Mold Remediation in Nokomis, FL

Nokomis is a small unincorporated community in Sarasota County, about 56 miles from Tampa, between Osprey and Venice. It grew from a 1917 subdivision on U.S. 41. Nokomis Beach on Casey Key gives it Gulf access, Dona Bay runs through it, and the Legacy Trail crosses the bay on the Shakett Creek bridge.

Coastal flooding and rain

Sarasota County calls flooding its most common and recurring natural disaster. Its Gulf location, flat terrain and subtropical climate expose it to coastal, riverine and urban flooding from heavy rain, tropical storms, hurricanes and storm surge. Homes near Dona Bay or on Casey Key face more direct water exposure than those farther inland along U.S. 41. The county's Community Rating System coordinator can provide flood hazard and flood map information for a specific property.

The everyday causes

Most mold calls aren't about a hurricane. They're about:

• Air handlers with clogged drain lines or rusted pans
• Roof leaks after summer storms, wetting attic insulation and ceilings
• Seasonal homes left closed and humid
• Bathrooms, laundry rooms and closets without enough airflow

The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County recommends air conditioning to keep indoor humidity below 60 percent, and state DOH says wet materials and carpet should be dried within 24 hours.

How a remediation job usually runs

1. Find and stop the water source.
2. Set up containment so spores don't travel to clean rooms.
3. Remove moldy porous materials such as drywall, insulation and carpet; EPA says not to paint or caulk over growth.
4. Clean and dry framing and hard surfaces, then confirm with a moisture meter.
5. Rebuild, which may require a permit.

Permits, complaints and health

Nokomis is unincorporated, so the Sarasota County Building Division issues building permits, with offices at the Sarasota Operations Center and the R.L. Anderson Administration Center in Venice. Ask the division what applies before major rebuilding. Renters with leaks a landlord hasn't fixed can contact Sarasota County Code Enforcement. The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County has an environmental health specialist who advises on indoor air problems, including mold.

When you call

You'll be connected with an independent company that serves Nokomis and the surrounding coast. Describe the location and size of the growth and the water source if you know it. In Florida, s. 468.8419 means the assessor who tests a home can't remediate it within 12 months, and the remediator can't assess it, so expect two separate businesses if you want testing. Confirm the license on DBPR's online search.