Preventing A Reoccurrence Of Mold
As important as it is to clean mold on basement walls, it is equally important to take steps to keep the mold from returning. As mentioned, most mold problems in basements are due to a lack of ventilation and the presence of high humidity. You can alleviate the humidity in your basement by using a dehumidifier. These units can be found for under $300. I recommend a model that will self-empty, having pump-out capability or by continuously draining through a garden hose that can be directed down a drain. Here is more on selecting the right dehumidifier.
Another preventative step you can take is to primer/paint the concrete walls with a mold resistant product after the removal process. An excellent choice is . These mold resistant products will range in price from $30-$50 per gallon. Most of these mold resistant primers and paints contain antimicrobial ingredients that help prevent mold re-growth in areas of high moisture content. Warning I never recommend attempting to cover, seal, or paint over mold in any situation.
The goal is not to kill the mold but to completely remove it.
Consider the following example: If you have a skunk living under your front porch, you have a problem. If you kill the skunk you havent solved your problem, you have just created a different problem. Now you have a dead skunk under your porch. The same goes for mold. Dont be happy with just killing it it needs to be removed.
How Much Does Mold Remediation Cost
- Average National Cost: $2,347
- Typical Range: $1,373 to $3,325 or $13.33 to $28.33 per square foot
- High End: $6,333
The numbers listed above are the average national costs for mold remediation services. You can expect to spend between $1,373 and $3,325 or between $13.33 and $28.33 per square foot for mold remediation, with $2,347 being the national average.
Homeowners with minor mold problems typically pay $458 for mold remediation, while the average cost for more extensive remediation is $6,333.
How To Clean Black Mold In Your Basement
If youre determined to try getting rid of the mold yourself, there are several steps youll need to take to try controlling the presence of mold.
- If able, put a stop to the source of moisture thats enabling the mold. Depending on what the source of moisture is, you might be able to fix it yourself, or you may require the help of an expert.
- If the moldy material is removable, get rid of it and replace it.
- If the moldy material cannot be removed, thoroughly clean it with a bleach solution or with a mold-killing commercial cleaner.
While trying to put a stop to mold in your basement, it is important to wear protective gear such as a face mask, gloves, and disposable cleaning tools like sponges. If you have a dehumidifier, be sure to run that as well to remove as much moisture as possible from the basement. But if you dont feel confident about trying to take on the mold yourself, you can always call for a mold expert to help ensure that the job gets done right.
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Where Is Mold Commonly Found
Mold can grow nearly anywhere, but within the home, it is usually found in the following areas:
- Attics ( typically around leaky areas of the roofs sheathing and bathroom vents.
- Inside of wall cavities
If any area of your home has a high amount of humidity and moisture, mold can start to form, so keep an eye out for it.
Banish Mold Infestations With Professional Help
What gets rid of black mold? Most of the cleaners weve mentioned can snuff out black mold infestations, but we recommend getting professional help for significant black mold growth. This is because Stachybotrys chartarum, or black mold, can be harmful if breathed in large quantities.
If a basement mold problem is really severe, mold removal specialists might turn to fumigation to eradicate the infestation. Whichever method they choose to take care of your mold problem, you can rest assured that a professional will do a thorough job to prevent the black mold areas from returning.
If you dont eradicate the source of the moisture that caused the mold, you could see more mold, but a professional will eradicate all mold spores and roots from an infestation so that the same colony cannot grow back, particularly in the same area.
Dehumidifiers and waterproofing paint can be useful for helping to stave off future mold issues. Wet, moldy surfaces like carpeting and drywall are often too far gone to be salvaged and need a replacement instead.
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Ways To Get Rid Of The Musty Smell In Your Basement
Scroll down for more detailed information on each of these seven tips.
Who Do I Call To Have My Mold Situation Assessed
If you smell or see mold in your home, its not necessary to identify what kind of mold it is. The CDC doesnt recommend sampling or testing. That may seem odd, but its because test results wouldnt have much value. Your health risk would still be unknown, as molds effects on individuals vary widely.
Instead of an assessment, put your budget toward removal also known as remediation. A large mold infestation should be handled by an experienced technician using advanced equipment and techniques.
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Basement Mold Health Risks
Most types of mold arent overly harmful to humans, but that doesnt mean that they cant cause discomfort or minor health issues. Large growths of mold can trigger mold allergies, leading to coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath and various other discomforts.
