Louisville Mold FAQ: What People Ask Most

No spray does it permanently. Mold comes back wherever a surface stays damp, because spores are always in the air. Lasting removal means cutting out or cleaning what grew mold and then fixing the leak, drainage or humidity that fed it. In a Louisville basement that often means gutters, downspout extensions and grading as much as any cleaning.

Avoid bleach on porous surfaces such as drywall and wood: it can lighten the stain without removing the roots. Never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners, since the fumes are dangerous. Don't paint over mold, and don't dry-brush or sand it without containment.

Fixr's band for an ordinary job is $1,500 to $9,000 and its average $3,500; mold through an entire home can cost $10,000 to $30,000 (Fixr; Bob Vila). Those come from national guides, not from Louisville invoices.

The 2010 Kentucky law on mold work (HB 44) sets standards rather than creating a license. It requires mold remediation companies to follow minimum standards based on the five IICRC S520 principles, and complaints go to the Kentucky Attorney General.

It depends on the company. Many local specialists don't charge for the first visit; ask when they call, before they come out.

It hinges on what caused it and on your policy wording. Insurers are likelier to pay when mold follows a sudden covered loss, like a split supply line, than when it grows from years of seepage, and a lot of policies set a dollar ceiling for mold. River or surface flooding normally falls under a separate flood policy. Phone the insurer first and hold on to pictures and receipts.

Tell your landlord or property manager in writing, include dated photos, and keep a copy. About 39% of occupied homes in Louisville are rented (U.S. Census), so this is a common situation. Keep the area as dry as you can while you wait, and don't paint over growth or hide it behind furniture, which only lets it spread out of sight.

This site doesn't do mold work. What you send is passed to a single independent mold specialist working in Louisville, who rings you to hear the details and pick a day to visit.