What Does Mold Treatment Cost? Best Methods and Pricing.

Large amount of white mold on floor joists

Originally posted 1/2/20, updated 12/14/22

You’ve found mold in your home, and now you’re wondering how to proceed. Let us help you! We’ll review the different methods to treat mold and what these solutions cost. We will also discuss additional services or products you may need, depending on the cause and severity of the mold in your home.

Acculevel has cleaned and treated hundreds of basements and crawl spaces since 1996. In the last twelve months, our customers have paid between $2350-$4700 for mold treatment. This is a price range, because our costs are calculated per square foot. Acculevel is an Anabec-trained contractor.

About Anabec

Anabec is a manufacturer of premium cleaning chemicals that are designed to treat and prevent mold with the smallest environmental impact. In our experience, these are the best products to use and we are proud to partner with them.

Anabec products are cleaning chemicals that are tailored to fit many applications. Their philosophy is that “less is best” when it comes to the application of chemicals to surfaces. Their products are designed to complete the job with the smallest impact on your home and its surroundings.

Types of Mold Treatment

Physical Removal

If the mold in your home is flowering or is a type of fungus that grows in a more ‘3-D’ style, you may need to physically remove portions of it. The average cost to scrape and vacuum biological growth is approximately $2 per square foot. If the mold growing in your home is more ‘flat’ or less fuzzy, you can go directly to a cleaning application.

This picture was taken by an Acculevel project advisor during a routine free estimate. This is an example of mold that we’d recommend for scraping.

Chemical Cleaner

A chemical cleaner designed specifically for removing mold is the next step if you’ve had the surface scraped. (It’s the first step, if the affected area does not require scraping.)

The cleaning solution can be applied to both porous and non-porous surfaces. This makes it ideal for cleaning the wood framing structure of your home, as well as the concrete foundation. After a chemical cleaning application, the surface is extremely clean, and prepared for a moisture barrier product. It does not return the treated surfaces to a spotless finish. Signs of the biological growth will remain. Costs for the cleaning application are $2-3 per square foot.

This picture was taken by an Acculevel project advisor during a routine free estimate. This is an example of mold that does not need scraping.

Please be safe! Do not use bleach to clean wood or concrete surfaces. Bleach is only safe and effective when properly used on non-porous surfaces; in small or enclosed spaces, the fumes are a breathing hazard for those with allergies or asthma. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that any mold problem larger than 10 square feet be examined by an expert.

Moisture Barriers

Here at Acculevel, we offer two different options for this stage (both are Anabec products). The first is called X70, and it is meant for unfinished surfaces. This treatment penetrates into the material itself and resists moisture absorption into the wood, concrete, etc. This solution dries to a milky white, similar to a white-wash effect. It will not fully cover the evidence of the mold but can be painted over if desired. Costs for this sealant application are $2-3 per square foot.

The other option is Anabec’s X90, which has the same benefits as X70. The primary difference is that X90 dries to a solid white finish that will fully cover the appearance of biological growth. It can also be finished with latex paint if you’d like. The X90 sealant costs $3-4 per square foot.

There are other products marketed to serve this purpose, often labeled as sealants or inhibitors. These function similarly to car wax, as they coat the surface and repel moisture. But they are only surface-level protection, and break down over time.

Some contractors would recommend that you skip this step, and instead remove the affected materials entirely. This is a highly effective method where it is safe to do so; removal and replacement is the optimal solution for items like drywall and carpet. However, this is significantly less feasible when mold is growing on your foundation or structural wood framing components.

Additional Costs to Consider

If the odor in your home is significant, or if it has a negative impact on your health and comfort, an additional product to consider is an odor neutralizer. Odor neutralizers can be combined with its cleaner to target odors left behind by flooding, mold, and mildew.

Mold requires moisture to grow. If it’s been growing on the joists, beams, or other components of your wood flooring system, these may be damaged and need repair.

How is the moisture getting into your basement or crawl space? Is there a high water table? Is there seepage or standing water? You may need water drainage to prevent the mold from returning. If the source of the moisture is high humidity, a dehumidifier may solve the issue. For more information about those services, you can review our article on the cost of crawl space waterproofing or our basement waterproofing guide.

For Your Own Safety

When you decide on a contractor for mold treatment, you should discuss with the company representative any risks that may be posed to your family during treatment. The contractors doing the work will be wearing PPE (personal protective equipment) recommended by OSHA to guard themselves.

You and your family will not be required to wear this equipment because you will not be in close proximity to the worksite. But that doesn’t mean you won’t be exposed to potential side effects. If you or a member of your household are allergic to dust, have asthma, or are sensitive to strong chemical odors, it will be better for your health to leave the house during treatment.

What’s the Next Step?

Find an experienced local company, and make an appointment. Before you sign a contract for any service, you should always verify the company is reputable, insured, and accredited by the Better Business Bureau.

If you live in Indiana or the surrounding states, contact Acculevel. We specialize in mold and mildew treatment with minimal environmental impact. If you have seen mold or smelled that distinctive odor in your home, you can request a free estimate. An experienced project advisor will evaluate your home and recommend the best course of action for you, to keep your home strong and healthy for years to come.