Mold in basement>10 sq ft: can we just remove paneling, or need to have it tested first? How much $$$?

Question

Areas of mold (black and some gray) in a basement that flooded three times this spring. We're working to fix the water problem. We're planning to remodel anyway, so the old paneling isn't a big loss, but I don't want to release tons of mold spores into the air if they're toxic. My inclination is to hire an independent testing lab, find out what type of mold we have, then use their remediation plan to hire a contractor to deal with it. Are we likely to have to clean it up first and THEN remove the damaged areas? Or is removal itself a viable means of solving the problem? Can a regular contractor do this? How much should I expect the testing to cost? If we're not suffering from any clearly related physical problems now (it's been there for months, I'd guess), will we need to vacate the house while remediation takes place? My husband wants to just hire a regular demolition crew to pull the paneling out, but I'm not comfortable going that route. Informed opinions appreciated.

Answer 1

we bought a home in which mold was detected - actually, the sellers kept something in front of a gaping, oozing black hole! the mold tested to be the most deadly black mold.

i would not do a lowe's test - given the dangers, I agree with you that you need a mold remediation company to test and make a proposal. Our cost was 1100 for testing and remediation, including cleaning of all the house ducts and not including replacing drywall. i have to say the mold remediation folks who tore out the drywall didn't even use masks. I don't know if this is a lack of respect for their workers or because even the deadly black mold is not a huge problem.

I will say our regular contractor - who fixed the drywall - would have nothing to do with removing the moldy wall. We did not clean the wall before it was removed.

Answer 2

You can buy a test kit for less than ten dollars at Lowe's.