I just found out one of my bids for an insurance job got shot down because I was twice as much as the other bidder that got the job. Okay, I can live with that. When I called the HO to tell her the Ins. Co. called me, she said she knew, and the other contractor is going to use 3/8″ drywall over the existing drywall to cover the BLACK mold, and she wasn’t happy about it. I certainly am not a seasoned veteran in the mold area, but I find this difficult to swallow. Has anyone ever done this before?? The area to be ‘covered’ is about 380 sq. ft. ceiling, about 180 sq. ft. wall. I belive it all started with a bad hip on the addition, I can’t see any flashing, just PL??
Standing here beside myself.
GB
Replies
GB,
Maybe I'm not understanding your email correctly, and I sure hope I'm not if you're saying that this guy is planning on covering up black mold with drywall and calling it a day.... is he planning on killing the mold first? figuring out how to stop it from happening again?
....no wonder he's charging half the price you are, anybody can hang a picture on the wall to cover up a hole in the drywall, but it costs money to actually fix it!
Justin Fink
FHB Editorial
Just an update on the mold issue.
I talked with the homeowner Saturday, she said her Ins. Co. cut her a check for $1600, ($2100 minus $500 deductible). The guy that was drywalling over the mold wont do the job now, the $2100. was 80% of his bid and he said that's not enough. So, she's in limbo. I told her to get with Community Action here in Ashtabula, and see if they will help. She's 72 years old on a fixed income less than $25m a year. I can't do the job for $1600, and now I don't have the time even if I could.
GB
I would suggest you call HO suggest she ask her Ins co for it in writing that its ok to trap mold this way and they will cover her fully should there be any problems in the future.
This has to be the dumbest idea and has to be asking for problems!
I would go off the "deep end" if it were my house!!
The insurance company is going to cover it up for cheap but more importantly they will probably drop her after the "patch" is done, which means they won't have to deal with it later unless they get sued. Lots of news articles about insurance companies dropping anyone who makes a mold claim on their homeowners...
Billy
I would give the HO the phone number of a good public adjuster.
IAQ industry standard practice is to remove porous or semi-porous components (such as sheetrock) that have been impacted by mold-growth and discard them. If the mold-impacted items are not remediated, the mold-growth can continue amplify provided it has a nutrient source and moisture (water infiltration or elevated humidity).
I've worked in the mold remediation industry and what you describe is totally WRONG. Mold needs moisture, food and the right temperature to grow. Just covering it gives it more food. This is just continuing the health hazard.
Here is what has to be done. Contain the area, airlock etc. Run air samples. (outside lab).Wear full suits and respirators. Remove the drywall and bag it. Wipe down everything. Run air scrubbers. Sand studs if necessary. When done with remediation test air again. Should be the same as outside air or really close. Then rebuild.
Just covering it is going to hurt someone...allergies galore! Big lawsuit on the horizon.
Good luck,
Martin
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I'm glad to hear what is about to be done is wrong. I'm calling the HO to let her know this is unacceptable. Thanks for the input. I'll update you later on this.
GB
For the next thing , you dont double hang drywall over a ceiling unless you strap it . Its supposed to be as good as before or better. Putrid decision . The INS company will back up but it takes someone backing them. A home inspector would tear them a new butt. If this was mine , I would love to have Bob fighting this one as it would be over before he got cranked up. Hehehehe , I can just see it now .
Tim Mooney
I'd be willing to bet that his bid was close to yours in scope of work, but the work he is actually going to do is, well...what you describe. I'll bet the insurance company has no idea that he is doing this type of work. They probably don't care either... they figure it is up to the homeowner to make sure everything is done right - kike the homeowner is supposed to know what's right and what's not. I have found that most adjusters in my area are no help whatsoever to the homeowner (or contractor). Getting money out of some of them (here) is like pulling teeth.
Once they have paid for a certain repair, and IF they keep you, it will be almost impossible to get the same repair done twice on their nickel. It would take a lawsuit, and then they will blame the other contractor and make you go after him instead of them.
just my opinion...
James DuHamel
He who dies with the most toys.... Still dies!
"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul?" MARK 8:36
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I just recently did something similiar for a client.
Condensate drain line cracked and froze during the winter 'cause the a/c guy didn't pitch it/drain it when they did a fall service.
HO turns on the ac when it warms up. Drip, drip, drip, across the ceiling, down an interior petition, under the oak floor, into the basement ceiling, wall, floor.
Ho calls me and thinks the front window or door is leaking. (I put in)
I discover where the leak is originating, they fix it and call the insurance co.
I send them my proposal to repair, clean up. No testing or high tech. Remove x' sheetrock, insulation, replace, tape, paint, floor looks salvagable, sand and finish. Clean up with Clorox and seal with Binz at owners discretion.
What their insurance offered them was an insult. I think I would have reached for the shovel if someone handed me what they did. What the heII is the point of insurance?? I mean, I may have been a little high $, but they offered about 1/2 of what my proposal was.
Bottom line anyway, is the the IC's are watching out for THEIR bottom line, and not for the property of their clients.
They ended up doing most of the work, and taking $ out of their pocket to get it done. I cut them a break cause their good people and she had been out of work for a while. Still cost them.
Eric
I Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
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I hear ya.
I've done tons of insurance work, and I always hated it. The work was ok, and the money was ok, but to see (in an overwhleming majority of the cases) the homeowner was getting the screws just made me upset.
My bids were always detailed, and to the point. My $ amount was what I needed to get to earn my living. If my price was more than the insurance would pay, the customer would have to come up with the difference. Many times, I let the customer put in some sweat equity to help dfray the cost of the job and get the total closer to what the insurance company was offereing them. Many times, it was the final prep and painting, or it might be as simple as letting them clean up and haul off debris. Depending on the location, cleanup and debris removal can add a pretty penny to the job.
James DuHamel
He who dies with the most toys.... Still dies!
"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul?" MARK 8:36
http://www.godsfreemusic.com
I'll bet by the time this guy gets called back, harassed about the job he did, (I have a sneaky suspicion he'll caulk the edge of the shingles) The amount of 'work' will be tripled compared to mine as time goes on!!
GB
She needs to raise holy hell with the ins company and then go to the state ins board immediately
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