How Much Does Mold Removal Cost?

Learn The Overall Cost Of Getting Mold Removal, Cleaned, and Remediated In Your Home

There are a lot of different ways this can go. Maybe you experienced an unexpected storm, which, with it, brings unexpected flooding, which also brings unexpected water damage — not limited to, but potentially including, that much-feared M-word, mold. Maybe you’re cleaning out your garage or basement or bathroom one day, a day like any other, and that’s when you notice it — green, or black, or any other ugly color — staring you in the face, ugly, slimy, and insidious.

No matter how it happens, we usually never see it coming — but it happens to the best (and cleanest) of us nonetheless. The question is, what do I do next? How will I treat it? Because somehow, one way or another — the mold needs to go (and everything that it touched removed, cleaned, and remediated), as it can be a serious health hazard to humans in the home.

More importantly, you may be asking, how much will mold removal cost me? What difference does it make if it’s black mold, mold on wood, mold on carpet, etc.? That’s why we’re here to help. Here’s what you can expect to pay when purchasing a mold removal service.

The Overall Price

For smaller incidents of mold, especially when present on surfaces, as well as individual parts or items that can easily be removed, you may even be able to remove the mold yourself. This kind of surface mold is often called mildew and is extremely common.

For example, if the mold is growing on non-porous surfaces (such as tiles, bathtubs, glass, and countertops), you can use a spray bottle filled with a ratio of one cup bleach to one gallon water to clean away mold fairly easily (as well as ward off mold from growing there in the future). Some people have also had success using ingredients such as borax, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and others in removing mold by hand.

In this case, it may only end up costing you a bottle of bleach (or another form of cleaning or mold removal product), and a little bit of elbow grease — or, in a worst-case scenario, the cost of replacing the part or item if it is determined to be beyond repair.

For larger projects that require professional help, unfortunately, the cost of mold removal varies and depends on a variety of factors such as who you hire and the scope of damage your home or other property has incurred. Here at Mammoth Restoration, we usually estimate the cost of mold removal for our clients as upwards of $2500, but even this is difficult to do without more details about your situation and your needs.

As with all things, it is important to remember that companies and individuals who aren’t properly licensed can afford to charge less, but may not be worth the risk of a job not done right. It is also generally recommended that you hire a contractor who specializes in mold remediation over a general contractor.

When To Hire A Mold Remediation And Restoration Contractor

The Spruce has some good advice on how to remove mildew from surfaces and other common household objects/surfaces such as fabric, shoes, clothing, furniture, books, and household appliances, but for the bigger jobs, like walls, floors, and carpeting, we’d recommend hiring a restoration service.

They will be sure to have all the necessary tools and equipment, the skills to manage the process safely and securely, as well as someone with the know-how to properly check for potential structural damage.

If you find black or green mold that looks fuzzy or slimy in appearance, especially when present on wood or drywall that is becoming softer or crumbling underneath, this is usually the sign of a much more serious problem that may be much more difficult to solve.  According to the Environmental Protection Agency, if the mold covers 10 or more square feet, it is highly recommended that you hire a professional to remove the mold.

What To Expect From A Mold Remediation And Restoration Contractor

First and foremost, a professional should be able to explain to you what the problem is and how they are going to go about solving it. They should also wear proper safety gear such as masks, gloves, and protective suits. They should also seal off the area in question with plastic sheeting and use industrial-level equipment to clean the area of mold.

A business, such as Mammoth Restoration, that specializes in mold removal and mold remediation will not only take the time to remove the mold from your home but also provide pack-out/pack-back services for your belongings and reconstruction services for your home if needed. They can also clean your belongings before bringing them back into the home.

Quick Tips To Prevent Mold Growth And Damage In Your Home

Mold can happen to anyone, and it can happen quickly. It can be a difficult thing to prevent, particularly in humid or flooding-prone areas. Almost everyone and every home will experience some level of mold at some point or another. But, if you want to learn at least the basics of keeping mold at bay (which we’d recommend), here are some tips that can help you keep the mold away.

• Assess which areas of your home are prone to humidity, condensation, other forms of moisture and perhaps even standing water in some rare cases (rooms such as bathrooms, kitchens, basements, laundry rooms, crawl spaces, and attics are often particularly at risk).
• In areas prone to higher levels of moisture, such as bathrooms, increase ventilation by opening a window or running a fan (especially while bathing or showering). Dehumidifiers may also be helpful or even necessary in extreme situations.
• Clean and vacuum more often, especially in moisture-prone areas of the home.
• Fix plumbing leaks and other water problems as fast as possible. If these occur, also make sure to dry all items as much as possible.
• Make sure rainwater isn’t leaking into your house through roofs, windows, doors, walls, and other cracks and gaps and check often for issues.
• Direct water away from your home through landscaping.
• Clean and repair roof gutters regularly.
• Improve the airflow in your home by opening doors between rooms, moving furniture away from walls, and keeping closet doors open.
• Don’t leave wet items lying on the floor or other surfaces for long periods of time.
• Don’t leave or old books, newspapers, or wood standing around unused for a long period of time.
• Don’t put carpeting in bathrooms, kitchens, or basements.
• Specifically for the bathroom:
  • Wipe down the shower with a clean towel or squeegee every day after use.
  • Choose shower curtains that dry easily and clean often.
• The recommended indoor humidity (by the EPA) is between 30-60%. You can check the percentage of humidity in your home by using a moisture meter (which can easily be purchased from most hardware stores).

Conclusion

In the end, it’s difficult to say exactly how much mold removal could cost you, and if you need it, the best way to find out is to get in touch with an expert who can give you a more individualized and specific consultation.

Depending on how far the mold has spread and the severity of what needs to be removed and repaired, the end cost can vary greatly. However, what we can say for sure is that no matter the cost of mold removal — the cost of leaving mold untreated is always much greater.

But don’t worry, because no matter the type of mold, the location, or the severity, Mammoth Restoration is here to help.