Decontamination Project Cost: How Much to Budget in 2024?

For any homeowner, a contaminated property is a literal nightmare. What should you do if your home is infested with asbestos, radon, or mould? Such problems, which affect hundreds of thousands of homes across Canada, can severely hinder a home’s structural integrity, not to mention the health of its dwellers.

By requesting assessment or decontamination quotes (abatement, removal, remediation) from industry-specific contractors, you can determine the best service rates to get your money's worth in terms of services and quality. Do you think your home is contaminated with a hazardous substance? Learn more about decontamination costs to ensure the safety of your home.

How Much Does a Decontamination Project Cost Per Service?

Mould Removal and Remediation

Source: Pixabay

How Much Does Mould Remediation Cost?

Mould is a type of fungus that grows in damp areas of a home. It has a tendency to spurt during the rainy season when humidity levels are high enough. This sort of parasite grows inside or outside your home and gives off a foul odour, alerting you to a mould-related issue. 

A mould removal and remediation expert will know how to fix mould problems, regardless of the magnitude. However, before undertaking any remedial efforts, your home should be inspected, thoroughly assessing all contaminated surfaces.

Plan on spending anywhere between $200 to $800, note that prices can soar depending on your home’s square footage. However, some remediation contractors provide free-of-cost initial inspections, hence the interest in looking for the right professional for the job.

Source: Pixabay 

As for remediation costs, several factors come into play when it comes to defining specific service fees, including where in your home mould is found and, among other things, the amount of contamination.

Crawl space decontamination fees are between $600 and $5,000. If the attic or air ducts are affected too, costs are between $1,000 and $6,000. Fees are likely to be higher if mould growth is a result of recurring flooding. Cleanup costs range from $10,000, up to $30,000, depending on the home’s square footage. 

What Factors Affect Costs?

Mould-Affected Area

Remediation costs are very much dependent on where in a home mould is found to be growing. While mould grows in a myriad of places, some are harder to reach than others, increasing costs. For example, mould found in air ducts is generally more expensive to remove than bathroom fungus growth.

Mould Type

Albeit we tend to use the term “mould” loosely, note that there are several different types of mould, all with unique removal and remediation costs. Toxic mould is more expensive to remove than non-toxic mould, given that remediation efforts require specialized safety equipment to ensure the job is done correctly. 

Size of Affected Area

A major cost-determining factor when it comes to mould remediation is the extent of the damage. Remediation service companies often charge per square foot, so the bigger the mould-affected area, the steeper the costs.

Testing Fees

Before undertaking any mould removal efforts, your home has to be inspected and the mould sampled and tested by professionals. The hired expert will start will an initial home inspection, and will then take samples to have them tested to later identify the problem. Bear in mind that the bigger your home, the more expensive the inspection cost will be.

What Are the Additional Costs?

Not only can mould cause significant damage, requiring furniture repair or replacement, but it can also be indicative of a preexisting issue. For example, a broken pipe or leaky roof means water can seep into your home, thereby creating an environment prone to mould growth, requiring immediate repairs. Depending on the extent of the damages, said repairs can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

Radon Mitigation

How Much Does a Radon Reduction Project Cost?

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that's both colourless and odourless. It’s formed by the disintegration of the uranium found in stone and soil. Radon is deemed harmless when found at low doses. At higher doses, it can have disastrous consequences on your health and significantly reduce the resale value of your home. After all, who would want to purchase a house in which the risk of developing cancer is relatively high?

Source: Pixabay

Radon is best detected during the wintertime when the weather's cold and windows and doors are typically left shut. Various tools allow you to measure the amount of radon in your home. The cheapest option is an activated charcoal detector for short-term testing (2 to 3 days). Doing so will cost $30, plus testing fees. 

Radon concentration can also be measured using a small detection device called a dosimeter. It’ll be installed in your home’s basement for three months at least. The Quebec Lung Association offers this device to any citizen who requests it for roughly $50 (including testing). It’s also available at CAA-Quebec, some hardware stores, and specialized companies. 

For roughly $40–$300, you can purchase a digital radon detector, allowing you to quickly and easily measure the radon concentration in your home. The device is programmed to assess a series of three consecutive measurements and collect data within 48 hours.

Source: Ressources Naturelles Canada

If testing indicates a radon concentration above 200 becquerels, hiring a decontamination contractor will be a must. Based on the amount of radon found in your home, corrective measures can range from simply filling in cracks and gaps to installing a depressurization system under the foundation.

Radon mitigation work involves improving the structure's water- and airtightness, as well as the ventilation in the lowest part of the home to reduce radon concentration to a minimum. Project costs will naturally be dependent on the radon contamination level found in your home. This type of intervention lasts roughly 4 hours, on average, and includes the installation of an evaluation system, in addition to various other insulation-related efforts. 

Expect to spend roughly $5,000 for decontaminating an already-built home. If decontamination is done during the construction stages of a house, costs will then range from $250–$350 since both the hired roofer and electrician are on site already. 

