Mold Remediation and the Reality of the Cost: Early Involvement Can Save Your Client Time and Money

Public fears surrounding indoor environments contaminated with mold are rapidly driving up the costs of investigation and remediation of even minor incidents. This paper presents an overview of the process of evaluation of mold contamination in buildings. That process is illustrated with a case study of minor contamination in a residence that ultimately cost $1.5 million to remediate. Recognizing that costs are driven more by fear and perceived risks, rather than by objective assessment, a methodology for cost-benefit analysis that can be used by the decision makers, preferably early on in the dispute, to identify the most effective option to resolve the conflict.