Mold remediation and removal

Size decides the method

EPA sorts mold jobs by area. Under about 10 square feet, roughly a 3 foot by 3 foot patch, you can usually handle it yourself¹. EPA's table calls 10 to 100 square feet a medium job with limited containment⁴, and more than 100 square feet a large job with full containment and full protective gear².

Removal versus remediation

People use the words the same way, but the job is bigger than wiping mold off. EPA says it is impossible to get rid of all mold and spores indoors, and that spores will not grow without moisture⁶. So remediation is about removing the growth and the water that fed it. A spray that kills mold is not enough, because dead mold can still cause allergic reactions⁷.

What stays and what goes

Hard surfaces like tile, metal and sealed wood get scrubbed with detergent and water and dried completely⁸. Porous materials such as ceiling tiles and carpet may have to be thrown away⁹, because mold grows into their gaps and may be hard or impossible to remove¹⁰. Drywall is paper faced, and CDC notes Stachybotrys grows on gypsum board and paper¹¹. Moldy drywall is cut out past the stain, not cleaned.

Bleach is not the plan

EPA says a biocide like chlorine bleach is not recommended as a routine part of mold cleanup, though professional judgment may call for it in some cases¹². If bleach is used, CDC says never mix it with ammonia or other cleaners because it makes a poisonous gas¹³, and EPA says always ventilate¹⁴.

When the job is done

EPA's test is simple. Cleanup is not finished until the water problem is fully fixed and visible mold and moldy odors are gone³. CDC says to make sure cleanup is finished before moving back in¹⁵.

When you call or text (702) 728-4493, you get the size estimate in square feet, the tier it falls in, what we would remove and what we would clean, before any work starts.