Mold Remediation

You hear a lot about mold remediation nowadays. But is mold remediation a worthwhile project or just a big scam? Let's look at the issue.

Mold Develops Because of Water

More than likely, any mold you have growing in your house is the result of water incursion. Attics, crawlspaces, wall interiors, and basements are all key candidates for water incursion. However, an excessive amount of humidity and condensation in a house can also cause mold.

Mold Remediation Need Not Always Be Done by a Contractor

There's mold...and then there's mold. The scary mold in popular imagination--the mold that attacks entire towns--doesn't really exist. It's the same benign mold that you see growing in your shower that you spray with Tilex. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) even advises that any moldy areas less than 10 square feet (about 3 feet by 3 feet) can be remediated by the homeowner. Beyond that, you may want to talk to a mold remediation contractor.

Mold Remediation Does Not Always Mean Sampling for Toxins

Even the EPA, cautious as they are, indicate that most mold is benign and does not need to be sampled for toxicity.

Bleach Does Not Remediate Mold

Even though chlorine bleach is often used to kill mold, bleach is not an EPA-approved biocide. For that, you will need to use a product such as Mold Stat.

Three Steps to Remediate Mold

1. Identify and cut off the source of water.
2. Eradicate the mold with a biocide.
3. Encapsulate the mold.

So is Mold Remediation Worthwhile or a Scam?

A Case for Mold Remediation as Worthwhile
It's the eyes of the beholder. Mold remediation companies certainly do good work when the mold is wide-spread and is in a public institution or in commercial buildings. And while most mold is not toxic, some mold is toxic. For this, you want a licensed, experienced professional dealing with the mold.

A Case for Mold Remediation as a Scam
On the other hand, the mold remediation business feels like a huge scam. In fact, one leading mold remediation company, in trying to promote itself to potential franchisees, advertises mold remediation as the asbestos business of the 21st century. Mold remediation is often used as a scare tactic and a bargaining chip on real estate property inspections.

Our best advice is to get informed, don't be frightened, and make your own decisions.