Mold removal vs mold remediation
People usually ask us to "remove the mold so it never comes back". Those are two different requests, and it is worth separating them before anyone quotes you.
The distinction in one line
Removal takes away the growth you can see. Remediation deals with the whole situation: contain the area so the work does not spread it, remove the affected material, clean what remains, dry it, and address the moisture that caused it in the first place.
If someone quotes you to "remove the mold" and the price seems low, it is worth asking which of those steps is included. Wiping growth off a wall that is still wet is not a repair; it is a delay.
What remediation actually involves
Contain
Seal the work area and put it under negative pressure so that disturbing the growth does not distribute it through the building.
Remove
Take out material that cannot be cleaned — typically porous things that absorbed the water: drywall, insulation, carpet, padding.
Clean
HEPA vacuuming and damp wiping of the structure and the surfaces the work touched, with filtration running.
Dry
Bring the material back to a normal moisture content, which is the step that decides whether it stays fixed.
Correct the source
Identify what let the water in, and say clearly who needs to put it right.
Document
A written record of what was found, what was removed and what was done.
Why the moisture is the real job
Mold is a symptom. The reason it grew is that something was wet for long enough, and unless that changes, the same wall will do the same thing again.
Sometimes the fix is ours — drying, ventilation, correcting a condensation problem. Often it is not: a roof, a plumbing leak, a drainage issue or a failed window seal needs the relevant trade. We will tell you plainly when that is the case, including when it means the job is not ours.
Who does which part
Florida licenses mold assessment and mold remediation separately, and the two roles are deliberately kept apart on a project: the party deciding how much work is needed should not be the party paid to do it.
We hold both licenses — Mold Assessor MRSA3298 and Mold Remediator MRSR3880, both held by Mauricio Gutierrez — and we take one role on any given project. If we assess your property, an independent remediator does the removal. If we do the removal, an independent assessor verifies it.
What we can and cannot tell you
We are not going to tell you that mold is destroying your health in order to sell a removal. What is fair to say is that the EPA recommends removing indoor growth and fixing the moisture behind it, that some people report symptoms in damp buildings, and that damp materials deteriorate. Health questions belong with a doctor.
Questions we are asked
Can you guarantee it will not come back?
No, and be careful of anyone who does. If the water source is corrected and the area is dried properly, it should not. If the leak returns, so will the mold.
Do I need an assessment before remediation?
Not always. If the cause is obvious and the area is small, it may be unnecessary. If the extent is unclear, or if a written protocol or verification is wanted, an assessment is the right start.
Can I just clean it myself?
The EPA's guidance is that a small area of hard-surface growth — roughly under ten square feet — is often something a homeowner can handle, provided the water source is fixed. Larger areas, porous materials and anything in an HVAC system are a different matter.
Why will you not do both halves on my project?
Because Florida separates the two licenses on purpose, and the separation exists to protect you.
Related
Common types of indoor mold
What the species names mean, what they tend to indicate about a building, and why the label matters less than the moisture.
Read moreMold and mildew: common questions
Plain answers to the questions we get asked most, including the ones where the honest answer is “we cannot tell you that”.
Read moreHave a question this did not answer?
Call or email and we will give you a straight answer, including when the answer is that you do not need us.
Florida licensed
Mold Assessor MRSA3298 and Mold Remediator MRSR3880, both held by Mauricio Gutierrez. Either number can be checked on the state register.
- Phone
- (754) 703-8317