I’ve spent a little over ten years working inside a mold remediation company, starting out on containment crews and eventually running projects, writing scopes, and explaining hard truths to homeowners who were already overwhelmed. I’m IICRC-certified, but the certification matters less than what the work itself teaches you over time. Mold remediation isn’t about tearing things out aggressively or spraying something strong and calling it done. It’s about restraint, measurement, and understanding how moisture actually behaves inside a structure.
Most of the calls I get come after something has already gone wrong. A slow plumbing leak sat unnoticed behind a wall. A basement flooded and was dried just enough to look fine. A musty smell lingered long enough that someone finally trusted their instincts. I’ve walked into homes where previous contractors promised the issue was handled, only to find contamination spread further because containment was rushed or air pressure wasn’t controlled properly. Those mistakes don’t always show up right away. They surface months later, when the same smell returns or health complaints start up again.
One job early in my career shaped how I approach everything now. We were brought in after a small roof leak had been “fixed.” The homeowner couldn’t understand why mold kept reappearing near the ceiling. The previous company removed visible growth but never addressed the damp insulation above it. When we opened the cavity, the problem was obvious. The remediation itself wasn’t complicated, but the diagnosis had been incomplete. That experience taught me that removing mold without understanding the moisture source is just expensive cleanup, not remediation.
People often assume mold work is dramatic—full suits, plastic everywhere, fans roaring. In reality, the most important decisions happen before any of that. Sampling correctly, deciding what actually needs to be removed, and knowing what can stay makes all the difference. I’ve seen entire rooms gutted unnecessarily, and I’ve seen dangerous shortcuts taken to save time. Neither approach helps the homeowner in the long run.
A common mistake I encounter is homeowners focusing on speed instead of accuracy. I understand the urgency. No one wants to live in a disrupted space. But mold remediation punishes rushing. I’ve had clients push to close walls quickly, only to regret it later when trapped moisture caused secondary damage. Slowing down at the right moments—allowing materials to dry fully, confirming conditions before rebuilding—prevents repeat problems.
Running projects also taught me how important communication is. People are often scared when they hear the word “mold,” and fear makes it easy for misinformation to take hold. I’ve spent countless hours explaining what we know, what we don’t, and why certain steps matter. When clients understand the process, they’re far less likely to make decisions that undermine the work.
After a decade in this field, I don’t see mold remediation as emergency work, even though it often starts that way. I see it as corrective work that requires patience and honesty. A good mold remediation company doesn’t promise miracles or shortcuts. It focuses on fixing the conditions that allowed the problem to exist and leaves the structure genuinely healthier than it was before. When the job is done right, the best outcome is that nothing dramatic happens afterward—and that’s exactly how it should be.