Finding, or even suspecting, that potentially dangerous mold is present in your home is troubling. While mold is everywhere, including in your home, it’s not always a cause for concern. However, when and if mold finds ideal growing conditions, such as in damp areas, it can lead to health problems. In these cases, hiring a professional is the best method of handling the situation.
To that end, we’ve evaluated the top companies in the industry and compiled this list of the best mold remediation services available, along with information to help you deal with a moldy situation, determine next steps and choose the best provider for your home’s needs.
Our picks
Paul Davis Restoration: Best for mold remediation
PuroClean: Best for customer satisfaction
ServiceMaster Restore: Best for black mold removal
BELFOR Property Restoration: Best for industry experience
911 Restoration: Best for quick response times
Paul Davis Restoration: Best for mold remediation
Star rating: 4.4 out of 5
Emergency hotline: Yes
Mold services: Residential, commercial, cleaning, remediation, restoration
Why we picked Paul Davis Restoration?
In business since 1966, Paul Davis Restoration is a full-service water, fire, and mold cleanup and restoration specialist headquartered in Florida. The company stands out for its mold remediation service offerings. Technicians are trained and certified to effectively and safely deal with mold using one-stop solutions. Paul Davis Restoration technicians can also detect where and why mold develops and prevent its spread. The company responds quickly to inquiries and works directly with your insurance to help provide peace of mind and convenience.
Who should use Paul Davis Restoration
While Paul Davis Restoration offers a wide range of services, including fire, water, biohazard and other restoration work, customers needing mold remediation can especially benefit from the company’s advanced technological approach to dealing with potentially dangerous mold infestations.
Pros and cons of Paul Davis Restoration
Pros
- 30-minute average response time
- Long company history of 57 years
- Direct insurance billing
Cons
- Available only in 45 states
- Some lower-than-average review scores
PuroClean: Best for customer satisfaction
Star rating: 4.4 out of 5
Emergency hotline: Yes
Mold services: Residential, commercial, cleaning, remediation, restoration
Why we picked PuroClean?
Since starting in 2001, PuroClean has expanded throughout the country. Its operations now reach all 50 states with over 400 independent franchises. Franchise owners and their technicians train in the company’s facilities to ensure they’re up to date on the latest knowledge and procedures.
PuroClean provides a long list of restoration and reconstruction services, including mold remediation for residential and commercial customers. For a company of this size and independent locations, we often see poor customer reviews and varying quality, but not PuroClean. Despite PuroClean’s growth, far reach, and extensive services list, the company remains at the top in terms of customer satisfaction. Positive reviews for the company often cite excellent workmanship, professionalism and responsiveness.
Who should use PuroClean
Online and other customer satisfaction reviews often focus on the shortcomings of service-oriented companies. While complaints do exist, PuroClean scores well overall for customer satisfaction with its generally high review ratings and for managing an A+ grade at the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Pros and cons of PuroClean
Pros
- Excellent customer service reviews
- EPA and IICRC-certified
- Available in all 50 states
Cons
- Roof repair services unavailable
- Workmanship warranty information unavailable
*BBB ratings accurate as of August 2024
ServiceMaster Restore: Best for black mold removal
Star rating: 4.3 out of 5
Emergency hotline: Yes
Mold services: Residential, commercial, cleaning, remediation, restoration
Why we picked ServiceMaster Restore?
ServiceMaster has long been involved in the restoration and mold remediation industry. Founded in 1929, the company has grown to include a long list of popular service brands, including ServiceMaster Restore, which has franchises throughout all 50 states.
ServiceMaster Restore provides an extensive list of fire, water, biohazard, weather and other restoration services, but its black mold remediation services stand out in particular. As black mold remediation experts, ServiceMaster techs receive specialized training and use advanced tools and techniques to tackle the problem.
The company’s website aims to educate its customers by offering as much information about black and other molds as possible. This education can empower customers to evaluate their needs even before contacting the company for service.
Who should use ServiceMaster Restore
Call a mold remediation service whenever you suspect mold in your home or think an inspection may be necessary. ServiceMaster Restore likely has an appropriate solution for those looking for more information or suspecting black mold may be the problem.
