Hey everyone! I just received a quote for mold remediation in my basement, and it's set at $1800. Honestly, I expected the cost to be much higher. They pointed out some white mold on the wood trim of the ceiling, and I feel a bit embarrassed since I didn't even recognize it as mold at first. Now I'm wondering how crucial it is to hire someone for this job. The contractors mentioned that a significant part of the expense is running air filters and ventilating the basement to clean the air. I'm debating whether I could handle this myself—perhaps just cleaning the mold and keeping my dehumidifier running. Also, I'm a bit anxious because I have a ton of video games stored down there, and they suggested I remove everything, which sounds like a huge hassle. If I can tackle it myself, should I? Or is this a job best left to the professionals? Thanks for any advice!
3 Answers
I totally get where you're coming from! I had a mold issue too and was tempted to go the DIY route. Interestingly, two contractors I spoke with did suggest I could handle it myself. It is important to find out what caused the moisture first, though. For me, it was just beneath some cheap vinyl flooring. I’m thinking of renting an air scrubber and possibly getting an environmental test done afterward to ensure everything's safe. Honestly, if you’re removing everything anyway, you might just as well take on the whole job yourself. Just be cautious about the advice you get—like someone told me to use bleach, but that’s not always the best choice!
First, check if the mold is making you sick. If you don’t have any symptoms, that’s a good start. I’d suggest putting in a dehumidifier and using a dedicated mold spray for treatment. Just avoid bleach for porous materials; it won't kill the mold effectively and it could come back quickly. I'm running a dehumidifier in my basement too, and it helps a lot!
I don’t think I'm feeling sick either, and I do keep a dehumidifier running. Good to know about the mold spray!
That $1800 sounds a bit steep unless there’s widespread damage that I can't see. It would help to know where the moisture is coming from and if that's been resolved. For me, living in a consistently damp area makes it hard, but if the inspector says the concrete isn’t a mold threat, perhaps you can focus on controlling the humidity and tackle the mold on your own with some careful cleaning.
Yeah, my basement has moisture issues too, and fixing it could be costly. I might just try cleaning the mold myself for now and using the dehumidifier to manage the humidity.
Yeah, it really varies! If the mold isn’t pervasive throughout your space, it seems doable. Some people think mold remediation services can be a bit of a scam, so it’s good to do your research. Just make sure you know what you're dealing with.