DIY vs Professional
Are you a “DIY-er” at heart? A lot of people love the thrill of taking on home projects from building their own furniture to remodeling a kitchen. DIY can be a great hobby, involve the entire family and save a lot of money. But what about when it comes to major issues like mold remediation?
Advertisement Mold inside your house is a serious condition. If you’ve seen some or suspect it in your home, you may be wondering what the best method is to remove it. No matter what, mold is definitely different than your typical home maintenance project. When it comes to mold remediation in your home, should you try to DIY or should you call in the professionals?
Considerations of DIY Mold Remediation
There are a lot of varying factors when it comes to mold in the home. Whether you have a leaky faucet, a steamy shower or have just been through a flood in your home, your mold problem and solution may vary. While deciding whether or not to tackle your mold problem alone, there are several considerations to take into mind. The decision to hire out the mold remediation or do it yourself is a big one so think it through carefully.
How much mold is in your home?
How deep has the mold gone? It can be difficult to assess how much the mold has grown beyond what you can see without a proper mold inspection, especially if it is hidden deep into walls or cracks and crevices. Surface mold is much easier to deal with and contain. There are many sprays and soaps that are made to kill and remove mold. Many home owners may even be proficient enough to replace drywall and insulation on their own. The real problem arises when the mold has gone airborne or has gotten into several structural elements of the home. And sometimes it can be difficult to know how far the mold has travelled.
What caused the mold?
It is greatly beneficial to determine the source of the moisture that caused the mold when determining whether or not you should perform your own mold remediation. Obviously, the source of moisture must be remedied as well as the mold. Knowing the source of moisture may also help you determine how much mold is present, especially if you know how long the moisture has been an issue. For example, you may know that your roof started leaking from a small hole a month ago which may help you determine how much mold is present and how deep it has grown. Again, the problem arises when there are unknowns. Even if you find the source of the moisture, can you be certain on the length of time exposed and how deep the moisture has travelled? If you are uncertain, it is best to call in the pros.
Do you have access to the knowledge and equipment you will need for mold remediation?
Do you know the proper procedures to effectively remove mold? The methods and practices may vary depending on what type of mold you have, what areas of the home are affected and how long the mold has been present. Special equipment (such as fumigation systems) may also be required depending on the situation at hand. You will need proper safety equipment to keep the mold from entering your mouth, nose and eyes as well as protecting your skin from contact. You can purchase some of this equipment or you may choose to hire a professional who already owns all of the equipment necessary. Many of the mold remediation pros use a negative air machine as well as other equipment to keep your family safe during mold remediation. They also will have the means to test the mold prior to removal and after removal to ensure all spores are gone. If you don’t have all of the necessary equipment or are not willing to rent it, you may want to call in a mold remediation specialist.
Benefits of Professional Mold Remediation
Many people try to remove and clean mold on their own. Often it may appear to be a small problem that can easily be dealt with. But there is often more than meets the eye. If you can see mold on your walls, there is a good chance there is more growing behind the walls. And what about under your furniture or inside your air ducts? Mold spores can be so tiny that they are difficult to see with just eyes and impossible to know how many are present on your own.
Advertisement When you choose to hire a certified, professional mold remediation company, you can rest assured that the job will be done thoroughly and completely. They will send experts to your home that will be able to assess the extent of the damage and inform you of the required remediation and repairs. They will also be able to ensure that the mold doesn’t return after remediation is performed.
It is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to something serious such as mold. Mold can cause detrimental health issues to yourself and your family and end up costing a lot more in the long run than the cost of hiring a professional.
Do You Need Mold Remediation for your Home?
When mold is present in your home, it can be a major problem and should be dealt with properly. While it is sometimes possible to do some mold remediation on your own, often it is a good idea to call in the professionals to perform a thorough inspection and inform you of all of your options prior to making your decision. You will need to know how much mold is your home, the source of the moisture and the proper equipment and procedures for mold remediation. Mold inside your home is a serious condition and should be dealt with properly and immediately. Make sure you know all of the facts when you make your decision whether DIY mold remediation is a project you have the knowledge and capability to undertake safely.
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11 comments
Thanks for your comment about how you should hire a professional to remove mold in your home if there is a lot. I like how you said that they can use products that will prove effective in removing and preventing more from growing back. My husband and I want to make sure every last inch of the mold in our kitchen is removed, so we are considering hiring a professional to get rid of it.
I like that you mentioned that professionals can identify the source of the mold and all affected areas. I found some mold in the corner of my parents’ basement, and I have no idea if it’s deeper than what I can see or not. I’ll be sure to call an experienced mold remediation service to come check it out for me. Thanks for the information.
As a Realtor I would advise anyone that it is best to use a professional. If you ever decide to sell your property you can disclose to a potential buyer that you used a professional. This will be very important if your house was affected by Harvey. That hurricane is going to haunt the Real Estate market for many years
I recently noticed that there is mold growing in our basement and I am thinking about hiring a professional to help with this, so I am glad that I found this article. You make a great point that taking care of mold issues can help to keep the family healthy and will give me peace of mind that my family will not have any health risks in our home. Also, the fact that a professional will make sure to be thorough and find the source of the mold will help to avoid mold in the future.
Hi Krystle, you did a great job of explaining why we shouldn’t do the task ourselves but hire a professional one instead. I’ve heard that this is really harmful to our health so it would be very risky if we’ll try to remove it. You are right in saying that there are aspects on it that we won’t totally see if we are not expert on it. Thanks a lot!
I like how you mentioned that a mold remediation company will be able to ensure that the mold doesn’t return after remediation is performed. My neighbor was doing some work in his basement and he found out that some of the walls were covered by mold. I will suggest to him to contact a professional so that the foundations are not damaged.
I thought that it made sense when you said that one thing to consider when you own an older home is to hire a professional inspection to make sure that any mold, hidden deep within cracks or crevices, is removed thoroughly. I have been trying to create a healthy environment for my family to live in but I have been worried that I would be able to find all of the harmful substances to remove. I will be sure to hire a professional inspection and removal service in order to ensure thoroughness and quality in accurately creating a healthy environment for my family.
I agree that it is better to hire a professional to do the job of mold remediation. My brother told me that he noticed some mold growing on his walls. I’ll let him know that he needs to find a specialist to help him with that problem.
I found it interesting when you said that if you can see mold on your walls, there is a good chance there is more growing behind the walls. My neighbor told me that he was cleaning his basement and he found out mold on his walls. I will recommend him to contact a professional so that he can get rid of it and avoid any damage to the structure of the house.
It’s good that you point out that a professional mold remediation service has the ability to thoroughly clean all the mold out of your home. I want to have a house that is completely free of mold, so I’m considering hiring a mold remediation service. I’m going to look for a good company in the area that offers mold removal services.
The biggest advantage to hiring a professional mold removal company is that they have the equipment to create a containment area so that mold doesn’t spread throughout the house. Most people don’t realize that a DIY removal kicks up more dust and mold spores and spreads them everywhere. People don’t wear the right protective gear either so they can really hurt themselves by trying to do it themselves.