How to Reduce Your Commercial Property's Mold Danger
8/21/2020 (Permalink)
Mold insurance claims in Edmond, OK, pose a real financial risk for property managers. In 2017, for example, an infestation in military housing led to a $350,000 verdict. Even more devastating, a music teacher was awarded $1.8 million in 2016 for occupational exposure. If you oversee any type of property, you need to check your location’s mold vulnerability.
Reasons Properties Develop Mold
Mold can grow if:
Wrong materials are used. Incorrect components, such as ill-fitting windowpanes, could become catalysts for leaks.
Damage occurs during a renovation. Say a vent gets bashed during the installation of a new roof. Subsequent leakage might generate wetness.
Your building contains items susceptible to molds, like carpeting, drywall, ceiling tiles or wallpaper. Every assailable ingredient increases your chance of mold insurance claims.
Before needing services from a building renovation expert, check for the above, then take action to correct any weaknesses.
Prevent Properties From Forming Mold
Overseeing building construction can head off a costly mold claim, so follow the proceeding suggestions to reduce liability. These simple steps remain far preferable to a messy and invasive post-development mold remediation.
Be certain all materials used are dry. Porous components, especially, must be stored in dampness-free locales. Agree upon a moisture clause with your lumber supplier before confirming your purchase. As work commences, reaffirm the site’s watertight status by inspecting trouble-points such as windows, roofing and exterior siding. Check carefully around wood and plumbing zones. Don’t neglect basements or crawlspaces either, where poor drainage often generates mold damage. Eliminate heat sources or employ dehumidifiers, making sure your relative humidity never exceeds 60%. When weather causes shutdowns, assign someone to dry and seal the most susceptible areas. Once everything has been completed, develop a plan for tacking mold should it arise.
Avoid mold insurance claims by monitoring the assembly of all properties to which you are responsible. Proper controls can prevent the formation of a stressful, money-draining situation.