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Mold remediation: what drives the cost
Mold jobs are priced on how much has to come out and how hard it is to reach. The moisture fix is a separate line, and the one that matters most.
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The short version
- What sets the price
- The affected area, the materials involved and the access.
- Small areas
- Under about 10 square feet is usually a job you can handle yourself, the EPA says.
- Compare quotes on
- Containment, what is removed and what is done about the moisture.
A quote should spell out
- The areas and square footage covered.
- Which materials are removed and which cleaned.
- How the work area is contained.
- What fixes the moisture source.
What pushes the price up
- Mold inside walls or above ceilings.
- Porous materials that must be thrown away.
- Crawl spaces and attics with poor access.
- Rebuilding after removal.
What the EPA says
- Size"If the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet," in most cases you can handle the job yourself.
- Porous materials"Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be thrown away if they become moldy."
- The water problemClean up the mold and fix the water problem. Without the second, the first does not last.
- The contractor"Make sure the contractor has experience cleaning up mold." Check references.
How the job usually goes
- Inspection to find the extent and the moisture source.
- Containment of the work area.
- Removal of ruined materials and cleaning of the rest.
- Drying, and repair of the source.
The EPA says using a biocide "is not recommended as a routine practice during mold cleanup." A quote that is mostly spraying deserves a second opinion.
Related guides
Mold testing: when it is worth paying for
Mold on drywallSources
- US Environmental Protection Agency: mold, moisture and your home