Mold Inspection in Porter, TX

What happens when you call

Describe what you are seeing or smelling and where. You will be connected with an independent local company that does mold assessment. Before they come, get the company's name and license number and confirm it on TDLR's license search; license holders must also give you TDLR's Consumer Mold Information Sheet before work begins. On the visit, the assessor checks moisture in walls, ceilings and floors, inspects the attic and AC equipment, and looks at windows, plumbing walls and the water heater area. You get a written report, and if remediation is needed, a protocol from the consultant.

Cost factors

• Home size and number of problem areas. One stained ceiling is quicker than a whole floor.
• Attic and crawl access. Tight spaces take more time.
• Lab work. Each air or surface sample adds cost; Angi's national figures list air tests around $250 to $350 and surface swabs around $200 to $300.
• Local benchmarks. Angi's Houston cost data reports inspection and testing averaging $453, usually $355 to $563.
• Two companies. Texas law keeps assessment and removal on the same project with different firms, so plan for a separate remediation bill.

Local conditions in Porter

Porter is an unincorporated community in southeast Montgomery County with no official boundaries, loosely defined by ZIP code 77365, about 24 miles from Houston along I-69/US 59, the Grand Parkway and FM 1314. It grew from ranching and sawmill settlements after the railroad came through around 1880. During Hurricane Harvey, Montgomery County received about 36 inches of rain and the sheriff reported Peach Creek out of its banks. Homes that took water then, or roofs that took storm damage, are good candidates for a careful check. Day to day, the triggers are the ones every Houston-area home shares: humid air, attic ductwork that sweats and drain pans that overflow.

Repairs go through the Montgomery County Permit Department, which handles development permits for unincorporated areas and keeps an East Montgomery County phone line. The Montgomery County Public Health District does not list mold among the complaints it takes.

Quick checklist before the visit

• Leave visible mold in place for documentation.
• Shut off the AC if you think the ducts are involved.
• Have storm dates, repair receipts and photos ready.
• Make sure the attic hatch and AC closet are reachable.