Pros and cons of ServiceMaster Restore
Pros
- Nationwide franchise support includes centralized training
- 5-year warranty provided
- Long company history
Cons
- Some low consumer rating scores
- Response times vary by location
Belfor Property Restoration: Best for industry experience
Star rating: 4.2 out of 5
Emergency hotline: Yes
Mold services: Residential, commercial, cleaning, remediation, restoration
Why we picked Belfor Property Restoration
Belfor Property Restoration only started providing mold remediation and disaster-related services in the U.S. in 1999. However, the company’s roots date back to 1946. This nearly 80-year experience and exposure can give a company a step up on its competition and help it serve more customers.
Belfor Property Restoration’s website provides extensive mold remediation information and plenty of information about its services, including water damage fixes that can accompany mold issues.
Additionally, customers can choose between Belfor’s restoration contracting or consulting services. As a contractor, Belfor can perform everything from temporary to permanent recovery. In a consulting role, the company learns about your situation, reviews emergency plans and can make recommendations to achieve the best results.
Who should use Belfor Property Restoration
Belfor Property Restoration makes itself available to a wide demographic, including those in need of 24/7 emergency attention, mold remediation or any of an extensive catalog of restoration services. Of particular interest is the company’s 24-month work warranty, which is ideal for customers who only wish to pay for the work once.
Pros and cons of Belfor Property Restoration
Pros
- 77-year business history
- Provides 24-month warranty
- Offers rush services
Cons
- Slower-than-average emergency response time
- Available in only 41 states
911 Restoration: Best for quick response times
Star rating: 4.2 out of 5
Emergency hotline: Yes
Mold services: Residential, commercial, cleaning, remediation, restoration
Why we picked 911 Restoration?
Few will be surprised to learn that with a name like 911 Restoration, our next top mold remediation company offers fast 45-minute response times and a long list of service offerings to get things back into working order as quickly as possible.
In addition to a speedy response, the company also guarantees complete remediation of any mold in question and strives to keep it from returning. However, finding 911 Restoration’s specific warranty information is challenging.
Who should use 911 Restoration
While mold doesn’t grow instantly, it can spread quickly. Finding it in your home is concerning, and getting rid of it quickly is the most desirable action. 911 Restoration offers 24/7 emergency responses and numerous other services for that reason.
Pros and cons of 911 Restoration
Pros
- 45-minute response time
- Long list of available residential services
- EPA and IICRC-certified
Cons
- Available in only 41 states
- BBB ratings and customer reviews depend on the location
Our picks at a glance
|
Our rating
|
Average emergency response time (minutes)
|
IICRC certified?
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Davis Restoration | 4.4 |
30 minutes |
Yes |
| PuroClean | 4.4 |
60 minutes |
Yes |
| ServiceMaster Restore | 4.3 |
120 minutes |
Yes |
| Belfor Property Restoration | 4.2 |
60 – 120 minutes |
Yes |
| 911 Restoration | 4.2 |
45 minutes |
Yes |
Honorable mentions
We use a data-based rating system to choose our top five mold remediation companies. Here are the honorable mentions that just narrowly missed our list:
- ?Rainbow International Restoration is available in all but five states across the U.S., carries an A+ grade at the BBB and boasts 42 years of experience. However, the company was just edged off of our list because of its lack of a couple of important criteria, such as no apparent partnerships with local services, lack of an EPA certification and not listing rush jobs as one of its qualifications despite offering 24/7 emergency service.
- Blackmon Mooring & BMS CAT just missed out on joining our list. While the company rated highly among those we reviewed, it was missing a couple of key elements, including no, or difficult to find, workmanship warranty information and the fact that its services are available in just 21 states nationwide.
How to choose a mold remediation company
We talked to Bethany Uribe, Mitigation Division Supervisor at ASAP Restoration LLC, to learn more about choosing the right mold remediation provider for your home. As is often the case with service providers, “choosing a reputable and trustworthy remediation company is not an easy task,” says Uribe. “While many people opt for a national brand because they have become big for a reason, others opt for smaller local operators because they have a higher level of trust for local companies.”
Some homeowners choose a provider based on online reviews or cost, while others go with whoever their homeowner’s insurance provider suggests. But in Uribe’s opinion, “the best way to pick a reputable restoration company is to read reviews, talk to a specialist at the company and then make a choice based on how comfortable you are with the potential company after combining all of this information.”
