaluation and selection of appropriate methods, personal protective equipment (PPE), engineering controls, project layout, post-remediation clearance evaluation methods and criteria, and preparation of plans and specifications;
  • Evaluate a mold remediation project for the purpose of certifying that mold contamination identified for the remediation project has been remediated as outlined in a mold remediation protocol;
  • Evaluate a mold remediation project for the purpose of certifying that the underlying cause of the mold has been remediated so that it is reasonably certain that the mold will not return from that remediated cause; and
  • Complete appropriate sections of a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation as specified under §295.327(b) of this title (relating to Photographs; Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation; Duty of Property Owner).

Allergy Testing

Both adults and children can be allergic to several different types of plants, insects, animals, and other allergy causing materials. If you want to avoid many allergic agents, simple testing can be performed to detect those agents in home or office.  SSG can perform a variety of allergen tests.

 

  • The most common test is the MARIA (Multiplex Array for Indoor Allergens) a.k.a. ‘Allergen Screen’,
  • This powerful and informative test can detect if problematic levels of four troublesome, invisible allergens are present in your home, and
  • If allergen levels are elevated, we will provide you with detailed information on how to properly clean your home and rid yourself of these elevated allergen levels.

Our Allergy Tests: The Specifics 

Our “Allergen Screen” service is designed to test your home or office for these important allergens: Dog, Cat, Dust Mite, and Cockroach. Please keep in mind that your home or office may have elevated levels of these allergens even if you don’t see evidence.

 

Common Allergens for Testing:

Dust Mite Allergens:

  • Dust mites are ubiquitous and are found in every household. Mites prefer warm, moist surroundings such as the inside of pillows or mattresses. The mites feed on human dander (skin scales) that accumulate in bedding and house dust. Dust mite allergens are proteins that come from the digestive tract of mites and are found in high levels in mite feces. The allergen containing fecal balls are relatively large (~10-20 um) and remain in the air for short periods. Most exposure occurs through disturbance of dust near the breathing zone.

Cat and Dog Allergens:

  • Cats and dogs are the most common animal cohabitants, present in more than 1/3 of homes in the United States. Those who touch cats and dogs or visit households with cats and dogs easily carry these allergens from home to home, office, school, etc. These pet allergens are carried on particles ranging from 1 to 20 mm in diameter and the smaller of these particles can remain airborne for long periods of time. Consequently, pet allergens are spread easily throughout a house even when pets are kept out of certain rooms. Cat and dog allergens are also very sticky and can be found in high levels on walls and other surfaces within homes. Carpeting, bedding, and upholstered furniture can be reservoirs for deposited pet allergens. In most of the studies, a vast majority of homes have been found to contain pet allergens, even if pets are not present. This widespread distribution has been presumed to occur primarily through the passive transfer of these allergens from one environment to another. The major cat and dog allergens are low molecular weight proteins found primarily in animal secretions. They are produced in the sebaceous, salivary, and anal glands. Touching the pet and subsequently transferring allergen from hand to nose is only one mode of contact. The most important route of exposure is by inhalation of airborne allergen. This allows deposition of large quantities of the allergen in both the upper and lower airways. The aerodynamic characteristics and the potent nature of pet allergens make clean up efforts and minimization of allergens in a building very difficult. The best approach is to remove pets from the indoor environment, followed by extensive cleaning to remove residual allergen. Even after the most intensive cleaning, it can take up to 6 months before you begin to see the impact of allergen reduction.

Cockroach Allergens:

  • Cockroaches are an important source of indoor allergens worldwide. Cockroach allergens are widely distributed in homes and schools and can be found in beds, furniture, and carpets, with the highest levels typically found in the kitchen. However, cockroach allergens may be more relevant in the bedroom than the kitchen or the living room because of close contact with the pillow while in bed. About 20% of homes with no evidence of cockroach infestation have significant levels of cockroach allergen in settled dust. The level of cockroach allergen in school dust is of concern because it may constitute an occupational risk to students, teachers and other school workers. The sources of cockroach allergens include the gastrointestinal tract, saliva, feces and body parts of the cockroach. As cockroaches die in a dwelling, their decomposing body parts become part of the environmental dust. These sources contain cockroach allergens.

