Black Mold Removal in Richmond, TX

Our house took Brazos water. Is the dark growth on the drywall black mold?

It may be dark mold, but the color is not the important part. Richmond sits on the Brazos River, and the river reached a record 54.37 feet there during the 2016 Memorial Day flood; low-lying areas flooded again with Harvey, when about 200 Richmond homes were damaged. The Edgewood subdivision off Hwy. 90 took water both times. When drywall and insulation stay wet for more than a day or two, EPA's advice is to assume mold is growing, including inside the wall where you can't see it. Any growth, whatever its shade, gets removed the same way, and soaked porous materials often have to come out.

Do I need a lab test to know if it's the dangerous kind?

Usually not. EPA says that when mold is visible, sampling is generally unnecessary, and there are no federal limits to measure a result against. Knowing the species will not change the removal method. Testing makes more sense when you smell mold and can't find it, or after removal to help confirm the area is clean. EPA does note mold can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs, and people with asthma or weakened immune systems should keep away from moldy rooms. Health questions belong with a health professional.

Who does what, and what do I end up with?

Texas splits the work. A mold assessment consultant who holds a TDLR license inspects and writes a protocol at least a day before work begins. A separate company holding a TDLR mold remediation contractor license follows it with its own work plan; the law does not let one company do both on the same project. After removal the consultant returns for a post-remediation assessment, and a pass leads to a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation within 10 days. Keep it: you must give buyers a copy if you sell within five years. Before signing anything, look up both companies on TDLR's license search.

A note for Richmond owners and renters

Putting back drywall, cabinets or flooring after removal can need a permit from the City of Richmond Building Department at the City Hall Annex on Morton Street, which takes permit and inspection requests through the MGO Connect portal. Renters dealing with an unrepaired leak can contact the city's Code Enforcement Department at the same address.