Black mold is not just a health hazard; it is a problem that can generate expensive structural damage to a home. Black mold, or stachybotrys chartarum, thrives on the cellulose found in building materials and if left untreated, can weaken timber beams and rot the walls of a house from within. Mold removal is a cost a homeowner incurs in order to avoid an even greater expense later on. There are a number of factors that influence mold removal cost and it is important to take each into consideration when considering removal options.
The cost of removing black mold is predicated on how extensive the infestation have become. According to Kevin Bristol, President of Advance Mold Remediation, the average cost for one contaminated wall can be as much as $3000. This does not include the possibility of the family having to leave the house while removal work is done. This may sound grim but black mold can multiply and widespread infestation can generate costs of up to $30,000 or more. There have even been cases where the black mold damage was so bad the house needed to be torn down and rebuilt.
Professional mold removal is a fairly complex process and the expense covers a number of items needed for complete removal. These include a mold inspection followed by a lab analysis of the mold discovered, the prep work to be done before the actual removal commences, protective clothing and helmets worn by the workers, special equipment to filter out spore polluted air, and all the chemicals required to remove the mold. Home insurance may or may not cover black mold removal, depending on the circumstances but some assistance may be possible if the mold resulted from a flood. Getting an estimate first is definitely a good idea since the cost and level of service rendered will vary from one company to another.
Whatever the final price of black mold removal, it is far less expensive than that incurred if the black mold problem is ignored and gone untreated. The dollar figure then may be as much as the value of the dwelling itself. Some people will attempt removal as a DIY (do it yourself) project and that isn’t a very good idea. There is a risk involved in removing black mold without the help of a professional and it is more than just the health risk of coming into contact with stachybotrys chartarum. A house with extensive black mold is in poor structural health, requiring more than just a soap and water approach to making things better. There is a distinct possibility that attempting this as a DIY project will only cause bigger problems later on. Professionals have a distinct advantage because they know what they are working with and have a better idea of what it will take to eliminate the problem permanently.
However, if a person still insists that he or she can do the job without any adverse consequences there is a website, DIYMoldRemovalKit.com, that offers mold removal kits that range from $147 to $199. In an extension of the old phrase “caveat emptor” (let the buyer beware), anyone considering mold removal as a DIY project should carefully read any information regarding the chemicals to be used, and what safety precautions ought to be employed. Mold removal involves a degree of potential hazard and anyone trying by himself or herself should be very careful. That said, mold test kits and other removal products can decrease the mold removal cost significantly.
