Can You Remediate Mold Yourself?

Now that you have read this article, one thing should be clear. This is not an easy project. Beyond the costs involved, there are many other challenges to overcome to remediate mold yourself.
This list by no means covers all of them, but it gives you a good idea of what you are up against if you choose to DIY:

· Can mold come back? The answer is yes, it can, BUT mold doesn’t always come back. If the conditions are right, it will return; however, the only thing that changes is how bad it gets every time. It does not mean that everything you did before was ineffective or even worse than your home or structure is condemned forever. Mold cannot live on surfaces painted with oil-based, for example.

· Moisture will be a problem – Even if you remove the mold unless it is completely dried out, moisture will come back because the conditions that caused the mold growth in the first place continue.

· You can control moisture better – Once a home or structure has been dried out by a professional, there are things you can do to help prevent mold from coming back, including installing an air conditioner if one was not present before. Installing a dehumidifier could also be helpful, and using exhaust fans for humidity and condensation reduction is part of your regular maintenance plan.

If you do decide to use chlorine bleach, make sure to follow the directions on the label. · You’ll need more than just bleach – I have not found any research showing that bleach is an effective tool for mold remediation. It is often not as effective as other commercial products, and it should always be sterile (no residues) when applied.

· Ventilation – Removing water vapor from an affected area is critical in controlling mold growth after a flood or other type of water intrusion event. The method that works best is dehumidification with an air conditioner which then forces any excess moisture out of your home through your existing ductwork, not just at one location but throughout your entire house, simultaneously keeping the relative humidity below 50%, so it does not promote fungal growth. An alternative would be using high-efficiency exhaust fans or a whole house fan.

· You need to “dry” – If you choose to dry out your home on your own, be sure that it is done correctly because if you do not, then mold may return even after removing it in the first place.