Why Luxury Homes Still Need Remediation Services

The hot housing market has only made remediation services more important, especially for luxury homes. We explain what remediation services are, the types you can get and why they have become so important. It’s no secret that the housing markets in Los Angeles, Hollywood Hills, and Beverly Hills have exploded over the past few years. Housing prices are steeply rising as demand only increases. With it, more and more homes are selling as-is, with people so happy to even win a bid that they attach few or no conditions to the homes they buy.

The main issue with this trend is that people walk into homes that may hold problems that can’t be seen on the first inspection. Issues like mold, lead and even asbestos can be lurking behind walls, in pipes, and in places, homebuyers may not have seen on their walkthrough.

This trend has led to a major shift in how people buy homes and, more importantly, what they do once they when they get possession. This is prevalent in even luxury properties, which may be old and large enough that the issues haven’t been addressed previously. In general, many homeowners encounter issues that need immediate inspection and fixing. For asbestos, lead and mold, they need remediation services.

Here’s a breakdown of what remediation services are, the different types, and how they can help your property rise in value and be safer for its occupants.

What are remediation services?
Broadly, remediation services are the way that harmful substances are removed from a property in a safe and comprehensive manner. Remediation specialists are experts in detecting harmful substances, removing them. Some then proceed to restore (or organize contractors to restore) the property to its former glory. In many cases, they can even improve the look and feel of a property during the remediation.

The Remediation Services Process
Essentially, remediation services are broken down into three steps: inspection, removal, and restoration.

The inspection phase is when professionals come in and look for potentially harmful substances. If the problem is already known, they will see how far it has spread and if it has led to any other issues. Since mold, in particular, has a tendency to spread without being obvious (such as behind walls) many homes can have mold, and have mold in places they didn’t realize. This is where remediation experts can come and ensure they find every bit of the problem material before moving to the next phase.

The removal stage is when the professionals come in to remove the harmful substances. The process is different for each material. For lead, the pipes will be replaced with modern pipes that don’t contain lead, and any lead fixtures will be similarly replaced. For asbestos, removal experts will wear protective gear and carefully remove the asbestos, taking special care not to disturb it and release it into the building’s HVAC system. For mold, remediation specialists will wear protective gear as everything containing mold will be taken out, including walls and flooring.

No matter the material, the removal stage always ends with the safe and legal disposal of the material to ensure that it doesn’t cause problems for anyone else. In Southern California, there are specific rules and regulations regarding the safe disposal of these materials. Remediation experts will ensure these guidelines are followed so the area can stay beautiful and clean.

The final stage, restoration, is the process of making the property look its best again.

Depending on the extent of the damage and problem, this can be as simple as replacing walls or be much more complicated. In any case, the goal is to make the place look as good as possible, whether that is through faithful restoration or going in a new direction. The end result is a beautiful and safe property free of asbestos, lead, and mold.

The restoration phase is also concerned with the root issue of the problem, especially when it comes to mold. Remediation experts will attempt to restore the space to ensure that it doesn’t become a breeding ground for the mold again, either by improving ventilation and airflow or recommending changes to keep the humidity levels low.

Are lead, asbestos, and mold dangerous?
At this point, you may be wondering what makes these particular substances so dangerous, and if they need to be addressed by professionals instead of dealt with by handymen or even yourself. The truth is that each of these substances can be very dangerous.

Lead has been linked to developmental issues in children. It has been conclusively linked to a number of problems for children who drink water with lead. For this reason, all lead should be completely removed from any plumbing system, including lead fixtures and joiners in the pipes.
Asbestos is extremely dangerous once it has been disturbed. Once hailed as a miracle substance, we now know that asbestos can be linked to many issues that affect the lungs and heart. Prolonged exposure can even cause certain types of cancer.

Mold spores are known to cause issues with people’s breathing and can lead to chronic health issues. These issues are wide-ranging and depend on the length of exposure, but each causes major concerns for the people affected.

The importance of professional remediation services
When it comes to luxury homes in Southern California, remediation services by professionals are absolutely essential. So many homes in the area incorporate different architectural styles and can even be beautiful and older properties that could lose much of their appeal if the remediation services don’t restore with the old look in mind. That is why many people rely on professionals when looking to remove lead, asbestos, and mold from their luxury homes.

If you have just bought a luxury property in Los Angeles, Hollywood Hills, or Beverly Hills, then be sure to contact an experienced and professional remediation services company. Only with the help of professionals will you be able to remove the harmful substances and restore the property. Plus, only the experts can comprehensively inspect the property to make sure that these substances don’t return to cause problems in the future.