Post-Remediation Clearance Testing in Bacliff, TX

We're right on the bay. Is clearance harder to pass here?

Not harder, but the moisture picture is different. Bacliff is an unincorporated community on the western shore of Galveston Bay, about 33 miles from Houston, that began as the resort and fishing town of Clifton-by-the-Sea. Salt air, constant humidity and wind-driven rain all push moisture at homes here. The consultant's clearance criteria set the bar: no visible mold or wood rot in the work area, work done according to the protocol, and whatever measurements the protocol specifies, which can include moisture readings and samples. If the protocol was written with bay humidity in mind, passing should reflect real conditions, not a dry day.

Our house rode out Ike. Does storm history matter for clearance?

It matters for what the consultant looks at. Bacliff's relatively high elevation, about 16 feet, helped limit flooding during Hurricane Ike, though Galveston County ran a debris-removal program for unincorporated areas including Bacliff afterward. Earlier hurricanes in 1915 and 1943 hit the area hard. Older homes that have been through storms can carry hidden repairs, patched roofs and framing that has been wet before. Tell the consultant about past water so the protocol covers the right areas from the start, since a consultant who didn't write the protocol can't declare clearance later. Old roof leaks and patched sheathing are worth mentioning too.

Who do I call about permits for the rebuild?

Because Bacliff is unincorporated, floodplain development applications go to Galveston County's Engineering, Floodplain & Right-of-Way office at 722 Moody in Galveston. Ask that office what your repair requires before replacing drywall or flooring. The remediation contractor owes you before-and-after photos and a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation within 10 days of the project stop date.

One local note

The Galveston County Health District lists mold among complaints outside its jurisdiction and refers indoor air questions to local city government or the Texas Department of State Health Services. In unincorporated Bacliff there is no city government to turn to, so private clearance by a TDLR mold assessment consultant is how you document that the job was done.