Environmental Risk Assessments

Mitigation Practices and General Cleanliness Risk Assessments

 

Are you following the CDC’s recommended COVID-19 Ongoing Mitigation Guidelines? Lower your liability risks and document that you are following the recommended health and safety guidelines for opening your place of business with an initial risk assessment survey and ongoing monitoring with accurate surface testing.

Post Cleaning and Disinfecting Risk Assessments

 

Has your place of business or structure undergone extensive cleaning and disinfecting treatments? Whether your facility was a known COVID-19 hot spot, or you are just going above and beyond for the health and safety of your employees and the general public, ensure the current state of cleanliness with a Post Cleaning Risk Assessment Survey.

Peace of Mind Risk Assessments

 

Are you reopening your place of business, but have concerns about the health and safety of your employees and customers? Don’t risk their health and contribute to the spread of COVID-19, and have a Peace of Mind Cleanliness Survey performed to test for the presence of contaminants including SARS and CoV-2.

No Conflict of Interest

 

We don’t perform cleaning, disinfection, or decontamination services. We have no interest in the outcome of our inspections other than to ensure you have the information needed to return your workplace to a healthy state. Our expertise guides us and we never have a conflict of interest with regard to our findings and recommendations. We use a science-based approach and do only inspections and testing, never remediation.

Residential Mold Inspection and Testing Services

Texas licensed Mold Assessment Consultants are trained, experienced, knowledgeable professionals. Our mold inspections and mold testing services involve the use of our extensive knowledge of mold (black mold, black toxic mold, Stachybotrys, and other molds) and the conditions conducive to home mold growth as well as building construction, air flows, building materials, and heating ventilation and air-conditioning systems.  SSG performs residential mold inspections and mold testing with the following goals:

 

  • Test for Mold – Determine mold types present and airborne concentration levels (Most people want to know what they are breathing.)
  • Locate and detect hidden mold growth, including black toxic mold;
  • Locate the source or cause of home mold growth or mildew;
  • Locate hidden water intrusion sources and moisture issues which may be causing or contributing to indoor mold growth or black mold growth;
  • Detect and locate plumbing leaks;
  • Inspect and assess water damage;
  • Inspect and assess mold contamination and mold exposure;
  • Inspect and assess mold contamination in HVAC systems and ductwork;
  • Assess the issues discovered thoroughly enough to provide our clients with good information and recommendations as to the cause(s) of the mold contamination and the possible remedies;
  • Collect air and/or surface mold samples, as needed, to determine types of home molds present and the black mold exposure levels or mold concentration levels;
  • Accurate licensed mold laboratory result interpretation.

Our comprehensive Residential Mold Inspection Services may include:

We perform Residential Mold Inspections in the Greater Houston Area, including The Woodlands, Conroe, Willis, Humble, Kingwood, Spring, Tomball, Cypress, Katy, Houston.

Post Remediation Clearance Inspections and Testing

At Sharp Service Group our responsibility during the Post Mold Remediation phase of a project is to ensure our clients that their mold remediation job has been completed correctly. A Licensed Mold Assessment Consultant will perform the final check on your mold remediation project.  Once the project is complete and successful, we will sign a Texas Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation(CMDR) for the client. The State of Texas has laws regulating Mold Inspection and Remediation.  The Texas Mold Assessor and Remediator Rules require specific issues performed for the Post Mold Remediation Clearance.

 

  • 295.324. POST-REMEDIATION ASSESSMENT AND CLEARANCE

(a) Clearance criteria. For a remediation project to achieve clearance, a licensed mold assessment consultant shall conduct a post-remediation assessment using visual, procedural, and analytical methods. If walk-in containment is used during remediation, the post-remediation assessment shall be conducted while the walk-in containment is in place. The post-remediation assessment shall determine whether:

  1.   the work area is free from all visible mold and wood rot; and,
  2.   all work has been completed in compliance with the remediation protocol and remediation work plan and meets clearance criteria specified in the protocol. 