What Factors Affect Costs?

Type of System

There are several types of radon reduction systems, such as basic sub-slab suction or drain tile suction systems. Despite their differences, both systems work similarly: they eliminate radon found in the home, suctioning it outside safely. Nonetheless, the cost of a radon mitigation project is entirely dependent on the system and methods used during the radon reduction efforts.

Type of Foundation

Radon levels in some areas can lead to said odourless gas seeping into homes via basements. Radon mitigation effectivity and costs depend on the home’s foundation. Unfinished basements may need resealing and a ventilation system, whereas crawl spaces may need additional encapsulation, which varies in both complexity and price point. Every type of foundation requires unique mitigation strategies, which are likely to affect the overall cost.

Detection Device

While costs aren’t that steep, radon detectors are still something to consider when gauging overall radon mitigation costs. Such devices are designed to monitor radon levels, ensuring the mitigation system is effective and radon concentration remains within safe limits. Regular testing with radon detectors helps maintain a safe living environment and peace of mind, making them essential when putting together a comprehensive process for radon management.

What Are the Additional Costs?

Radon mitigation system maintenance and repair are additional costs to factor in, as regular maintenance is essential to guarantee the system’s proper functioning. Over time, some parts, such as the fans, joints, and detection devices may need maintenance or replacement to maintain optimal efficiency. Neglecting maintenance can lead to a drop in efficiency, potentially increasing radon levels, and resulting in necessary recurring costs to ensure long-term safety.

Asbestos Abatement

Source: Deposit Photo

How Much Does an Asbestos Abatement Project Cost?

Houses built between 1940 and 1980 may contain loose, asbestos-contaminated vermiculite insulation. When moved, asbestos fibres are released, causing health problems, including the likes of lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. In residential dwellings, asbestos can be found in plaster, cement, insulation, ceiling, or wall cladding. 

Asbestos removal is a delicate and risky operation, hence the interest in hiring an experienced contractor. Avoid removing insulation at all costs as you risk inhaling asbestos fibres and contaminating surrounding areas. Qualified contractors are trained to use safe asbestos removal procedures and are equipped with task-appropriate personal protective gear.

To determine whether your home needs to be decontaminated, it’s important to gather several samples from different areas around the house. The number of samples needed depends on your home’s square footage. For homes between 1,000–1,500 square feet, experts will take five wall samples and five ceiling samples. Plan on spending $400 for the samples, $800 for analysis, and $300 for the report, totalling $1,500 to establish a diagnosis. 

The cost of decontaminating a small residential dwelling costs around $10,000. Said cost covers the use of asbestos abatement devices and products, installing a safe debris disposal system, the teams’ protective equipment, and purchasing and installing new insulation.

What Factors Affect Costs?

Source: Pixabay

Type of Asbestos

The cost of abatement efforts is directly correlated to the type of asbestos found. Certain varieties are more hazardous than others, requiring additional safety measures. Amosite asbestos is one of the most dangerous types, typically more expensive to remove given the extra precautionary measures involved. On the other hand, chrysotile (white asbestos) is cheaper to remove, whereas crocidolite (blue asbestos) is somewhere between the two, reflecting different risk and complexity levels associated with each type.

Extent of Contamination

A cost-determining factor when it comes to asbestos abatement is the home’s square footage. The bigger the surface area, the higher the costs.

Asbestos Testing

If the presence of asbestos has yet to be confirmed, a specialist will carry out a visual assessment and later test samples in a laboratory. The hired abatement service will include sampling and testing fees in its cost estimate.

Asbestos-Affected Areas

Typically, the harder the asbestos-affected area is to access, the more expensive removal will be. For example, if asbestos is found in a tight crawl space or restricted attic, access and removal are rendered not only more complex but also more challenging for the hired workers. On the other hand, when found beneath flooring tiles, while it does require some effort to strip back the flooring, removal is often rather straightforward and simpler than in an attic.

What Are the Additional Costs?

Size of Affected Area

If asbestos is limited to specific areas around the house, removal will be relatively simple. On the other hand, if found in pipe insulation and wrapping, a lot of areas found along the pipeline’s trajectory are likely to be affected. Every room will then need to be sealed to allow for abatement efforts, which can result in additional work and, in turn, incur extra fees.

Repairs

If the asbestos abatement company is forced to tear down walls, remove flooring, or carry out any other demolition work, repairing the damage done will be on you. While said expenses won’t be factored into asbestos abatement fees, it’s nonetheless an important cost to consider when gauging overall project costs.

Our Tips for Making a Well-Informed Decision

Everything considered, while home decontamination efforts can seem complex and expensive, a thorough assessment and hiring qualified professionals will go a long way toward managing such problems effectively. By taking the time to compare company service fees and understanding cost-determining factors, you’re ensuring your safety as well as that of your home, all the while managing costs.

How to decontaminate an asbestos- or mould-affected home?

To learn more about home decontamination methods, check out our article Go-To Guide for Decontamination and Remediation Processes.