Black Mold Removal in Baytown, TX

What happens when you call

You describe what you are seeing, where it is and how long it has been there, and you are connected with an independent mold remediation company that serves Baytown. If the growth is small and the cause is obvious, the company may tell you it is a cleanup you can handle. For larger jobs, expect two separate businesses:

1. A mold assessment consultant who holds a TDLR license inspects and writes a protocol listing the areas, materials, containment and clearance standard, delivered at least one calendar day before work starts.
2. A remediation company holding a TDLR mold remediation contractor license writes a work plan to match, seals off the area, removes damaged drywall, insulation or flooring, and cleans what can stay.
3. The consultant returns for a post-remediation assessment, and once the area passes you should receive a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation within 10 days of the job ending.

What drives the price

Angi's Houston cost data puts the average mold removal job at $2,016, with most falling between $863 and $3,329. Expect a separate fee for the consultant. Price rises with the square footage of growth, how much material has to be cut out, whether the wall cavity or attic is involved, and how hard the area is to reach. A black patch the size of a sheet of paper and a black stain running along a flooded wall are very different jobs even though they look alike.

Why Baytown homes are exposed

Baytown has water on three sides: Galveston Bay to the south and west, Cedar Bayou to the east, and Goose Creek and the Houston Ship Channel nearby. The ground is flat, and groundwater pumping caused heavy subsidence in low areas such as the old Brownwood subdivision. The city counts Hurricanes Carla, Alicia, Ike and Harvey as its four most damaging storms. Homes that took water in any of them, or that see repeated street flooding, are where dark growth tends to appear behind baseboards and under vinyl flooring. Rebuilding walls afterward needs a permit from the City of Baytown Building Services Division, and work in mapped flood hazard areas also goes through floodplain review, with substantial improvements held to the city's elevation rules.

Before the company arrives

• Stop the leak or dry the area if you can do it safely.
• Do not scrub, sand or spray dark growth on drywall; that spreads spores.
• Turn off the AC if you see growth on vents or the air handler.
• Take photos and note when the water first appeared.
• If you rent, notify your landlord in writing and keep a copy.