By Cole Stanton

It’s vital that your team is equipped with the tools that allow you to walk away from a job well-done the first time.

One of the most satisfying and fulfilling feelings for a mold and remediation professional is when a large-scale project comes together. On the flip side, however, one of the most discouraging events is when a finished project turns out to be not-so-finished. Not only is this frustrating for the team involved, but it is inefficient, costly, and can negatively affect a company’s reputation.

Therefore, it’s vital that your team is equipped with the tools that allow you to walk away from a job well-done the first time. One of those tools is a high-performance mold-resistant coating. Mold-resistant coatings do two jobs: First, they encapsulate any spores that may remain on a surface following a thorough cleaning and disinfecting, preventing them from becoming a problem later on; second, they create a surface that is inhospitable for new mold growth in the future. Investing in the right coating will help ensure that new buildings stay mold-free.

When choosing your coating there are plenty of factors to consider. In fact, there are so many options to choose from that some brands will go as far as to create a custom coating through a production company. This is a special process, and, while it may work for some, it isn’t typically the most cost-effective method.

It’s additionally important to understand the purpose and the placement of your coating before selecting one. One of the most telling factors is whether you have an indoor or outdoor environment that needs coating. Depending on location, the weather can also drastically affect what properties are required of the coating itself. Though the use of mold-preventative coatings isn’t unheard of outdoors, the most common applications will be indoor spaces. There are always exceptions to the rule, but because of the way mold and fungi thrive in dark, warm, slightly moist areas, the plentiful nooks and crannies that spores can find indoors are the most likely places in need of attention.

The right mold-resistant coating, however, creates a world of difference.

Upfront Cost vs. Lifetime Cost

Cost will always be a factor in making the right choice for a project. However, it’s common for professionals to make the mistake of looking at an initial price point and equating that to the total cost. An important consideration when sourcing your products as a remediation pro is the lifetime value of the products and tools that you’re using. Much like the way machinery depreciates over time, using inferior products can lead to problems down the line. While investing in the proper coating upfront might have a higher purchase price point, the longevity and sustainability you gain will far outweigh the upfront price.

Consider IAQ 6000 from ICP Building Solutions Group, a durable, flexible, and permeable vinyl-acrylic water-based coating. While the cost of the IAQ 6000 sits around 76 cents/square foot, and the most comparable competitors are only slightly lower at 67 cents/square foot, the IAQ 6000 requires just one coat of coverage—competitors require two. When factoring in the cost of a second coat, the closest competitor price comes to a total of $1.34/square foot in material vs. the 76 cents/square foot price that you get by going with the superior product.

Additionally, the specification and use of a higher-performance mold-resistant coating at the start of a project can help reduce the likelihood of mold regrowth and the customer callbacks that may result. Backtracking is never efficient and is rarely enjoyable. It is, however, costly. Re-doing the same work twice takes time, labor, energy, and of course materials. Not to mention, with mold, if handled improperly, the likelihood of spores returning is rather high. While there is never a guarantee that mold extraction is 100% successful, with the right coating the chances of mold return are significantly lower.

Investing in the right coating upfront will help you prevent future mold outbreaks, whether you’re working on remediation after mold extraction or building a structure from scratch.

The Environmental Factor

With good reason, the awareness of the environmental impact of various products has come into much sharper focus over the last decade or so. This extends far beyond the scope of remediation and mold prevention, and every industry has begun to take steps toward supporting the wellness of our planet. That’s why the IAQ 6000 was reformulated to be a vinyl-acrylic, water-based coating, which no longer requires the prop 65 warning.

This is a win-win for you and your team. Not only will it allow your brand to gain the reputation of being sustainable and environmentally focused—by supporting and using sustainable products—but the wellness of the planet isn’t the only health issue at stake. The well-being of your team, staff, and contractors are all vital to your ability to go into the field and get work done.

Coating Products and ASTM

Much like other industry-standard and testing organizations, ASTM publishes a wide variety of industry standards and regulations that apply to a spectrum of areas. The ASTM D3273 is the standard test for mold-growth prevention on the surface of an interior environment. Passing this test with the highest rates possible, IAQ 6000 is one of the strongest fungistatic and anti-mold coatings for professional-grade use that’s on the market.

Using products that have been third-party tested should help you rest assured that you and your team are sourcing the safest and highest-quality products that are available. Ultimately, saving you time, energy, and of course, money.

Wrapping Up

Mold is a part of life, and in some ecosystems it’s absolutely vital. However, our homes, businesses, and other personal spaces are absolutely not those ecosystems. Architects and remediation professionals alike have a need for mold-preventative solutions and with IAQ 6000’s new formula, a solution has arrived.

The IAQ 6000 coating is both fungistatic and mold-preventative, requiring only one coat to be effective. The new formula doesn’t require a prop 65 warning as it’s vinyl acrylic and water-based, making it a healthy choice for the environment and your body. It’s also an excellent coating for indoor spaces as it has an 80% photon reflection rate; generating a perfect environment for healthy plant life where you choose to put it, while keeping out the mold from behind your walls.

Finally, there’s the matter of the bottom line. As noted earlier, when compared to the closest competitors that require two coats for coverage, IAQ 6000 only needs one, making the cost comparison a grand slam at a total cost of 76 cents/square foot vs $1.34/square foot.

