MODULE 2: XACTIMATE FOR MOLD

HMR Category Fundamentals

The Right Category for Mold Billing

Leaving Money on the Table

Mold remediation uses a different Xactimate category than water restoration.

            HMR = Hazardous Materials Remediation

            Different category. Different pricing. Different line items.

The Mistake Contractors Make

They do a mold job, open Xactimate, and start pulling the same line items they use for water work.

Using WTR (Water Restoration) for mold work
costs you thousands per job.

What You'll Learn

What HMR is and why it exists
When to use HMR vs. WTR
How HMR differs from WTR
The foundation for mold billing

What is HMR?

Hazardous Materials Remediation

A category in Xactimate specifically designed for work involving hazardous materials, including mold.

Why Mold Needs Its Own Category

Mold remediation is fundamentally different from water restoration.

Specialized containment
Specialized equipment
Specialized protective gear
Specialized disposal procedures

HMR Pricing Reflects Reality

The work is more complex, more regulated, and more expensive.

            HMR pricing accounts for:

            Containment construction | HEPA filtration | Full-body PPE | Proper disposal

The Practical Difference

HMR Line Items

Priced for the work you're actually doing

WTR Line Items

Priced for simpler work

Using WTR for mold = Billing water damage prices for hazardous materials work.
Harder work for less money.

Using HMR is Correct

Some contractors worry that using HMR looks like they're inflating the bill.

            The opposite is true.

            Using HMR for mold work is correct and expected.

            Using WTR for mold work will raise questions.

WTR: Water Restoration

What it's designed for

Water extraction
Structural drying
Dehumidification
Moisture monitoring
Antimicrobial treatment to prevent mold growth

Goal: Removing water and drying the structure

The Antimicrobial Difference

WTR Antimicrobial

Prevents mold from developing

Applied before mold exists

HMR Antimicrobial

Treats surfaces that had mold

Applied to contaminated areas

Same product. Different purpose. Different line item.

HMR: Hazardous Materials Remediation

What it's designed for

Containment construction
Contaminated material removal
Air scrubbing
Decontamination
Proper disposal

Goal: Containing, removing, and decontaminating

The Key Difference

WTR is about...

Drying

HMR is about...

Containing, Removing, Decontaminating

HMR accounts for additional labor, equipment, and materials required for hazardous work.

When Water Becomes Mold

Called for a water loss (pipe burst)
Start water mitigation using WTR line items
Discover mold behind wet drywall
Mold portion now requires HMR

                Your estimate now has two sections:

                WTR for water mitigation | HMR for mold remediation

When to Use HMR

Mold remediation work - always HMR
Containment setup for mold - poly barriers, negative air, decon chamber
HEPA vacuuming surfaces after mold removal
Air scrubbers in mold containment - filtering spores, not drying
PPE for mold work - Tyvek suits, respirators, gloves
Disposal of mold-contaminated materials

The Simple Rule

If the work is being done because of mold, it goes in HMR.

            When you're working from a mold protocol,

            virtually everything goes in HMR.

When to Still Use WTR

Water extraction
Structural drying
Moisture monitoring during dryout
Emergency water mitigation before mold develops

                If you complete water mitigation successfully and no mold develops,

                you never need HMR. The entire job is WTR.

Common Mistakes

Using WTR for mold work - costs you thousands per job
Using HMR for simple water work - looks like you're inflating the claim
Not switching when mold is discovered - mold remediation at water prices
Mixing categories randomly - inconsistent and confusing to adjusters

How Adjusters Catch This

They look at the category, the line items, and the scope of work.

If you're doing mold remediation with WTR line items,
the scope doesn't match the category.

That triggers questions.

Use HMR for mold. Use WTR for water. Keep it clean and logical.

Recap

HMR is your mold billing category
WTR is for water mitigation, drying, and preventing mold
Using the wrong category costs you money or raises red flags
Use HMR for all mold remediation work
When a water job becomes a mold job, add HMR items
Both categories can appear on the same estimate

Coming Up Next

Mold-Specific Line Items

The actual line items you'll use on every mold job:

Containment | Air Quality Equipment | PPE | Treatment | Disposal

ACTION ITEM

Your Next Step

            Open Xactimate and look at the HMR category.

            Browse the line items. Get familiar with what's there.

            You'll be using these on every mold job going forward.

See you in the next lesson.