What mold service do I need? Inspection vs. removal vs. remediation
Mold service covers a wide range of tasks, and the best mold remediation services are well-versed in all of them. Certified mold inspection and remediation services receive specific training to inspect, remove and remediate a moldy situation. The type of mold service your home requires depends primarily on the extent of the growth and its cause.
- Mold inspection primarily involves locating mold and figuring out why it’s there. These steps are generally more important than determining what kind of mold is present. A mold inspection may need to happen if you discover evidence of mold growth while going through your spring cleaning checklist or after an event like a sewer backup, which can trigger mold growth.
- Mold removal involves getting rid of the mold present in your home or building. Not every occasion of mold growth requires extensive labor. Sometimes, simple cleaning and removing moist conditions are remedies enough.
- Mold remediation is the process of inspecting, removing and keeping mold from returning, with the goal of getting living conditions back to a safe level. Mold remediation steps determine the extent of the problem, plan and execute its removal, and provide services or instructions to prevent its return.
Professional mold removal techniques
Several steps are necessary to ensure proper mold remediation and lessen the chances of it coming back. The first goal is to assess the situation and develop a plan to deal with each aspect. Once a plan is ready, the steps generally follow a standard pattern.
- Determine if the home’s occupants must leave during remediation or if the area can be contained safely.
- Contain the mold in place if possible using plastic sheeting, personal protective equipment and other methods.
- Stop more water from entering the area.
- Eliminate the mold and affected items using vacuums, wipes and removal.
- Repair or provide instructions for repairing the water source or moisture to prevent mold from returning.
If you have water damage, the first step may be to call a water damage restoration company. Luckily, many of the providers on this list also provide water damage restoration.
How much does mold removal cost?
The cost of mold removal is highly dependent on the extent of growth, cleanup and removal method used and the size of the area involved. Most mold damage will cost between $500 and $5,000 to fix. But in some cases, mold remediation can cost up to $30,000.
- Low cost: $500 – $1,000
- Average cost: $2,000 – 2,500
- High cost: 3,000 – 5,000+
According to Uribe, “each job will be different,” and?“the costs associated with a mold remediation job will be largely based on the specifics of that job and the damage that has occurred.”
“As an example, a job that is under 200 square feet total will run about $7.50 per square foot, for just removal of drywall, insulation, sanding, spraying antimicrobial and cleaning off the studs,” says Uribe. “This price doesn’t include any of the machine use, or the consumables involved in the process such as those needed for establishing the containment unit, debris removal, dump fees, etc.” These will all continue to add to the cost.
“Or from another perspective,” she adds, “in the same 200 square foot area, if the issue is strictly mold related with no existent water damage, it will have one air scrubber at a cost of $140 per day. If there is water damage, the same containment will have one air scrubber, one dehumidifier, both at a cost of $140 each per day, with a minimum of 5-7 days of use.”
Factors that affect the cost of mold remediation
Multiple pricing factors will determine the total cost of mold remediation.
- Whether or not you can perform the task as a DIY project
- The size of the infestation and damage
- The cause of the mold and the cost of eliminating the source
- Any damage to other systems or items in the home, including the HVAC system
Professional vs. DIY mold removal
There are several ways to deal with mold before it gets out of control. In some cases, applying a DIY fix is acceptable. However, if a significant amount of mold is present, it will require professional service.
DIY tasks can include repairing the water problem, basic cleanup and sanitation, and removal of affected items. Professional services are generally required for infestations larger than three feet by three feet or if mold has affected other rooms or systems in the home.
What to do when dealing with mold
The most important consideration when dealing with mold is keeping you and others safe. It is difficult to distinguish harmless molds from others. Because molds can cause respiratory and other health issues, it’s best to get a professional opinion before doing anything yourself.
If an area of mold growth is larger than about ten square feet, leave it for the pros to inspect and remove the problem. While basic cleanup and sanitation of smaller infestations may be okay to DIY, be sure to wear protective clothing and at least an N-95 mask.
Other tips include:
- Never cover up or paint over suspected mold
- Seek professional assistance if unsure what to do
- Clean up properly or seek professional services immediately after major water damage
