Mold in Walls & Drywall in Dickinson, TX

Signs to watch

• A stain line along the lower wall that never fully faded after a flood
• Paint bubbles or peeling near a tub, sink or water heater closet
• Baseboards that are dark, swollen or loose
• Musty air in a room that otherwise looks clean
• A water mark spreading from the ceiling down the wall under the attic unit

Local conditions in Dickinson

Dickinson is a Galveston County city of about 20,800 people, around 32 miles from Houston, with Dickinson Bayou flowing in and out of town. During Hurricane Harvey about 90 percent of the city flooded and about half was destroyed by flooding. Many homes were gutted and rebuilt, but walls that were dried in place, or rebuilt before the framing fully dried, can still hide mold behind the new paint. EPA's rule after flooding is to assume growth wherever materials couldn't be dried within 24 to 48 hours. Away from flood history, Dickinson's humid coastal climate, attic AC equipment and heavy Gulf rains keep the everyday sources active: condensate lines that clog and spill into interior walls, plumbing leaks behind tubs and vanities, and rain driven past windows and doors during long storms. Any of them can keep a wall cavity damp for weeks without a visible stain.

What affects the price

Angi's Houston cost data reports mold removal averaging $2,016 and typically between $863 and $3,329. The final number depends on how much wall comes out, whether insulation is wet, what has to be moved to reach the cavity and how many rooms need containment. Texas law means a separate fee for the mold assessment consultant. The rebuild generally needs a permit from Dickinson's Community Development Building Permits & Inspections Division, which also posts the FEMA Elevation Certificate form for applicants.

What happens when you call

You'll reach an independent local company that will ask where the problem is and whether the house flooded. A consultant who holds a TDLR license inspects and writes the protocol, a separate remediation contractor does the removal, and the consultant checks clearance before new drywall goes up. When the job passes, the contractor must give you before-and-after photos and a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation within 10 days. Renters can use the city's online Report a Code Violation form when a leak isn't being repaired.