A new and very experienced customer contacted me recently from our website via Google. In fact, Google and our website produce more leads for our company than any other advertising or marketing activity within our organization.
This is an amazing family who previously purchased an "unhealthy" home. Through trial and error they learned the hard and expensive lessons of removing very small and harmful contaminants from their home: Mold spores that range in size from 2 to 10 microns. The head of a straight pin is approximately 2 millimeters in diameter. Five hundred 2 micron spores will fit on the head of a pin. We're talking small.
The trials and tribulations that the family experienced would cause a divorce between most married couples. In fact, we see this often with our clients. Yet, on the phone shopping for a better price, was this positive woman who only relayed a small portion of her story during our conversation. Then I found her web site, met her husband at the job site and worked well into the evening preparing a competitive bid that was several thousand dollars above her current bid!
It is imperative that whoever gets this job coordinate with a demanding schedule that includes the complete removal of stucco off a two-story new home; removal and replacement of all windows; removing inside water and mold damage under several windows and providing selected cleaning of the balance of this 3200 square foot dwelling. I want to work for this family - they are unique and I am very good at the services they need. Besides, they are in for some more learning on this new project (can you say fenestration?).
I am going to relieve one of my competitors, an abatement contractor, of this opportunity hopefully. Abatement (hazardous materials) contractors understand a limited amount of the total procedures required for cleaning and remediation. Cleaning, restoration and remediation contractors (fire, water and environmental services) are best equipped to manage the total building envelope since they practice these services on a daily basis.
If you want more control in this type of project, after you have received a bid for any environmental work that requires third party evaluation, let it be known that you will manage your own quality control testing (e.g. post remediation testing to determine the efficacy of the work process). This testing takes someone trained and or certified by a government agency that can provide air quality testing and provide the results based on airborne material per square meter or volume of air tested. With mold, bacteria, virus or gases, different testing is required. Your contractor will know they have to provide a thorough cleaning if you control the post project testing. Need help finding a quality, competent environmental testing professional - call us, we have a list that we can provide to anyone that asks.
If I have more to report on this matter, I will keep you posted.
Charles E. Cassani, CR
Steamatic of Sacramento
8200 Berry Ave, Ste 160
Sacramento, CA 95828
916.386.8191 Voice
916.386.0501 Fax
800.564.1846 Toll Free
37 Years of Excellence in Sacramento 1972 – 2009
