IEQ Corporation Assists Homeowners with Rising Costs of Water Intrusion and Mold.

IEQ Corporation has announced it is offering free moisture surveys for homeowners in its Minneapolis-St. Paul service area. This free service will increase awareness of preferred methods for investigation and repair of water-damaged homes.

St. Paul, MN (PRWEB) July 7, 2004 -- IEQ Corporation, a leading provider of environmental consulting services, has announced it is offering free moisture surveys for Twin Cities homeowners.

Moisture surveys have become increasingly popular for detecting water damage caused by weather, construction defects, and window failure. Moisture tests can provide quick, meaningful information on the degree of water damage and its possible cause. Still, test results require careful interpretation and multiple surveys may be necessary to account for spatial and temporal differences within tested building materials. Even a single survey can become cost prohibitive for homeowners who face a barrage of other investigative and legal expenses.

Several firms offer moisture analysis for fees of hundreds or even thousands of dollars, but IEQ Corporation is the first to provide this service without cost. Homeowners who require a written report will still have to pay a competitive fee, but information gained from the free, comprehensive survey will result in significant savings. We are very enthusiastic about this project and the opportunity it presents to demonstrate our capabilities," said M. Steven Doggett, Ph.D., President and Principal Scientist for IEQ Corporation. We have witnessed an alarming increase in the misuse of this very popular method and in some cases the scope of home repair is wrongly determined based on the results of moisture testing alone. By offering this free service, we hope to provide more homeowners with the guidance necessary to identify problems in a manner that is accurate and cost-effective." Dr. Doggett also stated, A large portion of our efforts are now devoted to second generation damages resulting from incomplete investigation and improper remediation of the original cause. All too often homeowners are lead to believe that moisture damage is minor in scope when in fact several wall assemblies could contain wood decomposition and microbial contamination."

Moisture intrusion is more common than homeowners may realize. According to the United States Census Bureau, each year over 25% of Twin Cities homeowners experience moisture damage from exterior sources. The numbers are not much better with new construction as over 18% of homes less than four years old suffer from some form of moisture intrusion. According to Dr. Doggett, the problem is largely due to avoidable construction defects and to a lesser degree poor building maintenance. Some of the more common deficiencies involve improper window flashing, stucco defects, inappropriate building paper, questionable masonry practices, and inadequate drainage at perimeter walls," said Dr. Doggett.

IEQ Corporation provides consulting services for investigation and management of indoor environmental quality. The company specializes in biological contamination, chemical hazards, indoor air quality, water intrusion, and floods.

M. Steven Doggett, Ph.D.        

IEQ Corporation    

651-330-9329

651-204-2247 (fax)

http://www.ieqcorp.com