Mold Removal & Remediation in New Orleans
Describe the mold once and independent local remediation companies can reply with free quotes. This page explains what proper mold removal in New Orleans involves, what it tends to cost, and what Louisiana law says to check before you sign.
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Signs the mold is more than a surface spot
Mold needs moisture, something to feed on and time. In a New Orleans house, the first two are always there. The question is where the water is coming from.
- A musty smell that comes back after you clean or air out the room
- Spots that return in the same place on a wall, ceiling or baseboard
- Stains, bubbling paint or soft drywall near a window, tub, sink or AC closet
- Any leak, roof damage or water on the floor that took more than a day or two to dry
Common sources here are roof leaks after storms, plumbing leaks, AC condensation, and damp crawl spaces under raised houses. Not sure what you are dealing with? Read about mold inspection and testing first.
Black mold: facts and myths
- Color is not a diagnosis. Many molds look dark gray, green or black. You cannot tell the type, or the risk, by looking.
- You usually do not need a lab to act. EPA: "In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary." The fix is the same whatever the species: stop the water, then clean or remove the growth.
- Bleach is not the answer for drywall. Porous materials like drywall, ceiling tile, insulation and carpet that have grown mold usually need to be removed, not wiped.
More detail is in the guide to black mold facts vs. myths.
What a licensed remediation contractor typically does
Methods vary by company and job. A careful quote usually covers these steps, in this order.
Find and stop the water
Moisture readings trace the source: roof, plumbing, AC, crawl space or flood. If the water is not fixed, the mold usually comes back.
Set up containment
Plastic sheeting seals the work area, often with a zip door, and a HEPA air scrubber keeps air moving out of the space so spores stay put.
Remove what cannot be cleaned
Moldy drywall, insulation, carpet pad and ceiling tile are cut out, bagged inside containment and carried out.
Clean and dry what stays
Studs, joists and subfloor are HEPA vacuumed and cleaned. Dehumidifiers and air movers run until moisture readings show the material is dry.
Document the job
You get a written report of what was found and done. If you want a clearance test, a separate company does it before the walls are closed.
The full sequence, including the optional independent assessment, is on the process page.
Louisiana license check
Louisiana requires a Mold Remediation license from the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) for mold remediation projects of about $7,500 and up (La. R.S. 37:2150.1). Before you sign, look up the company's license on the LSLBC website or the LA Contractor app.
The project value includes labor, materials and rentals, and one job split into smaller contracts is treated as one (R.S. 37:2158). In Louisiana, a mold remediation contractor may not also do the mold assessment on the same property, or own the company that does (R.S. 37:2158). Read more in the guide to Louisiana mold remediation licenses.
Mold removal in New Orleans: what is different here
New Orleans gets about 63 inches of rain a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normal at the airport), and from June through August the average dew point sits around 72–74°F. That much moisture in the air means a house only stays dry while the AC runs. EPA's target is indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally 30–50 percent.
The housing is older than most of the country. The median home in New Orleans was built in 1960, and about 31 percent of units date from 1939 or earlier (American Community Survey 2020–2024). Many are shotgun houses raised on brick piers over a crawl space, so mold often starts under the floor or in the walls rather than on a slab. See crawl space and raised-home mold.
Storms add the rest. Hurricane Ida (August 2021) caused widespread power failures across the metro, and all power was lost in Jefferson Parish (NHC), which shut off the AC that keeps houses dry. Hurricane Francine (September 2024) dropped about 8 to 9.5 inches of rain on parts of New Orleans, Metairie and Kenner, mostly within a few hours (NWS). After water gets in, the job is covered on the flood and water damage mold page.
The same independent companies often quote across Metairie, Kenner, Gretna, Chalmette and Slidell, plus the rest of the metro service areas.
Where the mold is changes the job: attic, crawl space, bathroom, HVAC and ducts, or a rental or apartment.
