Re: Mold Prevention coatings applied during new construction

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On 9/08/04, Robert wrote:
> On 9/07/04, John wrote:
>> On 9/07/04, Mike wrote:
>>> On 8/16/04, Norm Sherwood wrote:
>>>> On 8/02/04, Ljc wrote:
>>>>> I recently ran across a company called American Mold Guard.
>>>>> (Irvine, CA). They provide a ten year warranty against mold
>>>>> growth on the application of their anti-mold surface
>>>>> coating product which is applied during new construction on
>>>>> interior framing and walls. Has anyone heard of this
>>>>> company or product? Does it make any sense...?
>>>>
>>>> I have actually dealt with EnviroCare for my mold issues -
>>>> Try them at www.ecoatcertified.com
>>>
>>> I have been using MicroShield for over 2 years now. You should
>>> give them a call or look them up on line at
>>> www.microshieldonline.com.
>>
>> I have read what many have said about the need to find the
>> building defect and correct it and I couldn’t agree more.
>>
>> Although as a Director of Construction for a national builder I
>> have many supers and many tradesmen involved in building my
> homes
>> and defects happen.
>>
>> I have been using the MicroShield pretreatment for 3 years now
> on
>> all of the homes built in my division and have tested the homes
>> as much as 3 yrs after treatment after a water intrusion event.
>> When called for any leak our protocol is to react to it within
> 24
>> hrs. We take every opportunity to test the product to determine
>> its effectiveness.
>>
>> In an industry (production homebuilding) where everything is an
>> option to control hard cost MicroShield is a standard. It is
> the
>> homebuyer’s decision to purchase a humidistat or a mechanical
>> dehumidifier it is our responsibility as builders to provide
> them
>> with the most protection we can if the choose not to.
>>
>> To date using accredited testing labs the protective coating is
>> still in place and is preventing microbial growth. While this
> is
>> not going to prevent all mold growth it will not allow mold to
>> grow on any treated surface. I have surface mold growth on
>> untreated drywall localized by the pre-treatment contained to a
>> level 1 size area (10 sq ft or less) that can be easily removed
>> with a control bag by our warranty techs that have been mold
>> certified.
>>
>> We have saved our division countless dollars by minimizing our
>> exposure. I consider it risk prevention. The last 2 years
> with
>> MicroShield we have spent $0 on mold remediation and an average
>> of $650 on mold protection per home.
>>
>> We will continue to pre-treat all of our homes with MicroSield
>> as we continue to train o supers ad tradesmen to produe the
>> ever-elusive defect free production
>>
>> Look up MicroShield at www.microshieldonline.com I don’t think
>> the others have been around as long and are definitely not as
>> affordable.
>
>
> I just looked at the microshield web site,there is one big problem
> with this product. The 2 step application. As a builder, I need
> a one and done application. I can't back up my mechanicals any
> more than they already are. Plus, I don't want something that
> will encapsulate the mold, I want it gone. I would never use the
> microshield program, if you read the fine print on their warranty,
> you could do alot better.

I agree as a builder I want the mold gone as well.

I just can’t afford the remediation cost involved with the removal of
frame stage mold from all of the lumber in a Florida built home. The
mold is on everything. The MicroShield pre-treatment program gives
us something to hang or hat on as a pro-active builder.

The MicroShield chemicals have been around for some 50 odd yrs for
use in water restoration. The application and purpose are the same.
Pre-Treat, Prevent, and Protect, against mold.

The process is 2-steps, but they are both applied at the same time, 1
right after the other. The first killing all of the mold and the 2nd
encapsulating the treated surfaces. We call MicroShield once the
frame inspection is complete and they pre-treat in about 2 hrs.
(both steps)

We have been using the MicroShield Pre-treatment system for about a
yr and a half and our homebuyers love it. We have had absolutely no
mold problems, questions, or concerns that could not be answered with
a legitimate response. MicroShield has peovided us with training,
protocol, field inspections, and 24 hr emergency response. Its not
that the MicroShield warranty requires us to have a 24hr response but
that the NYCHD Guidelines require it.

Wether builders use MicroShield or any of the other pre-treatment
companies out there all should be doing something pro-active to
eliminate and respond to mold in our homes.

I have found that it is the “Nay Sayers” that refuse to move forward
in the industry that typically give the rest of us a black eye.

Builder Tom
Palm Coast Florida

MicroShield