Mold testing and mold removal: who does what in New York

Two licenses, two companies

• A mold assessor inspects, finds the source and the extent, and says what the cleanup must cover.
• A mold remediation contractor does the cleanup to that plan, with licensed mold abatement workers on the job.
• The state's mold law says no licensee may perform both mold assessment and mold remediation on the same property, and no one may own an interest in both companies on the same property.

When the license rules apply

The NYS Department of Labor says that if you hire someone to assess and remediate an area of mold larger than 10 square feet, you must use a licensed mold professional. It also says it does not require you to clean up mold on your own property, and its licensing rules have limited exceptions for owners doing work on their own homes. Do not assume a smaller area is exempt: ask the assessor.

The order of work

1. 1Stop the waterMold follows moisture. Fix the leak or the dampness first, or the mold comes back.
2. 2An independent assessmentA licensed assessor inspects and defines the cleanup.
3. 3The cleanupA different, licensed remediation company does the work the assessment calls for.
4. 4The follow-up checkAsk the assessor what check they do after the cleanup to confirm it is done.
5. 5Then the rebuildNew drywall, flooring and finishes go in once the area is clean and dry.

What Revival does, and does not

Revival does not diagnose mold or size the affected area. Mold introductions open only when an independent licensed assessor joins the network, Revival takes no fee from assessors, and it never sends the assessment and the cleanup on one property to the same company.

Before you sign with anyone

• Check the contractor's county home improvement license yourself: Suffolk or Nassau, plus any town license on the East End.
• Ask for a certificate of insurance sent to you by the insurance agent, not a photo of one.
• Get the contract in writing and signed. New York's home improvement contract law, General Business Law section 771, requires the contractor's license number, a description of the work and materials, the price, the approximate start and completion dates, and a schedule if there are progress payments.
• Know your two protections under that law: you can cancel until midnight of the third business day after you sign, and payments made before the work is finished must be deposited as the state's Lien Law requires, unless the contractor gives you a bond or similar guarantee instead.
• Match each payment to finished work. A payment schedule that runs ahead of the work leaves you carrying the risk.