If mold spreads on the walls in your house or apartment, it is not only annoying, but also dangerous and harmful to your he alth. It should therefore be removed immediately and thoroughly. However, this cannot always be achieved with commercially available solutions or home remedies. Therefore, removal by a professional is often advisable or even absolutely necessary.
Mold Removal
If there is mold on the wall, home remedies or products to remove mold are often used - but these often only seem to solve the problem. Because of the spores in the walls, new mold keeps forming. This is not only annoying and involves repeated but wasted effort. The mold can also endanger he alth.
Therefore, quick and thorough action is required. However, this is hardly possible for laypeople due to the lack of specialist knowledge. It therefore makes sense in any case to leave the assessment and the corresponding work to a professional. The earlier, the better. Because mold spreads very quickly. The area to be treated can therefore grow larger every day, which in turn increases the effort and costs of removal.
Possible causes
Many causes can be responsible for the formation and spread of mold. Below:
- incorrect ventilation
- lack of or insufficient heating
- too small gaps between furniture and walls
- false insulation
- structural defects or damage to the building structure
In order to avoid repeated formation of mold, it must not only be removed thoroughly - but the cause must also be eliminated. However, this is hardly possible for laypeople. An expert or mold removal professional will first get to the bottom of the cause and not immediately start removing it.
When choosing a professional, this approach indicates a reputable provider. It is also important to answer the question of cost coverage. If the mold formation is due to structural defects and not to incorrect ventilation or heating, the landlord must, for example, cover the assessment and removal costs. In the case of a newly built home, however, defects could be billed to the relevant construction service.
Professional removal – selection and process
In Germany, the term mold removal specialist is not protected. This means that anyone can call themselves that and offer corresponding services. Unfortunately, this means that not only serious offers can be found. However, when selecting a service provider, a few points can be taken into account in order not to fall prey to dubious providers. The following questions can help:
What training and certification are available?
Training for mold remediation can be completed at TÜV Rheinland, for example. Although it is not a recognized training occupation, this training is proof of the existing relevant knowledge. Another indication of specialist knowledge and a reputable provider is the company's certification by TÜV.
How does the assessment and mold removal process work?
A reputable provider will provide comprehensive information in advance about the assessment and mold removal process and will not make any blanket promises. This procedure involves several steps. This initially includes finding the cause, assessing the amount of work and the necessary repairs or renovation or replacement. A reliable company will use modern measurement technology and call in a TÜV-certified expert to carry out an inventory.
Is a cost estimate prepared and how detailed is it?
A suitable provider will prepare a detailed cost estimate after taking stock and estimating the effort. This is not only important for homeowners to prepare for the bill. For tenants, this may be necessary in order to arrange for the landlord to cover the costs - if structural defects or damage to the building structure are the cause of the mold formation. If no cost estimate is offered or the work steps and materials are not listed in detail, another company should be commissioned to remove the mold.
Is a risk assessment and clearance measurement prepared?
A reputable company will prepare a so-called risk assessment after the assessment. This should be based on the guidelines of the building trade association and indicates how heavily the rooms are affected by the mold. After the renovation has been completed, a clearance measurement will be carried out. This indicates whether rooms and walls have been successfully freed of mold and spores. This also makes it clear when selecting the provider whether it is a thorough and professionally coordinated company.
How much does it cost to have mold removed by a professional?
A general answer to this question is hardly possible, as the price depends on the cause of the mold formation and its spread. For example, if incorrect ventilation or a lack of heating is the only cause, the mold must be removed but no structural changes or repairs are necessary. The associated working hours but also the material costs are of course significantly higher.
As a rule, professional mold removal costs at least 1,000 euros. You may be able to save if you carry out some of the work yourself after consulting with a professional. However, this also depends on the individual case.