Types of especially dangerous molds, like black mold, can seriously harm those who come in contact or live in homes with it. In cases where youve found black mold or a similarly dangerous mold that may cause health issues in your home, call a professional mold removal company right away.
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Mold Remediation And Removal Labor Cost
Mold remediation and removal is a highly regulated industry. Companies are required to kill, remove and dispose of mold safely. For this reason, the technicians a contractor may send to the home should be highly-trained and trustworthy. Also, they use highly specialized tools required to effectively remove the mold and keep the homeowner safe. For these reasons, mold remediation and removal labor costs are high.
In general, homeowners can expect labor to account for as much as 60% of their mold remediation bill. The other 40% generally includes disposal costs as well as materials like cleaning solutions and biocides.
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Should I Consider Diy Mold Removal Instead
DIY mold removal can be completed, as mentioned, if the affected area is 10 square feet or smaller. If you see mold growing in your bathroom, you can attempt to clean the mold and sanitize the area without issue. If you try to remove the mold yourself instead of hiring professionals, you could simply tackle the symptoms and miss the underlying issue. Having a professional complete a comprehensive inspection and remediation will guarantee that all of the growth is removed not just the visible spores.
Homeowners Insurance May Cover Mold Removal Costs
Depending on the cause of the mold, your homeowners insurance policy may cover the costs. If the mold developed as a result of an emergency pipe burst, roof leak, or other case of recent water damage, the cost will often be covered by most homeowners insurance policies.
But if any water damage was left untreated or a consistent source of moisture was never removed, insurance companies are less likely to cover mold damage.
Also Check: Will Homeowners Insurance Cover Mold Removal
When To Call A Professional
If you have health issues, a big area of mold, or just need assistance, then call a professional. It may be difficult to do this job on your own. In fact, there is nothing wrong with asking a professional to diagnose the problem. As soon as you take this step, you will find it is worth your time and money.
Cost Of Removing Mold In Denver
If you find mold growing in your Denver home, its important to sound the alarm and get rid of it as fast as possible.
Delaying removal of the mold can lead to extensive and costly remediation and repairs. The early use of professional mold remediation in Denver will cost $500 to $6,000, on average. However, this price can skyrocket into the tens of thousands of dollars if the problem is left unaddressed for too long.
Heres what you should know about the cost for mold removal in Denver.
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Tips For Mold Prevention
After you learn how to remove mold, focus on preventing it in the future. Controlling dampness is the key to stopping most mold. The worst infestations usually occur in damp crawl spaces, attics, walls where water leaked in from the outside, and in basements with poor foundation drainage. Stopping leaks, ensuring good ventilation in attics, keeping crawl spaces dry and routing water away from the foundation are the best defenses against mold.
Mildewcide in paint is usually effective for controlling surface mold in damp rooms like bathrooms, and outside in shady areas. Many paints already have mildewcide in them. Check with your paint dealer about mold removal products.
Recommended Reading: How To Test For Mold In House
How To Prevent Chances Of Getting Mold In Your Basement
Mold can return quickly if they find a favorable situation. Ensure that there is no mold left and work on to never let them come back. Keep your basement clean and dry. Also, check the things listed below to stop them from making their habitat in your basement in the first place.
- Insulate your basement pipes, walls, roof, and windows.
Check your pipes and walls regularly to ensure they are in good working condition. When you discover water on the pipes, make sure theyre changed and sealed properly. Wrap your pipes in pipe sleeves, fiberglass, or other insulation materials, or cover your windows to avoid condensation during the winter.
- Control the humidity
Check the humidity level in the room with a hygrometer. If the humidity level drops below normal, increase your basements ventilation. Keep the windows open as much as possible, and use oscillating fans. Add Air conditioners and dehumidifiers if needed. Also, clean and sanitize your humidifier with an antibacterial solution now and then if you have one.
- Dont overload your basement and discard clutter.
Try to remove unwanted things from your basement, and dont overcrowd your basement. Make sure you have only necessary items in your basement, and all the items are dry and clean. Place the items without touching the wall.
Avoid placing plants in your basement as mold spores can spread through dirt, moisture, and soil from such plants. And if you have to store them, take proper care by not overwatering them.
