As I prepare this, we are two-thirds of the way through 2016, so it is probably good time to take a look back at my predictions of future trends and see which were hits, and which were misses.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, it is estimated that some 370,000 home fires occur each year, costing close to $7 billion in total property damage. Many of these fires, however, start and are contained in a certain area of a home or business. Even though containment eliminates the necessity for complete demolition and reconstruction, it is still necessary for proper cleaning of soot and smoke in order to restore the property to a pre-loss condition.

Think back through 2015. Can you think of any changes in the restoration and remediation industry? 

Asbestos jobs do not always start as such. Sometimes, mold in a home leads to bigger discoveries.

Despite the frequency of mold being identified as a contaminant in attics and crawlspaces, there is surprisingly little in the way of controlled research to help building owners and contractors determine the most effective and cost-efficient means of addressing such problems.

The Problem:On October 29, Hurricane Sandy made landfall along the mid-Atlantic Eastern seaboard. Although wind damage was extensive, storm surge and associated flooding created hundreds of thousands of water-damaged structures from Delaware to Connecticut, with severe impact in New York and New Jersey.