The Mold Problem Showing Up in Newer Buildings
Mendy Gorodetsky of Asbestways Solutions
Environmental remediation is usually associated with older buildings — asbestos behind walls, lead paint under layers of renovation, materials from construction methods that were common decades ago.
But some of the problems Asbestways Solutions is seeing now are showing up in newer buildings instead.
“What we’re finding now is most of the mold problems are in newer construction,” said Mendy Gorodetsky of Asbestways Solutions.
The reason comes down to how buildings are being built today. Modern construction is designed to keep buildings tighter and more energy efficient — but when moisture gets trapped inside a sealed building, mold has what it needs to grow.
And unlike asbestos or lead, it doesn’t stay put.
“Mold is the only one of these items that are living,” Gorodetsky said. “Even if you don’t see it today, eventually you’re going to see it — because it keeps growing and feeding off the sheetrock and other building materials.”
Founded in 1992, Asbestways Solutions handles environmental consulting and remediation across the country, including asbestos removal, mold remediation, lead paint testing and removal, and demolition tied to environmental hazards.
A lot of that work overlaps. Demolition projects, for example, often disturb multiple contaminants at once, so the company handles those issues together instead of bringing in separate vendors for each part of the work.
Another part of the job is figuring out what actually needs to be removed or remediated before decisions are made. That’s especially relevant with lead paint, where assumptions can get expensive quickly.
Studies have shown that up to 50% of presumed lead paint violations fall below action levels once properly tested — a distinction that can spare property owners from remediation work that may not actually be needed.
Asbestways uses XRF testing, which allows surfaces to be evaluated directly on site before larger remediation work begins.
For property owners navigating HPD violations or heading into renovation work, knowing the actual scope early can change both the cost and the plan.
Asbestways has been exhibiting at OJBA since the early years of the show and continues to return because of the audience it draws.
“Everyone is serious. Everyone is looking to do business,” Gorodetsky said. “It’s just a well worth show for us.”
See Mendy explain how Asbestways approaches environmental remediation — and why some of the most significant mold concerns today are appearing in newer construction.
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