Ep. 09 | Ben Morris – Rescue Restoration

Ben Morris says the two most obvious signs are visual mold growth and a damp, mildewy smell like a bath towel that has stayed wet too long. If you see either, you likely have a moisture problem. Most mold issues relate to water somewhere in the home. If neither sign is present, you probably do not have hidden mold, but an air quality test can confirm it.

“The best thing I can tell you to kind of be on the lookout for, the visual signs, that's the most obvious one. The second thing is the smell. Think about the smell of a bath towel that has been used too many times, that hasn't been washed, that has kind of remained damp. That smell of that towel, that sort of dampness,”Ben Morris

Ben Morris explains that some level of mold spores is always present indoors and outdoors. What matters is the type and concentration. Indoor spore counts should be a small fraction of outdoor counts. A handful of black molds have zero tolerance indoors. Other molds like aspergillus are naturally occurring but become a problem when indoor levels are much higher than outside. Everyone reacts differently depending on exposure and duration.

“There is always mold floating around. We're breathing in mold right now. The point is that you want the spores measured on the inside to be a small percentage of what's outside. If we have on the indoor room 10 times higher than what's outside, we know we have a problem.”Ben Morris

Ben Morris recommends an air test if you have symptoms like a scratchy throat but see no visual mold or smell. An air sample will capture any mold spores floating in the air you breathe and identify the type and quantity. If mold is fully sealed behind a wall and not airborne, the test may miss it, but it will catch anything you are breathing. Morris uses a third-party hygienist, not his own company, to avoid conflict of interest.

“If you're saying, hey, I have a scratchy throat, I'd rather be safe than sorry, getting that air test done is what's going to be the most important. If that mold is in the air, it's going to be captured in an air sample, and that air sample is going to tell you what is floating around, what type of mold, how much mold.”Ben Morris

Ben Morris charges a flat fee of 59 dollars for a mold inspection that includes a full protocol and report. If you move forward with the remediation work, that fee is credited toward the total. For water restoration or a quick crawl space peek, there is typically no inspection charge. If a full crawl space report is needed, a fee applies.

“For the mold side of things, if we're putting together a full protocol and putting together a full report, there's a cost to come out and to prepare that report. It's 59 bucks for us to come out and do the report, and if you do move forward with the work, that's credit towards the work.”Ben Morris

Ben Morris says it is a huge conflict of interest for a remediation company to perform its own testing. He compares it to taking a test and grading your own paper. He hires a third-party hygienist to test air quality before and after every mold job so there is independent accountability that the work was done correctly and all mold has been removed.

“To me, it's a huge conflict of interest to do your own testing as a remediation company. It's kind of like taking a test and grading your own paper. I want the accountability as a company and as an owner that there is a third party to make sure that we did our job.”Ben Morris

Ben Morris says most mold and crawl space work is self-pay because homeowners insurance only covers losses that are sudden and accidental. Mold is typically a longer-term issue. Water mitigation from a burst pipe or similar event is usually covered by insurance. Morris advises calling a mitigation company or roofer before you call your insurer to understand what you are dealing with.

“With water, most of water is insurance paid. With crawl space work and mold stuff, that is typically self-pay. Insurance isn't paying for mold unless it's related to a water loss that we can prove. Homeowners insurance will cover losses that are sudden and accidental.”Ben Morris

Ben Morris says always hire a public adjuster for any homeowners insurance claim involving water, roof damage, or burglary. The adjuster has a fiduciary duty to you and is paid a percentage of the total claim. They read every page of the policy and hold the insurance company accountable for temporary lodging, food, pack-out, and other entitlements. Without one, the insurer will do anything to deny or minimize the claim.

“Any time you ever go through an insurance claim, always have a public adjuster involved to hold the insurance company accountable. They're never gonna do the right thing. The insurance company is not your friend. They're going to do anything they can to deny the claim, to make you think that it's your fault.”Ben Morris

Ben Morris warns that even if you do not formally file a claim, making your insurance company aware of an incident can be recorded as a claim on your record. He strongly advises homeowners to call a restoration contractor, roofer, or other specialist first to assess the situation before contacting the insurer. This helps you understand whether you truly need to file and protects you from unintended consequences.

“Oftentimes, even if you don't file a claim but you make them aware of something that's going on, they'll consider that a claim. Before you call your insurance company, call a mitigation company if it's related to water. Make sure you've got a company that can come out and tell you what's going on.”Ben Morris

Ben Morris says Rescue Restoration handles water mitigation, mold remediation, fire restoration, and crawl space repairs including vapor barriers and encapsulation. Most of their work relates to water and moisture. They serve all of Metro Atlanta from Cartersville to Locust Grove. The team also does content manipulation and pack-out, moving belongings offsite during reconstruction and returning them when complete.

“We do mold, water, fire restoration and we also do crawl space repairs. Think vapor barriers, encapsulation, things like that. We're a full-service restoration company. Just about everything we do relates back to water, whether that's in your crawl space or water that has caused mold in your house.”Ben Morris

Ben Morris says Rescue Restoration covers all of Metro Atlanta, from Cartersville and Gainesville in the north to Locust Grove and Newnan in the south, and Social Circle to the east. They do not charge an inspection fee for water restoration or a quick crawl space look. A full crawl space or mold report costs 59 dollars, credited toward any work you approve.

“We serve all of Metro Atlanta, from Cartersville to Gainesville to Locust Grove, Newnan, Social Circle. We cover essentially anywhere in Metro Atlanta.”Ben Morris

Ben Morris started a renovation company in 2020 working for large property management companies and hedge funds. Those firms sent him to deal with water and mold in rental units, often without proper remediation. He saw tenants living in unhealthy conditions while landlords refused to fix problems. That experience taught him the trade and motivated him to start Rescue Restoration so he could solve problems the right way and serve people honestly.

“I was working for these big hedge funds. They would send us out to deal with water losses, to deal with mold. I saw tenants in situations that aren't really in their control, relying on the property manager to fix a problem they may or may not be fixing. Seeing that with my own eyes really pushed me to want to start my”Ben Morris

Ben Morris uses thermal imaging cameras and moisture meters to show homeowners exactly where water is hiding. The infrared camera reveals temperature differences that indicate moisture even when the surface looks dry. The visual proof helps clients understand the scope of the problem without relying on equipment readings alone. It is a powerful tool for transparency and education during an inspection.

“The visual of what's wet is really powerful and it is right there in front of you and it doesn't lie. It's a really powerful tool to help us show a homeowner what is or what isn't wet and help them understand what sort of a loss, what sort of a problem they really have in hand.”Ben Morris