Mold & Mildew Cleanup in Friendswood, TX

Our home flooded from Clear Creek during Harvey. Could the mildew be related?

Yes, it could be. Harvey's rains caused 500-year flood events along Clear Creek all through Friendswood, and an estimated 3,000 homes were inundated. The city issued 1,787 permits for Harvey repairs in 2017 alone. When that many homes are rebuilt at once, framing and slab edges can end up closed in before they are completely dry. If mildew appears again and again along baseboards, inside lower cabinets or behind furniture on exterior walls, the source may be inside the wall. EPA's disaster guidance says to assume mold grew where materials stayed wet more than 24 to 48 hours. Have moisture readings taken before you keep cleaning the surface.

What's safe for me to clean?

Small areas of hard, non-porous surfaces: tile, tub surrounds, glass, metal grilles and sealed trim. Scrub with detergent and water, then dry completely. Wear gloves, goggles and an N-95 respirator, and keep children and anyone with asthma out of the room. EPA treats about 10 square feet as the limit for a homeowner job. Throw out porous items with growth that can't be cleaned. Don't caulk or paint over remaining spots. Day to day, the biggest help is drier air: run bath fans longer, keep closet doors open in summer and have the AC serviced so it pulls moisture out instead of just cooling.

I rent, and the landlord isn't fixing the leak. What now?

Send a written repair request and keep a copy. As general information, not legal advice, Texas Property Code 92.052 requires a landlord to make a diligent effort to repair conditions that materially affect a tenant's health or safety after notice, when rent is current. Friendswood Code Enforcement investigates substandard and dangerous buildings and takes reports through its Submit a Concern form. The Galveston County Health District lists mold as outside its jurisdiction.

A Friendswood note

Friendswood was founded as a Quaker colony in 1895 and lies mostly in Galveston County with a portion in Harris County. Repairs after mold removal, such as new drywall or cabinets, go through the City of Friendswood Community Development department's Building Permits and Inspections. For a full remediation project, Texas requires a separate assessor and remediator; check both on TDLR's license search. After a full project you should receive a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation, worth keeping with your flood repair records.