Mold Removal & Remediation in Houston, TX

Where Houston jobs usually start

Most remediation calls in Houston trace back to water that sat too long. An air handler in the attic with an overflowing drain pan, a slab home where floodwater soaked the bottom two feet of drywall, a roof leak after a tropical downpour, or a bathroom with no working exhaust fan. EPA says water-damaged materials should be dried within 24 to 48 hours; past that, plan on mold. After Hurricane Harvey, the Houston Health Department found many flooded homes sitting outside the mapped floodplain, so do not assume your street is safe because it never flooded before.

How a Texas remediation job runs, step by step

1. Assessment and protocol. A mold assessment consultant who holds a TDLR license inspects the home and writes a protocol: affected areas, quantities of material, containment, protective equipment, methods and clearance criteria. You get it at least one calendar day before work starts.
2. Work plan from the remediator. The remediation company, which by law must be a different company from the assessor on the same project, writes a work plan that meets the protocol. Jobs of 25 contiguous square feet or more also require the remediator to notify TDLR five days ahead.
3. Containment and removal. Plastic barriers and negative air keep dust out of the rest of the house. Moldy drywall, insulation and carpet come out; hard surfaces are cleaned. If ducts may be contaminated, the AC stays off.
4. Clearance. The same consultant who wrote the protocol returns for a post-remediation assessment. If visible mold remains or criteria are not met, more work is done.
5. Paperwork. Within 10 days after the job, the remediator gives you before-and-after photos and a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation (CMDR).

What it costs in Houston

Size of the affected area, access (an attic in August is slow, hot work), how much material has to be torn out, and whether the moisture source is still active all move the price. Because of the two-company rule, budget for the consultant's protocol and clearance visit on top of the remediation bill.

Why the CMDR matters later

The certificate is a Texas Department of Insurance form signed by both the consultant and the remediator. For a home, it can help keep an insurer from making an adverse underwriting decision based on the earlier mold damage, though it does not promise any claim outcome. If you sell within five years, you must give the buyer a copy.

Before you sign

• Check both companies on TDLR's license search.
• Expect TDLR's Consumer Mold Information Sheet before any work starts.
• Walk away from anyone who offers to inspect, remove and clear the same job themselves.