Mold Inspection in Richmond, TX

Our house flooded in 2016 or Harvey. Is it still worth an inspection?

Often, yes. During the Memorial Day 2016 flood the Brazos reached 54.37 feet at Richmond, a record by more than a foot and a half, and the city issued a voluntary evacuation advisory. Fort Bend County reported about 1,200 homes affected across Richmond, Rosenberg and unincorporated areas. Then Harvey damaged about 200 Richmond homes, and the Edgewood subdivision off Hwy. 90 beside the river flooded both times. Wall cavities, cabinet bases and subfloors that were patched quickly after either event can still hold damp material. An inspector uses a moisture meter, sometimes a thermal camera, and a close look at the lowest few feet of drywall to tell an old stain from active growth.

What happens on the day of the visit?

Expect the assessor to walk the outside first, looking at grading, gutters and where water sits after rain. Inside, they check exterior walls, plumbing walls, the water heater closet and the AC system, since in a climate this humid an air handler and its drain pan run wet for months at a time. The attic gets a look for roof leaks and ducts dripping onto insulation. You get a written report. If removal is needed, the mold assessment consultant writes a protocol naming the areas, amounts, containment and clearance criteria, and Texas law requires that a different company do the removal.

Who do I call in Richmond besides the inspector?

• Repairs and rebuilding. The City of Richmond Building Department at the City Hall Annex, 600 Morton Street, handles permits and inspection requests through the MGO Connect portal. Ask them before replacing walls or doing structural work after a cleanup.
• Rental problems. The city runs residential rental property registration, and Code Enforcement (281-342-0559, code@richmondtx.gov) enforces the city's development code and ordinances. Renters with an unrepaired leak can start there.
• Health questions. Fort Bend County Health & Human Services does not handle mold complaints; talk with a health professional about symptoms.

A note on cost

Angi's Houston cost data puts inspection and testing at about $453 on average, typically $355 to $563. A house that flooded twice may need more moisture readings and a longer visit than one with a single leak.