Mold Remediation | Moisture Analysis and Control | Dry Ice Surface Cleaning | Crawlspace Waterproofing | Restoration and Renovation
1. Site Inspection |
Once you have received your independent indoor environmental survey, our staff will perform a comprehensive on site inspection based upon the recommendations in the report. We will address any questions or concerns you may have regarding the remediation process. You will be provided a copy of our corporate information, which includes our insurance information, contractor's license information, and references. Unlike other mold remediation contractors, we arrive with more than a clipboard and a flashlight. During this inspection, we inspect the damaged areas with state of the art thermal imaging equipment, digital moisture meters, and if necessary, invasive fiber optic inspection of interior wall cavities. We record the current site conditions with a comprehensive digital photo log of the affected areas using a digital camera and a dry erase board. We will diagram the affected areas, which will be submitted to you with the Remediation Proposal and Contract in the form of a work plan, depicting exactly where we will perform the remediation. And yes, we will even inspect the crawlspace and attic if you request. |
2. Proposal and Contract |
Within 48 hours of our inspection, you will receive our Proposal and Contract (P&C), which contains all inclusions, exclusions, our guarantees to you our client, and all legal disclosures required by the state of California. The P&C includes our fixed line item rates and a detailed breakdown of labor hours, equipment and materials necessary to perform the remediation. A diagram of the work areas is also included and will be labeled as "Attachment A." The diagram allows for a clear understanding of our containment strategy and where we will perform the remediation. Not only is the work diagram an important part of our P&C, the state of California requires all contractors to provide a diagram of work to be performed. |
| 3. Project Preparation and Documentation | Every vehicle, tool and piece of equipment is hand cleaned inside and out, loaded and balanced before we start any project. All HEPA vacuums and air filtration devices are prepared with new pre filters and collection bags and tested with a laser particle counter. We custom pack high-grade remediation materials specifically for every project. And at the commencement of remediation, our field manager is on site to perform a walk thru with the remediation technicians, and to help answer any additional questions you may have. Our daily production is recorded on a daily basis with an excel spreadsheet, and our findings and progress is recorded with digital photographs, typically 40 to 60 photographs are taken every workday. The digital photographs are provided to you at the end of the remediation project on a CD Rom, and often come in handy during any legal or reconstruction issues. |
| 4. Materials and Equipment |
Our vehicles are unmarked and discreet. Each service vehicle is equipped with identical tools and equipment in locking storage bins. We use heavy-duty power tools such as Dewalt, Hilti, Milwaukee, Kett, Makita, Allegro and Campbell Hausfeld. Our HEPA vacuums are manufactured by Pullman Holt and Nilfisk, and our air filtration devices are manufactured by Aerospace America and Abatement Technologies, both of which are known to be the best available in the industry. Most importantly, our equipment has a reputation for being the cleanest in the field. Our technicians are equipped with individual HEPA filtered supplied air systems, which reduces the fatigue and exposure issues associated with typical full-face respirators. The materials we use are new, not re-used from a previous remediation, including our air locks and surface protection materials. All of the materials we use are non-toxic, recyclable and contain no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) or Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOC's). And since we perform remediation without the use of chemical applications, there is no chance of your property becoming chemically contaminated. At your discretion, any tools or materials necessary for the remediation can either be stored on site or remain in our service vehicle during the remediation.
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| 5. Site and Surface Protection |
Our crews wear shoe covers to avoid dirty floors from foot traffic when entering your home. And whenever possible, we use the shortest route to access the containment. And for added floor protection outside of containment, we install disposable flooring protection for wood, tile and carpeted floors. Inside containment, we use 6 mil plastic sheeting, sheet foam, plywood, Masonite and stretch film to protect marble, tile, cabinetry, fixtures and finished surfaces from secondary damages during remediation.
We install a custom fit ¾" plywood board up at the window where we exhaust our air filtration device and secure it with kiln dried 2x4's and lag bolts Extension cords placed outside of the containment are covered with rubber mats to prevent slips, trips and falls. |
| 6. Containment |
EcoStar, Inc. is the industry innovator and leader when it comes to containment configuration, design and installation. Our containments are visually appealing and functional at the same time and unlike our competitors, our containments are not physically attached to surfaces with nails, staples, screws, poles or duct tape, which creates additional damages that will need repair (guess who pays for that!) |
| 7. Debris Removal and Sanitation |
During the removal of mold-affected materials, our technicians place the debris into 6 mil bags. Before the debris is removed from within the containment, its is placed into a second 6 mil bag in the airlock to prevent dust and debris spreading into areas outside of containment. All debris is removed from the site on a daily basis, and delivered directly to Los Angeles County's Calabasas Landfill for proper disposal. If necessary, we can also provide on site disposal bins ranging from 3 - 40 cubic yard capacity. At your request, we can also provide on site sanitation facilities for our technicians. Both disposal and sanitation services are provided at our cost with no mark up. |
| 8. Structural Resurfacing |
EcoStar, Inc. utilizes Dry Ice Blasting, the most effective, state of the art structural resurfacing technology in our industry. Most mold remediation contractors use chemicals, heat, sandpaper, wire brushes, grinders or sand or soda blasting (what a mess!) to clean exposed framing members. These methods are slow, useless or ineffective, and always costly and damaging. Dry Ice Blasting is a clean, safe and fast method to remove mold growth from wood framing, concrete, marble, tile and stucco. And since the dry ice pellets literally "disappear" after stripping the wood, our crews spend less time cleaning secondary waste generated by traditional abrasive blasting methods. In the time it would take to clean up the secondary waste after sand blasting, our crews can finish an entire job! |
| 9. Final Surface Cleaning |
Once the affected materials have been removed and the structural resurfacing is completed, we perform a detailed final cleaning. This includes the removal of any protective coverings from within the containment, HEPA vacuuming of all exposed surfaces within containment, and a detailed hand wet wiping of all framing, barriers and surfaces within the containment using disposable lint free towels. This final cleaning removes any residual dust from within the containment. Prior to the post remediation verification provided by your consultant, we set our air filtration devices to "scrub" the air inside the containment. This final step removes any dust or mold that may have remained airborne during the final surface cleaning. |
| 10. Post Remediation Verification | 24 hours after the final cleaning is performed, your independent environmental consultant will enter the containment for inspection. At your request and at no additional cost, an EcoStar representative will be on site during this process to answer any questions your consultant may have. Once the samples have been analyzed and the final clearance is granted, we can remove the containment or leave it in place for dust suppression during the rebuilding process. |
Mold Remediation | Moisture Analysis and Control | Dry Ice Surface Cleaning | Crawlspace Waterproofing | Restoration and Renovation