Mold Remediation in The Woodlands, TX

Creeks through the trees

When Hurricane Harvey stalled over the region, Bear Branch, Panther Branch and Spring Creek all reached historic levels. Preliminary data showed 141 homes in The Woodlands with flood damage, and The Woodlands Fire Department made 224 high-water rescues and evacuations. Homes near those creeks, including those along Kuykendahl Road and near I-45 at Spring Creek, are where flood-related mold is most likely.

Most mold here has a quieter cause. Houses tucked under heavy tree cover dry slowly after rain, gutters fill with leaves, and roof valleys can let water in. Attic air handlers run much of the year and can overflow their drain pans; ducts sweat in humid weather. EPA recommends indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally 30 to 50.

Township, not city

The Woodlands is a master-planned community about 27 miles from downtown Houston in a straight line, conceived by George P. Mitchell and dedicated in 1974. It is a census-designated place run as a special-purpose district, The Woodlands Township, mostly in Montgomery County with a portion in Harris County. Villages include Grogan's Mill, Cochran's Crossing, Sterling Ridge, College Park and Creekside Park.

Because it is not a city, building permits on the Montgomery County side come from the Montgomery County Permit Department in Conroe. Its FAQ says substantially damaged structures in the floodplain need a Development Permit. County floodplain rules treat floodways as extremely hazardous and aim to make sure buyers know when a property is in a flood hazard area. If your address is on the Harris County side, check with that county instead.

Renters and health

Montgomery County Environmental Health takes nuisance complaints on dilapidated structures and conditions harboring vermin, but mold and rental conditions are not on its list, and the Montgomery County Public Health District does not list mold either. For an unrepaired leak, Texas Property Code 92.052 sets the landlord's duty to make a diligent effort to repair after written notice; TexasLawHelp has details. This is general information, not legal advice.

The Texas two-company rule

TDLR licenses mold assessors and remediators, and the law keeps them apart on the same project. The consultant writes a protocol at least one day before work starts; the remediation company follows it under its own work plan; the consultant then confirms clearance. You receive photos and a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation within 10 days. Keep it: if you sell within five years, the buyer gets a copy. When you call, you will be connected with an independent local company.