What mold removal costs
Size, location, how much material comes out and drying drive the price. Testing and rebuild are usually separate.
| Item | Typical range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mold remediation, typical job | $1,500–$9,000 (avg ≈ $3,500) · $1,200–$3,750 (avg ≈ $2,300) | Fixr, Aug 2025 · This Old House, Mar 2026 |
| Per square foot | $10–$30 · $10–$25 | Fixr, Aug 2025 · This Old House, Mar 2026 |
| Walls | $1,000–$12,000 | Fixr, Aug 2025 |
| Whole house | $10,000–$30,000 | Fixr, Aug 2025 |
For a range based on your square footage, use the mold remediation cost calculator. Prices come from the independent companies, not from this site.
Health: what the EPA and CDC say
The EPA and CDC describe the main health effects of indoor mold as allergic and irritant reactions. People with asthma, allergies or a weakened immune system may be more sensitive. If anyone in the home has symptoms, see a doctor. A mold company can clean a house, but it cannot give medical advice.
When to call a company, and when DIY is fine
EPA says that if the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet, homeowners can usually handle it themselves. Louisiana lets an owner or tenant do mold work on property they own or lease without a license (R.S. 37:2157). Small bathroom spots are covered on the bathroom mold page.
Get quotes instead when:
- The growth covers more than about 10 square feet, or keeps coming back
- It is inside a wall, under the house, in the attic or in the ductwork
- The water came from a flood, a sewer backup or a long-running leak
- Someone in the home has asthma, allergies or a weakened immune system
- You rent and the cause is a roof, plumbing or building problem. Tell your landlord in writing first.
Questions to ask every company
- What is your LSLBC license number and classification? (Look it up on the LSLBC website before you sign.)
- Will you give me a written contract, signed and dated by everyone, with your license number, the full scope and the total price (R.S. 37:2159)?
- Can you send current certificates of liability insurance (at least $100,000) and workers' compensation (R.S. 37:2156.1)?
- Will I get a written report when the job is finished (R.S. 37:2158)?
- If I want testing, which separate, independent company will do it? (A remediation contractor may not assess the same property.)
- What is the water source, and who is fixing it?
Mold removal questions
Is mold removal the same as mold remediation?
People use the words interchangeably. Remediation is the fuller job: find and stop the water, contain the area, remove or clean the moldy material, dry what remains and document it. In Louisiana law, a mold remediation contractor covers removal, cleaning, sanitizing, demolition and preventive treatment. When you compare quotes for mold removal in New Orleans, check that each one names all of those steps in writing.
Does a mold removal company in Louisiana need a license?
For projects of about $7,500 and up, yes. Louisiana requires a Mold Remediation license from the LSLBC (La. R.S. 37:2150.1), and the project value counts labor, materials and rentals, no matter who pays. Splitting one job into smaller contracts to stay under the line is treated as one contract. Look up any company on the LSLBC website before you sign.
Is black mold more dangerous than other mold?
Color does not tell you which mold it is. The EPA advises treating any indoor mold growth the same way: fix the moisture and clean up or remove the growth. Its health guidance focuses on allergic and irritant reactions, with people who have asthma or weakened immune systems more sensitive. If someone has symptoms, see a doctor.
Can I remove the mold myself?
Often, for small areas. EPA says homeowners can usually handle a moldy area of less than about 10 square feet. Louisiana also lets an owner or tenant do mold work on their own property without a license (R.S. 37:2157). Larger areas, growth inside walls, attics, crawl spaces or ducts, and anything after a flood are good reasons to get quotes.
Get mold removal quotes in New Orleans
Tell us where the mold is, roughly how big the area is, what got wet and whether you own or rent. Your request goes to independent local mold companies, which may pay to receive requests. NOLA Mold Remediation does not inspect, test or remove mold.
Independent local companies reply to you directly, on their own schedules. No obligation, and you choose who to hire, if anyone. Prefer to talk? Call (504) 370-1142
Found mold or a musty smell? Get free quotes.
Describe it once and independent mold companies serving New Orleans and the metro can reply with no-obligation quotes.