Frequently Asked Questions About Mold Removal in Detroit

What is your process for mold removal?

Professional mold removal is a careful, step-by-step process involving the use of specialized equipment and cleaning agents.  There are many details involved in doing this process correctly. But the overall process can be broken down into some general steps, as follows:

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1. Containment. Contain the work area to prevent cross-contamination of mold spores to non-affected areas of the building.

2. HEPA Air Scrubbing. Clean the air using commercial-grade and industrial-strength air scrubbing machines. These machines use what are known as HEPA filters, which are designed to capture 99.97% of all airborne and microscopic mold spores which pass through the filters.  This process helps to improve air quality in the room(s) where the air scrubbers are placed and prevent mold spores from circulating to other rooms.

3. Selective Demo. Carefully remove the negatively impacted building materials. Focus is on controlled demo and removal in order to prevent kicking and stirring up additional mold spores as much as possible.

4. HEPA Vacuum. Vacuum the contaminated area using what are known as HEPA filters, which are designed to capture 99.97% of all airborne and microscopic mold spores which pass through the filters.

5. Antimicrobial Cleaning. Clean the contaminated area with hospital-grade antimicrobial cleaning agents to kill mold growth.

6. Final HEPA Vacuuming & Clean-Up of Work Area. The final step involves HEPA vacuuming and performing an antimicrobial wipe-down on surfaces where mold spores may have settled within the work area.  Once the job has been double-checked for quality, containment is taken down and the customer has been informed of a successful remediation.

What is black mold?

Black mold is the common name for a certain type of mold called “Stachybotrys,” which is thought to be particularly harmful to a person’s health.

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Many of us have heard of the dangers of “toxic black mold” and may worry about black mold poisoning, but the truth is that black mold is a much more manageable problem than you might expect. When you understand what you’re dealing with, you can make informed choices to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy. We’re here to cut through the mess and help you understand what having black mold in your home may mean, and give you some tips on how to fix the problem yourself and save big money in the process.

Is black mold dangerous?

It can be, but the majority of black mold situations we see are nothing to panic about. The truth is, many people aren’t negatively affected by mold. However, mold can cause allergies in some people who are sensitive to mold. In these cases, it can make their lives miserable. Mold can also cause severe medical issues with a small percentage of people who have other health complications. Many of us have heard of the dangers of “toxic black mold” and may worry about black mold poisoning, but the truth is that black mold is a much more manageable problem than you might expect. If you’ve seen a concerning growth in your home or been told that you have a black mold issue, you probably have a lot of questions.

What is included in your Mold Inspection with Testing service?

1. ​A full assessment of the home. We are looking for not only mold but also water damage because mold requires water or moisture to grow.  We use specialized equipment like moisture meters and/or infrared cameras to check for water damage in hidden places like behind walls.

2. We also include 2 indoor samples in our Standard Mold Inspection.  Indoor samples may be air samples, surface samples, or a combination of both.

3. Samples are FedExed overnight to a 3rd party lab. The Lab take 1-2 business days to process the samples once they receive them.  

4. We email you a copy of the lab results and a written inspection report 2-3 business days after your Inspection appointment. In our written report, we document what we found during the inspection and we explain the lab results in plain English so you can understand what they mean.

5. If our Inspection and lab results determine that there is a mold issue, we can also fix the mold problem. In these cases, your written report will also include a Free Quote to fix the problem. If you hire Moldman to fix the mold issue, we will deduct the cost of the inspection from the Quote price. 

Note to customers: We use the terms “Mold Inspection” and “Mold Testing” interchangeably and they mean the same thing here.

Do I need a professional for my mold problem?

In short, usually not! Because, remember the saying: “no mold, no matter what color, belongs in a healthy home.” And that is good news because a professional mold inspection with testing can run anywhere from $300-$750. In most cases where mold is clearly visible, knowing exactly what type of mold you have is unnecessary. We advise most of our clients to forgo the inspection process and just apply that money saved to the cost of fixing the problem. The EPA agrees that mold testing isn’t necessary in most cases.

There are exceptions, however, such as when a mold inspection with testing is required as part of a real estate sale or if you require “proof” that a mold problem is present, such as for a legal dispute. If you think you may have a mold problem, but aren’t sure, then we recommend formal testing from a professional. And if you require clearance testing to verify an “all clear” after a mold problem is fixed, then professional mold testing is necessary.

How did I get mold?

Like any other living thing, mold needs food and water to thrive. Mold problems start when a mold spore (tiny, invisible “mold seed”) that’s floating in the air lands on a wet piece of organic material (such as wet wood or drywall), takes root and starts to multiply. Mold spores are everywhere in the air, including in the cleanest of homes.

How much does a mold inspection with testing cost?

In situations, however, where a mold inspection is actually needed (e.g. you suspect there is mold but cannot see any obvious problem or you need written proof of a mold problem), our typical charge is $300 to $500 for a mold inspection with testing which includes 2 indoor samples and 1 outdoor control sample, (with each additional sample costing around $50). Most of the time though extra samples are not needed, and when they are it is rare that you need more than 1-2 extra. 

How much does mold remediation cost?

In our industry, you can sometimes get a very wide range of quotes. This can happen for any number of reasons - for example,  someone is not a mold professional and does not have the proper mold insurance (which is an expensive specialty insurance that is harder to obtain and must be added to a general liability policy). In other cases, some companies are used to charging insurance rates but in many cases mold might not be covered by your insurance policy. 

But as far as what Moldman charges, we are typically in the middle of the pack when compared to other mold companies with the proper insurance and similar level of expertise and experience (we’ve been doing this since 2006).  Most jobs we do cost between $400-$2,000 with some jobs being much more when, for example, there has been significant flooding. We always provide a no-obligation quote, free of charge if you've got an obvious, visible mold problem.

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What does Moldman use to kill mold?

Moldman uses cleaning agents that are specifically made for professional mold remediation.  "Green" cleaning agents are also available, upon request.

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​Can mold come back after remediation?

Mold can (and likely will) come back after remediation if the underlying water/moisture source isn’t also fixed.  We will try and identify the cause of the underlying moisture issue, and in many cases we can fix this problem as well.  To ensure 100% customer satisfaction, each of our mold removal jobs is guaranteed by a 10-year transferable warranty.