I recently purchased a house and noticed some water damage behind the drywall, which is causing slight swelling. A plumber checked it out and found mold and moisture present in the wall structure. I've had a few remediation companies examine the area, and they detected high moisture levels across about half the room. However, their estimates are around $8,000, mainly for drywall removal, safety gear, and filtration. I'm wondering if it's feasible for me to handle this on my own, assuming there aren't any immediate water problems and it just needs some aeration and dehumidification. Would it be safe to proceed with proper protective gear, ventilation, and containment?
3 Answers
Absolutely, you can manage the remediation yourself! The first step is to figure out how the moisture got in and fix that issue before tackling anything else. You’ll want to cut out at least 4 feet of drywall around the damaged area (2 feet on either side). Use a drywall saw to score and cut it out, then spray the affected area with Concrobium to help tackle the mold. After that, let it dry out and consider introducing a fan to speed up the process. A moisture meter can help you monitor things too. If mold persists, run a HEPA filter continuously until everything's dry! Once you're good to go, you can patch in new drywall, sand and paint to finish it up.
DIY is possible, but keep in mind there are risks involved. The professionals wear specialized safety gear, ensure the area is contained to prevent dust from spreading, and are trained for this type of work. That said, it doesn't mean you can't do it yourself. I’d recommend investing in a quality mask designed for mold removal. It might be wise to send a sample of the mold to a lab for testing too, just to be sure you're handling everything safely!
You can definitely give it a shot! Just be ready for a fair amount of drywall removal, and you might have to do some reframing as well. If you’ve got access to a truck and a dump, you’re in a good position to tackle it. But if you have to shove bags of drywall into a small car, you might want to think about getting professionals involved instead. Just something to keep in mind!