Mold Remediation Cost Guide

Mold Remediation Cost Guide For the Homeowner

While most home owners tend to be alarmed if they detect mold in the home it does not always mean a substantial mold remediation cost. Any sign of mold does require your immediate attention however as mold can spread very quickly and cause real damage to your home which can lead to a substantial cost. It can also be responsible for a range of health issues. Early detection is the key to saving money and protecting the health of the occupants of your home.

The mold remediation industry is for the most part unregulated at this point in time. This means there are no requirements for operating in the industryand as a result standard procedures and costs can vary considerably.There are also conflicting views on just how damagingmold is to your health, which leaves the door wide open for scaremongering and false information.

This is not good news for homeowners as it essentially means there is no governing body for the industry and as a result homeowners affected by mold are at the mercy of the industry. There are measures underway to address the issue but it is very slow moving. For instance Californias Toxic Mold Protection Act(2001) has been developed to introduce standards for assessing the impact of mold, standardised mold remediation procedures and importantly disclosure of mold in residential premises. An initial report was first issued in 2005,this is still a work in progress however (implementation of these recommendations requiresfunding). When it comes to assessing the impact of mold on a persons health The California Department of Public Health is on record as stating that scientifically based health standards for indoor mold can not be established at this point in time. The reasons for this are straight forward. Essentiallya home experiencing water damage can be affected by a range of health issues related to a damp environment includingbacterial growth, organisms such as dust mites and toxic chemicals being exposed as a result of damage caused by moisture. The specific role mold plays when it comes to health is complicated by these contributing factors and the health affects of mold are difficult to isolate.

The 2008 update report is available here: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/IAQ/Documents/SB%20732%20Implementation%20Update%20July%202008.htm)

What does this mean for the home owner? As a result there are many stories of home ownerspaying large amounts of money only to have the mold problem not addressed properly or have the infestation return. There are also many stories of remediation companies overcharging thousands of dollars to carry out extensive demolition and repair work when a simple and less expensive option would have been just as effective. Unfortunately the homeowner isnt protected in this scenario so it is up to the homeowner to understand the process as much as possible and ask the right questions. In many cases getting multiplequotes is essential.

Residential mold remediation costs can run anywhere from a minimum of $500 to well in excess of $30,000 and over in extreme cases. While its virtually impossible to provide a cost estimate without an inspection we have provided some information below that mayhelp you with an approximate idea of your expected costs.

While there isnt a regulated set price per square foot for mold remediation, there are some basic outlines we can use to calculate an average cost. Its important however to understand that your total remediation cost can be affected greatly by a number of factors.

For example in the wake of Hurricane Katrina (which left Louisianaalmost 75% under water) many homes were exposed to extensive water damage over an extended period of time.

The National Center for Healthy Housing provided information on cost estimates for flood repair. Under the section for decontamination the average price recommended was between $3.40 $4.10 per sq/foot (*Please note this does not take into account repair work or problems accessing the mold affected areas of the home).

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Mold Remediation Cost Guide