Mold Removal & Remediation in Bacliff, TX

Does living right on the bay make mold more likely?

It adds moisture to the picture. Bacliff is an unincorporated community on the western shore of Galveston Bay, most of it east of SH 146, about 33 miles from Houston. It began as the resort and fishing town of Clifton-by-the-Sea and is part of the Bayshore area with San Leon and Bayview. The 1915 hurricane destroyed many early improvements, and the 1943 storm did major damage. During Hurricane Ike in 2008, Bacliff's relatively high elevation, about 16 feet, helped reduce flooding, though the county still ran a debris-removal program here. Day to day, the threats are wind-driven rain past windows and siding, roof damage from storms, humid air off the water and AC systems that run most of the year.

Who removes the mold, and who checks the work?

Two different companies, because Texas law forbids one company from both assessing and remediating the same project. A mold assessment consultant who holds a TDLR license inspects and writes a protocol with the areas, quantities, containment, protective equipment, methods and clearance criteria. The remediation contractor writes its own work plan to match and does the removal. Afterward the consultant who wrote the protocol performs the post-remediation assessment. Within 10 days, you get before-and-after photos and a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation, a Texas Department of Insurance form that can help with future underwriting on your home.

Which county offices matter in Bacliff?

With no city government, Bacliff falls under Galveston County. The county's Engineering floodplain section takes floodplain development applications for unincorporated areas at 722 Moody in Galveston (409-770-5552); ask that office which approvals your repair needs before rebuilding. The Galveston County Health District lists mold among complaints outside its jurisdiction and refers indoor air issues to local government or the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Local note

Bay homes often sit closed up with the AC running. Keep indoor humidity under 60 percent, ideally 30 to 50 percent, as EPA advises, and check the AC drain pan and condensate line every few months. After any storm, walk the house looking for ceiling stains, damp carpet near exterior doors and wet insulation in the attic, and start drying within 24 to 48 hours. Renters should know that, as general information rather than legal advice, Texas Property Code 92.052 requires a landlord to make a diligent effort to repair conditions that materially affect health or safety once a tenant who is current on rent gives notice.