Doctors on the island will tell you there exists on Kaua‘i types of molds found nowhere else in the world, because of the diversity of flora found here. They’ll also tell you that some people arrive on the island having
Doctors on the island will tell you there exists on Kaua‘i types of molds found nowhere else in the world, because of the diversity of flora found here.
They’ll also tell you that some people arrive on the island having lifelong histories of respiratory problems that disappear on arrival, while others who have been free of breathing difficulties suddenly develop problems after moving to Kaua‘i.
It is a fairly well-known fact that Hawai‘i has the highest per-capita incidence of asthma in the United States, and Kaua‘i’s asthma rate is highest in the state.
What the doctors are talking about, mainly, are outdoor molds.
A growing national problem is certain types of internal mold, found in homes and businesses and causing respiratory (breathing) problems for occupants of those buildings.
Just about any environment where moisture is present is where mold can be found, and a Princeville couple is offering interior air quality testing methods to detect molds which can cause problems from mild allergic reactions to serious health woes in humans and animals, especially those with suppressed immune systems.
Frank and Carol Ranger of Princeville are the Ranger Company, offering a variety of services including home inspections, window washing and window and screen replacement through their Window Wizard business.
But their current focus is on mold. They are certified in mold detection through Pro-Lab, a Florida-based company. The couple sends samples taken from homes and businesses to Florida for analysis, and based on that analysis comes up with a removal.
“Everyone has mold,” says Frank Ranger, being honest though not wishing to alarm anyone. Trees would not deteriorate without it, and in nature mold is necessary in the circle of life.
But there are certain kinds of mold which may be present in homes and businesses that may be root causes of respiratory problems affecting especially the young and elderly, he said.
The extent of danger of the mold, and extent of spread, determine remediation methods.
Mold exists in homes where there is moisture, darkness, and something for the mold to feed on, mainly drywall or wood, he said.
“If there’s no water (moisture), there’s no mold,” said Frank Ranger.
Remediation can be something as simple as cutting out the moldy piece of drywall, spraying mold-killing substances on the moldy area, or more complex remediation such as removing large portions of home structures to get rid of the mold, he explained.
Many people will remember how a mold problem shut down an entire wing of a Waikiki hotel in recent months.
The federal Environmental Protection Agency, he continued, has no standards or guidelines for what are acceptable or unacceptable amounts of mold in homes. The agency does have guidelines for remediation.
National health studies have shown that some household molds are unhealthy, a fact confirmed by numerous magazine articles about people who have been forced from their homes by mold problems that caused myriad health problems for occupants.
The home-inspection side of the business ties in nicely with the mold-patrol aspect of the work, Frank Ranger said.
And with a high percentage of absentee owners on the island, those off-island owners wishing to sell their Kaua‘i properties oftentimes have very little knowledge about the condition of their investments here, other than what they learn from property managers, he said.
For example, when the Rangers bought their Princeville condominium in 1999, the owner hadn’t set foot in it for 10 years, he said.
The home inspection gives owners peace of mind about the condition of their properties, and offers prospective buyers everything they need to know about properties they’re interested in purchasing, he added.
There are six or seven home-inspection companies on Kaua‘i, he said.
The Rangers have been Princeville residents since June 2002, buying a condominium there in 1999. They have been coming to the island since 1985.
They have 25 years of experience in the construction industry, and have inspected over 2,500 homes in California, Nevada and on Kaua‘i.
The Rangers also offers window-washing services across the island, though Frank Ranger tries to keep his business between Lihu‘e and the North Shore.
The screening business grew out of the window-washing enterprise, and the Rangers have found themselves building and installing many screened-in lanais for residents who wish to extend their mosquito-free living spaces while enjoying the island’s mild climate.
The Rangers may be reached at 826-6803.
Associate Editor Paul C. Curtis may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or mailto:pcurtis@pulitzer.net.
