Here's How Much Mold Remediation Costs

You decided to clean out the cabinet under the sink. If you notice any moisture, you might be worried about what else you'll find — and with good reason. 

Mold is present in most indoor environments, and some levels are safe. However, significant levels of dangerous forms of mold require professional removal to bring the area back to a safe level. Mold remediation, which is the process of restoring healthy levels, can range in price from $1,500 up to $9,000 – depending on what needs attention.

The mold remediation cost varies based on location, the need to remove and replace materials, and just how widescale the spread is. Damp environments make the ideal space for mold to grow. While some forms can be easily cleaned up and removed, there are others requiring more attention to detail. The most common indoor molds include Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus. Other forms, like Stachybotrys chartarum are toxic, dangerous molds. These species require more extensive care during removal.

For those sensitive to mold, excessive levels of any of these or other forms can lead to respiratory distress, asthma symptoms, and acute emergencies. If someone in your home has a weakened immune system, asthma, or known allergies, it's particularly important to use a professional mold remediation service to keep your space safe. Because mold remediation costs vary widely, though, it isn't always a simple, straightforward price.

On average, you should expect to pay between $13 and $30 per square foot for mold remediation. A whole-home remediation project could cost as much as $30,000, while a specific area cleaning could come in as low as $500. Smaller, contained areas, such as that under-cabinet space, are easier to clean because the mold may not have spread far. However, if the mold enters the HVAC, it could spread throughout the home, requiring a much greater cleanup effort. Professionals can test the entire home's air supply to determine the extensiveness of the spread and then offer recommendations for removal.

Location can also play a role in mold remediation costs. If mold is found in just a vent, expect to pay around $100 to $500 for the cleanup. Crawl space mold development can range from $500 to $2,000 to remediate effectively, dependent on how expansive that location is. It's also common for mold to grow in a musky, damp basement. Depending on the square footage, expect to pay between $1,500 and $4,000 for remediation here, with an average of $3,500 being common. As noted, HVAC-infiltrated mold remediation is a much larger problem, costing around $3,000 for a small home up to $10,000 (and that's just the HVAC system).

Mold removal involves physically removing the spores from the space or surface, but not necessarily removing the actual surface itself. Mold removal cannot fully remove all mold spores from a home (that's simply not possible). However, the goal of removal is to get rid of as much of the spore colony as possible. This typically involves the use of antimicrobial and antifungal products.

Mold remediation costs are higher because they can involve the removal of materials infested with the organism. The goal is to bring the level of spores down to a more normal level, and depending on the scope, that may involve removing carpeting, drywall, cabinetry, and other surfaces where the spores are growing. The cost varies greatly depending on what needs to be done. For example, if the entire kitchen needs to have the cabinetry removed and replaced, that's going to cost more than treating just a single space under the sink.

Which service do you need? That's dependent on what happens during an inspection to identify mold in the home. A trained professional can provide a whole-home inspection to determine extensiveness. Expect to pay $450 to $800 for the inspection itself. You may have other costs to pay as well, including restoration work, water damage cleanup, foundation repair, plumbing issues repaired, and more, depending on the underlying cause of mold growth. Some of these costs for mold remediation are in addition to the basic cleanup price.