FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Straight answers about indoor air quality, mold inspection, remediation protocols, pricing, insurance and the work we do across Florida.
Florida Licensed Mold Assessor
Council-certified (CIE / CIEC)
IAQA Past President
Serving all of Florida since 2001
Showing 29 of 29 questions.
Pricing & Booking
- What does an IAQ assessment cost in Florida?
- Most residential assessments fall in a fixed range based on square footage and complexity; commercial pricing is project-specific. Request a quote and we will send a written estimate within one business day.
- How quickly can you schedule an inspection?
- Standard residential inspections are typically scheduled within 3–5 business days. Emergency post–water-loss and insurance-driven assessments are often available within 24–48 hours across Central and South Florida.
- Do you offer emergency or after-hours service?
- Yes. For active water intrusion, hurricane damage, or litigation deadlines, we offer expedited scheduling and same-week reporting. Call our direct line for emergency triage.
- Do you charge for travel within Florida?
- Our quoted price typically includes travel within the Central Florida metro. Projects outside the I-4 corridor may include a modest mileage line-item, always disclosed in the written estimate before booking.
- What forms of payment do you accept?
- We accept ACH, all major credit cards, and business checks. Commercial and insurance projects can be invoiced on standard Net-15 or Net-30 terms with a signed scope.
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Scope of Work
- Do you perform remediation?
- No. Florida law and best practice keep assessment and remediation separate. We assess and verify — that independence is what makes the report defensible.
- Will you send a written report?
- Yes. Every project includes a written report describing what we found, what it means, and what to do next. Lab results are attached when sampling is performed.
- How long does the on-site visit take?
- Most residential assessments take 1.5 to 3 hours on-site. Commercial timing depends on square footage, complexity and accessibility.
- When will I receive the report?
- Written reports are typically delivered within 3 to 5 business days of the on-site visit. Lab-dependent sections follow once the laboratory returns results.
- What equipment do you use on-site?
- Calibrated moisture meters, thermo-hygrometers, infrared thermography, particle counters, VOC meters, and ISO-accredited air and surface sampling media — selected to match the scope, not used reflexively.
- Will you write a remediation protocol?
- Yes. When indicated, the report includes a written remediation protocol (containment, scope, PPE, clearance criteria) that a licensed Florida mold remediator can bid and execute against.
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Mold & Moisture
- Are at-home mold test kits any good?
- Generally no. They produce ambiguous results that almost always indicate 'mold detected' (because mold is always present in outdoor air) without telling you anything actionable.
- Is mold testing required in Florida?
- Testing is not required to confirm visible mold growth — a competent visual assessment plus moisture mapping is. Sampling is appropriate when occupants have symptoms, when growth is hidden behind finishes, or for post-remediation clearance.
- Do I need a mold assessor or a remediator first?
- Florida Statute Chapter 468 separates the two roles. Start with a licensed mold assessor (MRSA) to scope the problem, then hire a licensed mold remediator (MRSR) to execute the written protocol. Independence protects the homeowner.
- What's an acceptable indoor mold spore count?
- There is no federal or Florida numeric standard. Interpretation is comparative — indoor genera and counts are evaluated against an outdoor control sample collected the same day, in the context of moisture findings and occupant complaints.
- What if the inspector finds black mold (Stachybotrys)?
- The genus matters less than the moisture source and exposure pathway. The report identifies the water intrusion that caused growth, defines a containment scope, and specifies clearance criteria — regardless of color.
- Should I test after water damage even if I don't see mold?
- If structural materials stayed wet longer than 48–72 hours, an assessment is appropriate before reconstruction closes walls. Thermography and moisture mapping often find hidden saturation that a visual-only inspection misses.
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Indoor Air Quality
- What contaminants do you test for besides mold?
- Depending on scope: VOCs and formaldehyde, particulate matter (PM2.5/PM10), carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, humidity and dew-point, allergens, and combustion byproducts. Bacteria and Legionella sampling on request.
- Can you identify the source of an odor?
- Yes — odor investigations combine occupant interview, building forensics, moisture mapping, VOC screening and targeted sampling. We focus on identifying the source, not masking the smell.
- Do you investigate sick building complaints?
- Yes. Commercial sick-building investigations cover HVAC performance, ventilation rates (ASHRAE 62.1), pressure relationships, microbial reservoirs, and chemical sources — with an actionable report for facilities and legal teams.
- Will an air purifier solve my problem?
- Air purifiers manage symptoms, not sources. Florida humidity, envelope leaks, and HVAC issues are usually the actual driver — fix those first, then layer filtration as needed.
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Service Area & Logistics
- Do you serve my city?
- We serve all of Florida from our Orlando office, including Central Florida, Jacksonville, the Treasure Coast and South Florida.
- Do I need to be home during the inspection?
- An adult (18+) needs to provide access and walk us through the areas of concern at the start. After that you're free to leave; we'll lock up and confirm by text when we're off-site.
- Can my contractor or remediator be present?
- Yes, and it often saves time. We can coordinate a walk-through with your contractor, remediator, public adjuster, or attorney during the inspection.
- Do you work with property managers and HOAs?
- Routinely. We handle multi-unit assessments, HOA common-area investigations, and recurring building portfolios with standardized reporting.
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Insurance & Legal
- Do you work with insurance claims?
- Yes. Our reports are written to industry standards (IICRC S500/S520, ANSI/IICRC) and are routinely accepted by carriers, public adjusters and counsel for first-party property claims.
- Can you serve as an expert witness?
- Yes. Principal has provided expert testimony and case work on IAQ, mold, and water-loss matters in Florida. See the legal cases page for representative engagements.
- Do you provide post-remediation verification (PRV)?
- Yes — independent clearance is one of our core services. Verification includes visual inspection, moisture confirmation, and air/surface sampling against the original protocol's pass/fail criteria.
- Is your principal licensed?
- Yes — Florida-licensed Mold Assessor (MRSA), CIH, CIEC, and additional industry credentials. Full credentials are listed on the About and CV pages.
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Have a real-world case?
Reading is great. A site visit is better.
If the symptoms in this guide sound like your building, we'll come look. Independent, building-science first, no pressure to remediate.