Mold Remediation: All About the Basics and Process for Removal (2024)

Mold remediation helps homeowners and residents stay safe by identifying large-scale mold within the home and eradicating or encapsulating it. When hiring a professional to remediate mold, you'll have to take into consideration the cost, areas in the home most likely to develop mold (bathrooms, basem*nts, and kitchens), and the different types of mold you could be dealing with. Keep reading to learn more about how to get rid of mold with mold remediation.

What is Mold Remediation?

Mold remediation is the process of getting mold levels back to a normal, natural state. Some mold, but not all, produce health-threatening mycotoxins, and while it is impossible to remove all mold, certain levels are acceptable to live with. The difference between mold remediation and mold removal is that the latter is removing, cleaning, and treating mold in the home and preventing it from spreading.

Mold Remediation Cost

The average cost of mold remediation is between$10 and $25 per square foot, with the average repair costing$2,230. On the low end expect to pay around $500, and $3,000 for high end costs. The cost of mold remediation is dependent upon many factors such as your location, the type of mold, the extent of the damage, and whether or not you have to temporarily relocate during the remediation or removal process.

Types of Indoor Mold

According to the Centers for Disease Control: "While certain molds are toxigenic, meaning they can produce toxins (specifically mycotoxins), the molds themselves are not toxic, or poisonous." There are three classifications of mold: allergenic (low to moderate); pathogenic (moderate to high); and toxigenic (high to extreme). Below are the most common types of mold found indoors.

• Aspergillus: This common indoor mold grows at an alarmingly fast rate. It appears as green to black flecks or dots and is found in home air conditioning systems, as well as on exposed fruits, vegetables, and grains.
• Alternaria: Another common indoor mold, Alternaria is found in soil, and on plants, fruits, vegetables, wallpaper, ceiling tiles, window frames, and textiles. If exposed, it could be cause for concern of asthma or hay fever.
• Cladosporium: This mold is commonly found on cooling units, damp building materials, insulation, and decaying plants. While most species are not harmful, some can cause an allergic reaction.
• Chaetomium: You'll recognize this mold by its musty smell. Chaetomium is typically found in areas where there can be water damage such as basem*nts, under the carpet, water-logged drywall, or under the roof. It is white-gray to brown in texture and has a cotton-like appearance.
• Penicillium: Although this type of mold is used in bleu cheese when found in the home in an allergen state, it's not so healthy for you. Penicillium appears as a velvety blue-green mold and can be found where there has been water damage.
• Stachybotrys: Also known as black mold, Stachybotrys is known for its dark green to black coloring as can be found lurking under tiles, behind walls, and in the ceiling. A professional will have to come and remove black mold as it is highly toxic.
  

The Process of Mold Remediation

There are several steps to remediate mold in the home and ensure that it does not spread to other areas.

Containment and Ventilation

The first step, and arguably the most important, is setting up containment and ventilation. The use of proper ventilation and air filtration devices (AFDs) such as air scrubbers is required to ensure that mold spores that are disturbed and become airborne do not spread to an uninfected area.

Cleaning and Disinfection

Cleaning and disinfecting is the next step, and this is the stage that includes the actual remediation and disposal of infected materials. After the cleaning and disinfecting, the technicians apply biocide/fungicide/moldicide solutions.

Even though chlorine bleach is often used to kill mold, bleach is not an EPA-approved biocide. For that, you will need to use a product such as Mold Stat. If a space with 3 feet by 3 feet of mold growth is heavily concentrated or near the HVAC system, it should be contained to prevent dispersal.

Fix the Mold Source

The next step is where the technicians address any moisture or humidity concerns. For example, if a loose bathroom fan duct is running into an attic, the fan duct may be fixed. If the fix is easy, the mold remediation company may take on the repair by itself. For more involved repairs, the company may hire a sub-contractor or recommend one for the homeowner.

Encapsulate the Mold

Mold that has not been removed can be encapsulated by paint or a similar material. Encapsulation is an approved method of dealing with mold in a home, though it is only an approved method when most of the mold is removed and the affected area is totally dry. The source or cause of the mold should be fixed prior to painting or caulking. Encapsulating wet active mold sources is not an approved method.

When to Call a Professional

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that any moldy areas less than 10 square feet (about 3 feet by 3 feet) can be remediated by the homeowner. Beyond that, you may want to talk to a mold remediation contractor. In most cases, it is better to have a mold remediation contractor do the work than a general contractor.

Mold remediation companies certainly do good work when the mold is widespread and is in a public institution or in commercial buildings. While most mold is not toxic, some mold can be hazardous. For this, you want a licensed, experienced professional dealing with the mold.

Mold problems that we see today are problems that we unknowingly created ourselves, and they are not problems we had only a few decades ago. Since the mid- to late-1970s, federal requirements have directed that homes become more energy-efficient. The more energy-efficient the home, the tighter that home is sealed, and the less natural breathability the home has.