When you spray a wet remediation product onto a mould-affected stud or joist, you solve one problem and start another — moisture in the cavity, encapsulant on the framing, and a longer dry-down before the next trade can work. Dry ice blasting removes surface mould without introducing moisture, residue, or chemical. Most jobs cut conventional remediation time in half.
ODIB does dry-ice mould remediation across Southwestern Ontario for restoration contractors, insurance projects, and direct property owners on commercial buildings.
What dry ice does well
Dry ice is at its best on surface mould growing on structural wood (joists, studs, rim boards, subfloor), unpainted concrete, masonry, and bare steel. It mechanically removes the colony at the surface, the gas expansion lifts hyphae out of the surface pores, and the substrate is left dry and clean.
What it doesn’t do
Dry ice is not a substitute for fixing the moisture source. Anything that involves removing damaged drywall, vapour barrier, insulation, or replacing structural components is still on the table. The remediation framework you already work inside — IICRC S520, ANSI/IICRC standards, jurisdictional health-and-safety requirements — applies. Dry ice is the cleaning step, not the diagnosis.
Where this saves time
- No spray-and-wait dry-down before subsequent trades
- No encapsulant film that hides ongoing growth from future inspections
- No chemical residue requiring secondary cleanup
- No HEPA-vacuum-after-scrub sequence for primary cleaning
- Documentation: clean substrate visible in before/after photos
Typical project types
- Crawlspace and basement framing after a flood event
- Attic mould from condensation or roof leak
- Commercial mechanical room or boiler room
- Greenhouse and indoor-grow structural steel
- Heritage building masonry and stone
- Post-fire mould preceded by water-suppression damage
Working with restoration contractors
Most of our mould work comes from restoration contractors handling insurance claims. We integrate into your scope, provide certificates of insurance, JSA, and operator credentials. Before/after photos are captured at every stage and provided as a PDF for your adjuster.
Containment, PPE and safety
We work inside critical-barrier containment to your IICRC S520 spec or jurisdictional equivalent. Negative-air machines and HEPA filtration are run by you or by us depending on the contract. Crew wears P100 respirators, Tyvek, and gloves. Dry ice itself adds no airborne contaminant.
Pricing
Mould work is typically quoted on a square-footage basis once the substrate and contamination level are known. Day-rate is also available for larger or open-ended scopes. We do not quote sight-unseen — the site review is free and tells us what we’re working with. See the cost guide for typical ranges.
FAQ
Does dry ice kill the mould?
Dry ice mechanically removes the mould — colony, hyphae, and spores at the surface. It is not technically a biocide but the result is equivalent for visible surface remediation: nothing to grow back on, no food source, and a dry substrate. For protocols that require a biocide pass, dry ice gets applied first to expose clean wood, then the biocide is applied afterward.
Will it damage the wood?
It does not erode structural wood. The grain may raise slightly — actually beneficial for downstream sealing, painting or encapsulation if you choose to apply one. We dial nozzle pressure down for soft wood and old framing.
Can you handle hazardous mould (e.g. Stachybotrys)?
Yes, within the standard remediation framework. Containment, PPE and air management run the same as any S520 project. We don’t do mould testing or speciation — that’s your hygienist’s job. We do the cleaning.
Do you write the remediation plan?
No. We work to a plan you or your restoration contractor have written. We can advise on what dry ice can and can’t do during the planning phase, free of charge.
Schedule a site review
Send us the address, the affected area, and a couple of photos. We’ll get back same-day with next steps. Call 226-627-4878 or email scott@ontariodryiceblasting.com.