Choosing the Right Mold Remediation Company

Mold remediation companies provide a number of services necessary to deal with the problematic growth of mold in the home – mold inspection, mold removal, repair of household damage due to mold. Some mold removal companies are certified in mold remediation, though certification is not required of mold remediation contractors so that’s something you want to inquire about when selecting a company to take care of your mold problem.

WHY HIRE SOMEONE?

Some people decide to just handle their mold problems on their own, and in some cases that might work out fine. However, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends not attempting to clean up a mold problem on your own if the mold covers more than ten square feet. The thing is, even though you may only notice a few square feet of bathroom tile affected by mold, mold spores spread easily through the air and mold can hide in many places, including your heating vents and air ducts. You probably won’t see it there yourself, but certified mold remediation contractors know how to track it down and take care of it.

Something else to consider is that there are different types of mold, and different techniques are used to thoroughly remove different types. If mold is not thoroughly removed, it will continue to grow and spread, putting you and your family at risk for all sorts of health problems.

The picture below shows a bad case of black mold in an attic. Attic mold removal is usually a difficult job because it is hard to remove mold from porous surfaces like wood, and sheetrock and insulation usually need to be replaced.

Black mold in an attic

CHOOSING AMONG ALL THE DIFFERENT MOLD REMEDIATION COMPANIES

Unless you live in a very small town, you probably have several mold remediation companies from which to choose. Don’t just settle for the one with the biggest ad in your local yellow pages. You can call your local Department of Health for suggestions, or check with the Better Business Bureau. The important thing is to make sure you choose a company that will do the job right.

Some companies that handle mold remediation employ professional engineers, and while mold remediation contractors don’t have to be engineers in order to know how to take care of mold, a company with such high standards may be a good choice. Some companies employ only certified mold remediation contractors, which tells you the contractors at least meet minimum standards.

Ask questions before deciding which mold remediation company is right for you. Find out exactly what services they will provide, what qualifications the services providers have and what it will all cost.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Most mold remediation companies offer a free inspection and assessment, during which they will examine your home for mold, tell you about the extent of your mold problem, advise you about the best way to resolve your mold problem and let you know what they will charge to handle the problem for you. Request that a certified mold remediation specialist perform the inspection. You can consult with more than one company if you like before deciding which one to hire.

A certified mold remediation specialist can test the mold in your home to determine which type of mold it is, because that helps determine the best way to treat the mold. However, we recommend that you hire a separate mold testing specialist so than an independent professional is overseeing the removal process. He will check for hidden mold, develop a removal plan, and make sure all affected areas are treated properly.

The mold remediation company will also make sure to follow proper safety precautions so that mold is not spread to any other areas of your home. This includes closing off any areas where he is working so that mold spores don’t go airborne and drift to other areas of the house and securely enclosing any contaminated materials in protective coverings before carrying them through the house for disposal. Of course, he will have all the necessary safety and protective gear.

WHEN YOU NEED TO CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL

We recommend all homeowners consult a professional before beginning the process of mold remediation, and since most mold remediation professionals offer free consultations, that’s easy enough to do. In some instances, though, it’s particularly important to speak with a professional before you proceed. You may need to hire a professional, but even if you hope to do the work yourself, consult with a professional first if:

  • You have health problems that might be exacerbated by contact with mold spores, such as asthma or other respiratory disorders.
  • There is a musty odor in an area of your home but you cannot find any mold in the area (a musty odor almost always indicates mold growth, but often the mold is growing inside walls, under floorboards, inside heating ducts, or in other hard-to-locate places).
  • You have mold growing in your heating ducts.
  • You have mold growing on wooden support beams inside your walls.
  • Mold has grown after flooding with contaminated water, such as water that might contain sewage or other hazards.

9 thoughts on “Choosing the Right Mold Remediation Company”

  1. It really is important to understand that a mold testing service will test the mold to determine what kind of mold it is. This is important because it will inform you about the next few steps you need to take in the mold removal process. For example, if it is a dangerous mold then you may need to relocate outside your home as soon as possible so that the company can safely remove the mold.

  2. I didn’t realize that musty odors in an area can be a sign that a professional mold removal service is needed. My sister just moved into an older home, and she wants to make sure the area is safe for her family. Hopefully, she can use this info to make sure her basement if free from mold. Thanks!

  3. I noticed mold in my basement, and I don’t know what to do about it. It makes sense that hiring a professional might be the best idea! If I did it on my own then I would run the risk of missing some.

  4. It’s great that this article explains how a professional mold remediation contractor can get rid of the spores or any hidden patches in your home. This would be important to have your house as clean as possible and make sure you’re safe to stay there. When hiring a professional, you’d probably want to look at their experience by checking out their website and any online reviews so you can learn more about what they offer and ensure that they provide quality service that will properly handle your mold remediation in order to remove all of it.

  5. A friend of mine thinks that there might be some mold in his house, but he wasn’t sure how to find someone to get rid of it. I really like that you say to make sure that they take all of the precautions to get things done safely. It would be nice to make sure that mold won’t spread in the air.

  6. I like that you mention how a remediation company will come and examine your home for mold, tell you the extent of the problem, and provide you with information on the best method to get rid of it. This would probably help you figure out which choice you want to pick in order to remove it correctly and completely. I’d imagine that finding a remediation company that is easy to talk to and work with would probably be important to make sure you’re comfortable talking to them and so they’ll provide you with the information you need.

  7. I agree that we should get a consultation from a professional first before starting the mold removal process. I do not have allergies or anything but my husband does, so I’m worried about how it might affect his health. Thanks for your the informative article. I’ll be sure to contact a professional for more information and further suggestions.

  8. The best part of your article for me is when you talked about how a professional mold remediation company has the right skills and tools to track down mold infestation in your house and take care of it. My father gave me his old house before he passed away. I visited the house to check it and noticed that there’s a musty odor in an area of the house which could be a sign of mold. Since we’re planning to move in there, it’s important to me that the mold in all areas are eliminated properly. I will make sure to contact a mold removal company as soon as possible.

  9. I like that you talked about how important it is to hire a professional mold remediation company to make sure that the mold in your house is going to be thoroughly removed to prevent it from growing and spreading that can put your family’s health at risk. My mother decided to move back to their old house. She went there yesterday noticed the presence of mold in her kitchen area. It’s important for her to have the mold removed as soon as possible to avoid getting health problems because of it. For me, hiring a professional mold removal company can be the best choice for a guaranteed result. I will make sure to consider all your tips.

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