Mold Remediation in Dickinson, TX

The Harvey numbers

Few places around Houston took Harvey harder. About 90 percent of Dickinson flooded, and about half the city was destroyed by flooding. If your house took water and some walls were dried rather than replaced, or if insulation stayed in place, that is where a mold inspection should start. Cabinets, baseboards and the bottom of interior walls are the usual places to look first. EPA's guidance: when a flooded home could not be dried within 24 to 48 hours, assume mold.

Dickinson in brief

Dickinson is a Galveston County city of about 21,000 people, about 32 miles from downtown Houston in a straight line, with a history of farming, tourism and Italian settlement. Dickinson Bayou flows in and out of the city, and Highway 3, FM 517 and FM 646 cross town. Outside of floods, the usual causes apply: attic air handlers that overflow, ducts that sweat in humid weather, bathroom and kitchen leaks, and roof damage from tropical storms.

Permits and elevation

The City of Dickinson's Community Development department runs a Building Permits & Inspections Division that receives and processes all building permits, performs plan review and inspections, and issues certificates of occupancy. Its page posts the current FEMA Elevation Certificate form for permit applicants. Mold removal is not described as permitted work, but rebuilding walls, replacing mechanical equipment or making structural repairs afterward goes through this division.

Reporting problems as a renter

Tenants can use the city's "Report a Code Violation" online form, linked from the Building Permits & Inspections page, for code problems a landlord has not addressed. Under Texas Property Code 92.052, landlords must make a diligent effort to repair conditions that materially affect health or safety after notice from a tenant who is current on rent. This is general information, not legal advice.

Health questions

The Galveston County Health District lists mold among the complaints outside its jurisdiction and refers indoor air issues to local city government. For symptoms, see a health professional; EPA notes mold can irritate eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs.

Texas rules on the job

Texas law keeps assessment and removal separate on the same project. A TDLR mold assessment consultant writes the protocol and does the post-remediation assessment, and a separate remediation company does the work. You then receive photos and a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation; if you sell within five years, the buyer gets a copy. When you call, you will be connected with an independent local company.