(b) Underlying cause of mold. Post-remediation assessment shall, to the extent feasible, determine that the underlying cause of the mold has been remediated so that it is reasonably certain that the mold will not return from that remediated cause (c) Analytical methods. 

  1.   The assessment consultant shall perform a visual, procedural, and analytical evaluation in each remediated area in order to determine whether the mold contamination identified for the project has been remediated as outlined in the remediation protocol.
  2.   The consultant shall use only the analytical methods and the criteria for evaluating analytical results that were specified in the remediation protocol, unless circumstances beyond the control of the consultant and the remediation contractor or company necessitate alternative analytical methods or criteria. The consultant shall provide to the client written documentation of the need for any deviation from the remediation protocol and the alternative analytical methods and criteria selected, and shall obtain approval from the client for their use, before proceeding with the post-remediation assessment.
  3.   Where visual inspection reveals deficiencies sufficient to fail clearance, analytical methods need not be used.

(d) Passed clearance report. An assessment consultant who determines that remediation has been successful shall issue a written passed clearance report to the client at the conclusion of each mold remediation project. The report must include the following:

  1.   a description of relevant work site observations;
  2.   the type and location of all measurements made and samples collected at the work site;
  3.   all data obtained at the work site, including temperature, humidity, and material moisture readings;
  4.   the results of analytical evaluation of the samples collected at the work site;
  5.   copies of all photographs the consultant took; and,
  6.   a clear statement that the project has passed clearance.

Sharp Services Group Post Remediation Mold Assessment and Clearance Sampling consist of the following:

  1.   Visual inspection of the previously identified contaminated area(s) and constructed containment(s);
  2.   Visual inspection to verify that all impacted materials have been removed according to the Mold Remediation Protocol;
  3.   Visual inspection and complete documentation including digital photos of the remediated area(s) to ensure that all visible mold growth has been removed, that there are no wet building materials, and that the area(s) are clean and debris free;
  4.   Collection of microbial air samples from each work area or containment and one or more surface samples of previously identified contaminated areas. Plus, the collection of one or more indoor control air samples from one or more areas inside the structure but outside of all work areas for cross-contamination verification;
  5.   A final written report of the Post Remediation Assessment and Clearance Sampling findings and a Lab Report of the sample analysis; and,
  6.   Issuance of a Texas Department of Insurance Mold Certificate upon passing Clearance Criteria.

NOTICE: Per the Texas mold remediation regulations, “If a property owner sells the property, the property owner shall provide to the buyer a copy of each Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation issued for the property during the five years preceding the date the property owner sells the property.

Mold Remediation Project Consulting 

If you think you have a mold problem and need mold remediation, Call SHARP SERVICES GROUP!

SSG will give you an accurate evaluation of your mold problem. SSG does not perform mold remediation, will give you unbiased advice; make proper recommendations as to the actual scope of the work that needs to be done. Our goal is to provide a service where you can rest assured that your mold remediation project will be completed according to your budget and time frame. And, once completed, you will have accurate and proper reports, documentation, and certification. We can also refer you to licensed, local, professional, customer-service-oriented mold remediation contractors upon request. Our Mold Remediation Project Consulting Service usually consists of the following:

 

  • An initial visual and procedural assessment of the site or impacted area(s);
  • Documentation of all moisture, water damage, and visible mold growth;
  • Initial microbial sampling to establish a baseline and mold types present;
  • Writing a Mold Remediation Protocol (Scope of work per the TMARR);
  • Overseeing and monitoring the project;
  • Training and instruction for Mold Remediation Contractors and Workers on proper containment structures and proper mold remediation procedures;
  • Post Remediation Clearance Assessment and Sampling;
  • Writing a Post Remediation Clearance Report; and,
  • Signing the Mold Certificate (TDI – Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation)

