How to Read a Mold Remediation Quote

With a mold remediation quote, what to look for is a written scope that names the exact areas and square footage, describes containment and HEPA air filtration, says what will be removed and how surfaces will be cleaned, addresses the moisture source, and states how the result will be verified. If any of those are missing, you cannot tell what you are buying. A one-line price with no detail is an estimate at best.

Scope: where, how much and what materials

The scope section should read like directions. It names the rooms or attic slopes, gives approximate square footage or linear feet of wall, and lists the materials involved, such as drywall, insulation, roof sheathing, joists or subfloor. Look for wording about hidden conditions too. A fair quote says what happens if more growth is found once a wall is open: who decides, and how the extra work is priced.

Be wary of vague phrases like treat affected areas or mold treatment, basement. Those leave the contractor free to do very little.

Containment and air filtration

Disturbing mold releases spores. The quote should say how the work area will be separated from the rest of the house and how the air will be handled. The standard approach under IICRC S520 practice is plastic sheeting barriers around the work zone and a HEPA-filtered machine exhausting air so the zone stays under negative pressure. Dirty air is then pulled away from your living space instead of drifting into it.

Look for these words or their plain equivalents: containment, negative air, HEPA air scrubber, and protection of the furnace system, such as sealing supply and return vents in the work area. In an attic, look for how the hatch and the route through the house will be protected.

What to look for in a mold remediation quote under removal and cleaning

This is the heart of the job, and the wording tells you the method. Porous materials with growth in them, like drywall, insulation and carpet, should be listed as removed and bagged. Structural wood that stays, like studs, joists and sheathing, should be listed as physically cleaned. That means HEPA vacuuming plus sanding, wire brushing, blasting or damp wiping, depending on the surface.

Check the order of operations and the products:

• Removal and physical cleaning come first. An antimicrobial or a coating is a final step, not the method itself.
• Any product applied should be named, so you can look it up.
• If a fungistatic coating is included, the quote should say which surfaces get it.
• Drying should be included if the wood is wet, with a target moisture reading.
• Disposal should be listed, including how bagged waste leaves the house.

A quote that only mentions spraying or fogging is describing a different, lesser service.

The moisture source

Mold comes back if the water that fed it is still there. A good quote identifies the cause in a sentence and says who will fix it. Some causes are within a remediation company's work, such as reconnecting a bath fan duct in an attic. Others belong to a roofer, plumber or foundation contractor. Either is fine, as long as the quote is honest about it. If the cause is not mentioned at all, ask.

Verification, exclusions and terms

The last part of the quote should cover how you will know the job is done and what the price does not include.

• Verification: what you receive at the end. We provide a clearance report with before and after photos and moisture readings. Some jobs also call for third-party air or surface testing, which should be shown as included or extra.
• Exclusions: rebuild work is the big one. We do not replace drywall, flooring or paint, and our quotes say so. Make sure you know where the price stops.
• Timeline: start date, days on site, and when the area can be used again.
• Payment terms: deposit, balance, and accepted methods.
• Taxes: whether HST is included in the total.
• Change orders: how added work gets approved and priced, in writing.

Ask for proof of liability insurance and WSIB coverage before you sign with any contractor. A reputable company will send it without fuss.

Questions to ask before you sign

If the quote leaves gaps, put these to the contractor in an email so the answers are in writing. What exactly will be removed, and what stays? How is the work area contained? What happens if you find more behind the wall? What caused this, and is fixing it in the price? What do I get at the end as proof?

Print the quote, take a pen, and tick off each section in this article. Anything you cannot tick is a question to send back before you pay a deposit.

Common questions