For many people, mold remediation can be a daunting challenge. In the right environment, mold can spread quickly across nearly any indoor surface and the full extend of mold growth may not even be visible due to walls or other obstructions. Despite the apparent difficulty, most minor mold remediation jobs can be performed by property owners without the need for professional involvement.
In general, there are three primary factors to take into consideration when deciding whether or not to hire a mold remediation contractor. The first and most important factor to consider is the size of the remediation project. The second factor to consider is the cause of the mold infestation. The third factor to consider is the difficulty of accessing the area where mold is growing. This article will address each of these considerations in turn.
Project Size
As with most projects that force property owners to decide between hiring help or doing it themselves, the amount of work to be performed is a major consideration.
Whether they realize it or not, most homeowners have performed some form of mold remediation on their own before. Usual remediation efforts involve little more than household chores; things like throwing old bread away, cleaning out the refrigerator, or scrubbing mildew from shower tile. Certainly, nobody thinks that these types of remediation jobs require the help of a professional, even though each one captures the essence of what performing a larger scale remediation involves.
At the other end of the spectrum, mold growth can become so extensive that it overwhelms a home, office or other building. Mold growth is a major secondary effect of flooding and it is not unheard of to have entire floors of buildings, usually basements, literally covered with aggressive mold growth on the walls, ceiling, floor, and furniture. In such a situation, most people rightly reach for the phone rather than the scrub brush.
Between those two extremes are remediation jobs where it is a close question whether or not a professional is needed. The EPA suggests using 10 square feet as a rule of thumb: Anything under 10 square feet can usually be performed by property owners, while anything over should likely be done by a professional.
Cause of Mold Infestation
An important fact to remember about mold is not a problem by itself. Much like a fever and runny nose are symptoms of a cold or flu, indoor mold is a symptom of a problem with the building itself which causes the building to contain excess moisture. While removing the mold might provide short term relief, the only long term solution is to identify and repair the cause of the excess moisture inside.
Most mold infestations come as the result of defective plumbing or a defective moisture controls, such as the HVAC system. In these cases, it is likely that a plumber or heating and cooling expert should be brought in to perform the repair, but professional mold remediation is often not necessary.
Another common cause of mold infestation is flooding from heavy storms or backed up sewers. In these cases, an expert should always be consulted. Unlike the normally clean water released by a leaking pipe or dripping air conditioner, flood and sewer water often contain significant biological hazards including human waste. A professional will have the tools and experience to not only remove residual moisture from the indoor environment, but also to properly clean and sanitize the area.
Difficulty of Access
When it comes to finding places to grow, there are few organisms more versatile than mold. The indoor environment is filled with products that mold can break down and consume for food, leaving moisture as the primary inhibitor of mold growth. Some mold infestations happen on visible surfaces and can be readily cleaned with a little time and care. Many significant mold infestations, however, happen out of sight, behind walls, or in areas which are tight or hard to access. Some infestations may be so well hidden that the only sign of mold is an odor or reports of respiratory trouble from building occupants.
When mold is hidden or difficult to reach, professional assistance is usually recommended. Hidden mold usually requires a contractor to perform selective demolition of walls or other structural elements; a remediation professional should have enough general contracting experience to carefully expose the mold and to restore the job site once the remediation is done.
In situations where the location of the mold is unknown, hiring an expert will almost always be necessary. A remediation expert will have the tools and experience to trace a generalized suspicion of mold to a specific mold source.
Other Considerations
Although the previous sections lay out the most important criteria for deciding whether to hire a professional or perform the work yourself, every job is different and the decision of how to proceed may turn on other factors. Additional factors which may influence the need for professional help include:
- Your physical ability to perform the work.
- Whether or not you suffer from respiratory problems, including allergies and asthma, which may be aggravated by working around mold.
- Whether the type of mold is toxigenic or known to cause specific illnesses (e.g., histoplasmosis).
- Other personal concerns you may have about taking on a do it yourself project.
Conclusion
Like most other repair projects, there are many factors to consider when deciding whether or not to hire a contractor to perform mold remediation. Standard considerations of size and complexity apply. In addition, mold remediation also requires property owners to consider the health effects of attempting to self-perform the work. For remediation efforts where mold is visible, covers less than 10 square feet of area, and is unlikely to accompany other significant hazards, hiring a professional is usually unnecessary. When there is greater work or danger involved, owners should certainly consider finding an expert.