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What Causes Mold In Your Basement
A basement is one of the most viable breeding grounds for mold in any building. The dark, damp, and humid conditions of a basement allow molds to multiply without being noticed.
The most common cause of mold growth in basements is moisture. It could be liquid water from a leaky pipe or condensation from high humidity, or it could be due to a flood.
Among several causes, some of the most common causes of basement mold as suggested by CDC and NIEHS are:
Several other causes, such as drainage backups and HVAC leaks, support mold growth in your basement.
How To Get Rid Of The Flooded Basement Smell
There are a number of household remedies you may use to help rid your basement of its foul smell and odor.
- Pour cat litter over the affected area. This works best if you have localized the smell and have allocated it to being a spill or growth of mold/mildew. Allow the cat litter to sit for a duration. Once it becomes more dense, and darker in color, it has likely absorbed the bulk of the substance in question.
- Treat the carpet with a white vinegar spray. One cup of white vinegar mixed with two cups of warm water in dilution will provide you with a proper spray used to eliminate unwanted odors. A light covering of the area should be enough to combat the smell.
- Activated charcoal based odor absorbers. Activated charcoal undergoes a treatment in order to make it extra porous, allowing for the absorption of many undesirable smells.
- A baking soda mixture.Baking soda contains absorbent properties that will allow for these substances to be picked up over time. Baking soda can maintain its absorbency for upwards of 3 months, depending on the quantity used. This works best if you need to get into tighter confined spaces, as opposed to something like cat litter being bulkier in property.
- Try utilizing a dehumidifier. It is essential to remove the humidity and moisture from the targeted area in order to reduce the spread of unwanted fungal invaders and smells.
- Other substances like bleach or borax may be used to help clean and eradicate the smell on surfaces.
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Mold Removal Vs Remediation
Mold exists naturally in the air inside and outside your home. It is impossible to completely remove all mold from within a building. Microscopic spores still exist even after the problem has been addressed. Remediation is the process of cleaning and removing colonies and growth on surfaces inside your home. It helps to get mold levels back to what is considered normal for your area and air humidity levels. Because it is impossible to guarantee the removal of all the mold in a building, most companies offer remediation services, cleaning, and removing the problem from your home.
What Kills Black Mold In Basements
Bleach: A solution of 1 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water is enough to kill mold on surfaces, according to the CDC.
How much does it cost to remove black mold from a basement?
The black mold removal cost of an unfinished basement can really vary. It could be as little as $500 or as high as $4,000 depending on the scope and size AKA how much mold is present and how much area it covers. If the attic and ducts are involved, the cost for those generally ranges from $2,000 to $6,000.
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Mold Removal Cost Of The Whole House
When molds attack your whole house, you know you have to take action very quickly! Molds can not only destroy many of your possessions but can also pose health hazards.
If you find mold infestation in almost all areas of your house, then you may need the help of a remediation professional.
You can expect to pay $11,000 to $25,000 for the remediation of mold in every corner of your house. The amount can go as high as $30,000 to include repairs and replacements drywall and other structures.
Fix Any Fixtures Damaged By Mold
With that said, there are some occasions where you might be able to save and restore items affected by mold. Some items that are considered to be prime restoration options include:
- Furniture. Wooden furniture can be restored if you are willing to sand away the portion eaten away by mold. You will need wood filler and a wood stain, but its still possible.
- Ceramic. Soaking ceramic in white vinegar will remove the mold and the stains.
- Plastic. Most plastics will be easy to wipe down. Just make sure its not porous!
- Sheetrock/Walls. If you have mold-damaged walls, you will need to call professional mold remediation crews to fix this. Either way, you will need to address this to prevent mold from re-entering your room.
Note: You still need to remove the restorable items from the room and treat them to continue your clean-up. When theyre mold-free, you can re-introduce them to the room.
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Cost Of Mold Removal In A Garage
The cost of mold removal in a garage averages $1,500 to $10,000. Garages can be impacted by mold for many reasons. Because the garage likely sits on a slab, it may have moisture problems if not properly waterproofed. Or, there may be pipes that sweat or leak, humidity may be a problem, and mold spores may spread from other areas into the garage. Remediation varies depending on which areas are impacted. If the problems are at the surface, cleaners, air scrubbers, and vacuums can be used, along with containment. If the issues are inside the walls or are impacting porous materials, these may need to be removed and replaced.
