Black Mold Removal - Should You Hire A Professional?

If you have recently identified black mold colonies inside your home, you may start wondering if it is necessary to hire a mold removal company. Remember that if the affected area is less than 30 square feet, you can actually do some basic clean up and repair steps that can help solve the problem. However, it is also possible that you may not see the extent of black mold infestation because mold can easily spread in hidden areas such as under the carpet, on walls or floors. This is when hiring a professional for black mold removal is a smarter move, because they have the equipment to check even mold hidden in walls, floors and ceilings.

A mold removal company will do an initial inspection to understand the origin and type of mold that is present inside your home. They will use the right equipment to check the presence of mold spores in the air and investigate how the mold may be causing allergic reactions. Black mold releases mycotoxins that when inhaled or ingested can cause severe reactions among people who have weak immune symptoms.

Inspection

Black mold removal done by a professional expert often includes cleaning up hard-to-reach areas that are not visible to the common eye. The basement, the attic, kitchens and bathrooms are the usual places where mold develops due to the humid and moist environment that can sustain mold growth. However, there are also hidden spaces such as the ductwork in the attic and walls, as well as the crawl space under your home. If you do the inspection by yourself, you may not be able to see these places and even after you clean up an infested area, chances are, there are other areas inside your home where tiny mold colonies will again start to develop.

Costs

Costs related to mold removal can vary, depending of the size of the contaminated area, how many rooms or areas of the house are affected and how extensive the process of mold removal will be. Homes that have been previously damaged by water due to flooding or seriously damaged pipe leaks will cost more, especially if the wall ducts are also affected. If the ducts have to be replaced, the repair cost can range from $2,000 to $6,000. Cleaning up a small area such as a crawlspace will usually be as low as $500. It is best to ask for a quote from several mold removal companies in order to compare their fees and services.

The Company

When choosing a company for black mold removal, make sure that you are dealing with professionals who are state-certified. Deal with companies that are legitimate and can present references from recent clients. A good contractor will also offer to do a routine post test a few months after the clean up.

In cases where the infested area is less than 30 square feet, you can actually do the mold clean up yourself, using commercial products such as baking soda or distilled vinegar. However, hiring experts for black mold removal can actually save you more money that you may have to spend in medicines and hospital bills, if your family's health gets compromised due to mold exposure.