need recommendations for all-in-one wall repair/mold removal/painting!...

We had a persistent roof leak that had seeped into our roof and bedroom wall. The leak has been fixed, but what's left is some visible wall "deformation" and mold (including behind the wall, etc.). We'd love to find someone to open up the wall and get rid of any mold that may have developed (essentially, professionally "spraying with Clorox", etc); repair the wall; and then - ideally - even paint the room, etc. Does anyone know someone dependable, reasonably affordable, etc. that they'd recommend? Thanks in advance! 

- Alex


Be careful with this.  MOld industry SOP is generally to leave concealed mold in place unless you are doing a full on abatement.  The point is that you do not want to expose your living space to what is probably harmless in its concealed condition. If the wall surface is essentially intact, you can probably get away with antimicrobial application, encapsulation with Kilz (or similar), and paint.



I would separate the mold remediation from the repair and painting. Conclude with a lab mold test -- approx cost, $175.


re: Red_Barchetta's post: INT-eresting. Right now the wall looks like in the attached. The attic above also has insulation that has gotten wet over time, though will presumably dry now that the leak has been fixed. We were presuming that we should even consider removing the insulation in the attic and getting at what ever is underneath, etc. However, it is in a crawl/storage space with a door and is still contained/sealed, etc. So what you're saying is we could potentially "cover up" the mold, fix the wall, and otherwise leave as is (in which case we presumably just hire a good painter who does wall repair)? (or - based upon the picture - this is no longer just "concealed mold"?) Thanks for any further thoughts!

- Alex


We used a mold company recommended by the realtor selling our house. That cost $1k and got rid of visible mold and materials that cost mold. 


Buyer wanted a mold test.  The mold company did not perform mold tests so I googled and got Ace Restorations, Inc.  (973-328-3438). The mold test lab report ($250.00) indicated substantial mold. "Ace" showed me where the residual mold would still be growing. $1,600. more to get rid of it.


The point, don't depend on a painting guy to solve the problem.


There are a lot of ifs to consider here, it depends on what you want as an end result.  If you want a piece of paper in your hand that is written by an appropriate professional that there is no longer any mold, expect to spend thousands.  Also understand that testing and certification has no warranty.  You can be clean one day and develop a new leak which totally starts the growth all over again.  


I have always told clients to think of their house as a mold infestation waiting to happen.  Just like a fire.  If conditions are right, you will get mold.  In short, The main way to prevent mold is to limit water where it shouldnt be.  This could be from a pipe leak, condensation, roof leak, or simply seasonal humidity.  


For your case I'f the insulation is accessible from attic above or crawl space below it makes sense to remove and replace it.  Bag it up tight wherever that is, you do not want to drag it through your house loose on the way to the trash.  Based on your photos my plan would be to apply antimicrobials, hepa vac, scrape walls, encapsulate with sealant, spackle to patch, and paint.  There is a lot more I can say but don't want to get too far into the weeds.


ETA:  mold remediation is an industry rife with hysteria and corruption.  The story JJ describes above is common, and without seeing or knowing about it was probably COMPLETELY unnecessary.  


Hi there! I think you should consult an expert for removing the mold. They will guide you and also suggest you some tips to avoid mold problems in the future. Or you may also surf online or read good articles on mold or about mold removal products. Mold can cause due to various of reasons, so it is better to take precaution so that no mold damage occurs at home. Also, you may file a claim for mold damage and get the insurance money to repair the damage. Public adjuster Fort Lauderdale helps policyholder in filing the mold damage claim as mold damage covers under home insurance policy and also suggest professional for repairing the mold damage.


Be prepared to separate the issues.

When In-Law's house had a mold problem in finished basement, we had full remediation done (= removal of drywall up to 30" off basement floor).  

However, the mold remediation company did not do carpentry or dry wall reconstruction, so I ended up having to do that myself.  That also allowed me to correct some old sins from the original construction.



In order to add a comment – you must Join this community – Click here to do so.