Black Mold Removal

One of the things I feared the most when we purchased our home was the cost of black mold removal. At the time we didn't have much money and we needed every little penny we had just to close on the house. Fortunately for us our inspector didn't find any problems.

So why did I fear the price so much? Because at the time doing it ourselves was not an option and as we learned a professional would have cost about $3,000. Now the scary part is that's only one specific area in the home. If there was more than one area it was going to cost as much as $70,000! Wow!

Unfortunately, black mold removal has become a necessary evil thanks to all of the recent and even past rains. And even though the rainy season is practically over, many homeowners may be very unaware of the fact that they even have the dangerous fungus in their home or how to remove it.

Most people don't really know how big of a risk toxic mold can be. They think that it's just a form of dirt that can't really do much harm. Homeowners don't realize that the throat irritation they're experiencing or the coughing or asthma they have can be an adverse effect from mold, which can later cause serious respiratory problems if there's long-term exposure to the toxic mold. And what's worse is people that do have those symptoms or are allergic to mold often try to do the mold removal themselves when they shouldn't.

However, if you're not allergic to mold and you know you don't have any of the symptoms from exposure, you can get rid of the fungus yourself, as long as the affected area is no more than about 10 square feet.

First, assess the situation. Mold generally grows in areas like the bathroom, kitchen and basement. They also tend to grow anywhere there is a water source such as a leak from a pipe or faucet, air conditioner and walls and windows that are prone to condensation. But, mold can also grow where they cannot be seen , so you'll also need to keep an eye out for any musty or rotting odors in your home.

Before you get started you'll need to wear rubber gloves, eye protection and a respirator mask at the very least.

Then you'll need to remove all porous items that are wet and cannot be cleaned or dried. Porous items may include wallpaper, carpeting, drywall, insulation, paper, wood and fabrics.

Next, you'll want to clean the affected surface areas with a solution of detergent and water and then with a black mold removal cleaner that is designed to permanently kill the fungus. And finally dry the area with clean rags or fans if necessary.