Our Mold Remediation Protocols are written according to the Texas Regulations, but no other company writes a Mold Remediation Protocol that is more comprehensive than ours. Our Protocols follows industry best practices with contain the following elements:

 

  • Written protocol of performance requirements for the mold remediation contractor per standards found in IICRC S520, Standard and Reference Guide for Mold Remediation, and in accordance with the laws of the state of Texas, DSHS Texas Mold Assessment and Remediation Rules (TMARR)- Publication #2-15;
  • General recommendations regarding corrective actions for issues discovered that may have caused fungal growth or may be contributing to fungal growth;
  • Diagrams of affected areas and work to be performed in each area;
  • Estimates of quantities of materials to be removed; and,
  • Full photo documentation of initial conditions in the impacted area(s).

As per the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation rules and regulations regarding mold assessments and remediation (TMARR), if the affected area/materials to be cleaned or removed exceed 25 contiguous square feet, a Mold Remediation Protocol is required. Per these same rules and regulations, the following must be completed for all mold projects:  Mold Inspections, Mold Testing, and Mold Remediation or Mold Removal.

 

The Texas mold laws protect the consumer by preventing a conflict of interest. It is strictly prohibited for a company to perform both a mold inspection and mold remediation on any project.

 

Sharp Services Group holds both Mold Assessment Consultant and Mold Remediation Contractor.  This allows SSG to have a broad-based knowledge of how mold remediation projects need to be managed.

 

The Texas Mold Assessment and Remediation Rules and Regulations (TMARR) provide specific rules, guidelines, ethics, and penalties which apply to mold issues in residential and commercial buildings. Sharp Services Group, best practices of the industry, the highest ethics in the business, and therefore, abides by and follow state regulations.

 

Sharp Services Group assures our clients receive the highest quality work and customer service. When we manage a Mold Remediation Project, SSG promises our clients all Texas mold assessor/mold remediator regulations are being followed by the remediation contractor doing their work.

 

Our clients can trust Sharp Services Group to manage their mold remediation project, answer all your questions and help them through every step of the process.

 

Mold removal projects can be overwhelming, so let us help you manage the process. Our cost for these services varies on the size of the project and many times cannot be determined until we have completed the initial Mold Inspection and Mold Testing. Once we have defined the scope of the Mold Remediation Project, we will provide you with pricing for these services.

 

You can find the complete text of the TMARR here. You might want to read the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation Consumer Mold Information Sheet

 

Sharp Services Group offers mold remediation project consulting services in the Greater Houston Area and Southeast Texas.

Real Estate Mold Inspection Services in The Greater Houston Area

For most people, a home is a major investment. Construction defects, contractor errors, and poor maintenance can cause water problems in homes. And, water or moisture in a home can lead to mold. Mold in a home can be serious and costly. You don’t want a mold problem in your most valuable asset, your home. Consider the following mold concerns in real estate transactions in the Greater Houston Area.  

 

  • Selling a Home – Don’t risk selling a home with a hidden mold problem. Have Sharp Services Group inspect your property for mold and reduce your future liability! You will either get a clean mold report or have the opportunity to correct any issues before negotiations.
  • Buying a Home – Undisclosed Mold Problems or Water Damage. Don’t risk buying a property with existing mold problems. A mold problem could reduce the value of the property, subject you and your family to mold-related health problems, cost you huge mold remediation and rebuilding costs, and make the property difficult to insure or sell in the future.

Have Sharp Services Group’s Texas licensed mold inspection professionals inspect any property you are about to sell or buy. We are experts at detecting and locating hidden mold growth. Is the property mold damage free and water intrusion free? A general home inspection will NOT tell you if there is a mold problem. Home inspectors’ reports have mold exclusion clauses, because they are not licensed to inspect or test for mold.  We offer services where we can provide a Texas Department of Insurance Mold Certificate, certifying that a home in the Greater Houston Area does not have a mold problem. Mold issues can be complicated and confusing. Call Sharp Services Group today to speak with a courteous, licensed mold inspection professional about your real estate mold concerns. There are no “dumb questions” and we are excited about sharing our knowledge with you.