Environmentally sound, third-party tested, and cost-effective compared to competitors, IAQ 6000 is the right choice for professionals seeking a reliable mold solution.

Not All Mold-Resistant Coatings are Created Equally

When it comes to mold remediation and prevention, it’s important to understand the two most basic functions of preventative mold-resistant coatings. First, a preventative coating is designed to trap and lock down any remaining mold residue. As a microorganism, mold releases thousands of microscopic spores that even the best disinfectants and sanitizers can miss. Preventative coatings are manufactured to tackle this very issue by trapping and locking down any residual mold spores. The fungi are essentially suffocated and unable to germinate or grow.

The secondary function of these coatings is in the name: preventative. Preventative coatings, when dry, form a surface that resists mold growth. Therefore, using the right preventative coating highly reduces the risk that any rogue mold spores or fungus are able to thrive or survive on the surface.

But not all mold-resistant coatings are created equally. Here are some important things to know when selecting and specifying a mold-resistant coating for your next project:

How to Save on Total Project Costs

Taking the time to source the right mold remediation products can save time, money, and labor. Choosing the right mold-resistant coating is an important step in your mold remediation or construction process, one that if done correctly, can address all of these important points.

When selecting a preventative coating, it might be tempting to make your selection based on the upfront price point. However, a cheaper, lower-quality selection made at the start of a job can lead to higher overall costs throughout the life of the project.

Let’s examine the total lifetime value of a product. For example, a preventative coating that only costs 67 cents/square foot seems like the better option compared to a preventative coating that comes out to 76 cents/square foot. However, product quality can play a major role in the long- term value. With the cheaper preventative coating, it’s almost guaranteed that your team will need to apply two coats for thorough, long-lasting coverage on any given surface, which brings the long-term product price point up to $1.34/square foot. On the other hand, a more highly rated product, like IAQ 6000 from ICP Building Solutions Group, may only require one coat to deliver satisfactory mold-resistant coverage, saving both money and material.

Beyond savings, there’s even more value to finishing a job correctly and accurately the first time. By selecting a subpar product, you expose yourself to a much higher risk of failure or redundancy—a process which is intrusive and time-consuming for both you and your client. Not to mention the damage this might do to your reputation.

Seek Independently Tested Products

Construction leads, architects, project managers, and remediation specialists all have a right to request and receive documentation proving that the products they’re using for mold remediation and prevention live up to the claims the manufacturer makes.

ASTM testing is such a way that manufacturers can back up their product claims. While manufacturers are by no means required to subject their products to the testing available through ASTM, doing so can offer significant value to indoor environmental professionals, remediation specialists, and architects.

Knowing that products have gone through either or both the ASTM D3273-16 and ASTM G21, the Standard Test Method for Resistance to Growth of Mold on the Surface of Interior Coatings in an Environmental Chamber and the Standard Practice for Determining Resistance of Synthetic Polymeric Materials to Fungi, respectively, provides professionals with proof of product performance. They can then refer back to these studies when making purchasing decisions and when presenting clients with options in terms of what resources will give them the best value and performance. The best and easiest way for professionals to gain access to this information is by simply requesting lab results from these specific ASTM tests.

The Value of EPA Registration

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a longstanding relationship with those in the mold remediation and construction business. Though most seasoned professionals in these industries are already well aware of EPA regulations and requirements, occasionally there still remains some confusion about registration when it comes to mold-resistant coatings.

In most cases, a mold-resistant coating does not need to be registered with the EPA. That’s because the coating creates a fungistatic surface that inhibits mold growth but does not actively kill mold spores. This relates to a section in the FIFRA act known as the Treated Article Exemption.

In short, this is an exemption that applies to products that are inhibitors, but not active killers of various microorganism growth. For example, mildew-resistant shower curtains do not need an EPA registration or EPA registration number. However, there have been some recent developments and innovations in preventative coating technology that have resulted in a few preventative coatings that do require EPA registration.

It’s important for any remediation professional to be well informed about EPA regulations and aware of which products require EPA registration. This will not only keep your work up to code but can be useful when discussing the various environmental impacts of your products with potential customers as well.

First arriving on the scene around 2009, many strides have been taken to bring more attention to preventative coatings that contain active ingredients. These kinds of coatings go a step above and beyond mold-inhibiting and fungistatic surfaces. Whereas other preventative coatings merely lock down residual spores and create fungistatic surfaces, an EPA-registered preventative coating will actually kill those residual mold spores while wet. Once dried, the active ingredient is bonded to the surface and acts as a traditional preventative coating, creating a fungistatic surface.

It’s important to note, though, that these fungicidal preventative coatings do not act as a replacement for the extraction or sterilization process that should precede the application of any preventative coating.

Conduct Your Due Diligence

In summary, there’s a lot to consider when selecting and specifying a high-performance mold-resistant coating. The more knowledge you equip yourself with, the better off your budget, and therefore your company, will be. When it comes to preventative coatings, it pays off in the long run to conduct your due diligence and make purchase decisions with current information.

The lifetime value of a product, its environmental impact, and whether or not it advances your brand are all factors to consider when sourcing your preventative coating and other products.