Mold Inspection in Dickinson, TX

Signs your home needs a look

• A musty smell that started or got worse after repairs
• Bubbling paint, soft drywall or stained baseboards on lower walls
• Black spotting on supply vents or the air handler cabinet
• Cabinets or flooring that swell or smell damp
• Ceiling stains after rain
• You are buying a house that may have been rebuilt after flooding

Local conditions in Dickinson

Dickinson is a Galveston County city about 32 miles from Houston and 19 miles northwest of Galveston, with a history of farming, tourism and Italian settlement. Dickinson Bayou flows in and out of town. During Hurricane Harvey, about 90 percent of the city flooded and about half was destroyed by flooding. That means a large share of homes here had drywall, insulation and flooring replaced, and the quality of drying before the rebuild varied. An inspector checks the bottom of walls, cabinet bases and subfloors with a moisture meter, plus the usual Gulf Coast suspects: attic ducts, drain pans and roof leaks.

What affects the cost

Angi's Houston cost data reports inspection and testing averaging $453, typically $355 to $563. A house with flood history may need readings in every room, and each lab sample adds cost; EPA notes sampling of visible mold is usually unnecessary. Texas law keeps assessment and remediation with separate companies on the same project, so removal is priced by another firm, and the assessor returns for the clearance check.

What happens when you call

You are connected with an independent local company that does mold assessment. Confirm its TDLR license before the visit. You get a written report and, if needed, a protocol. Rebuilding after removal goes through the City of Dickinson's Building Permits and Inspections Division in Community Development, which posts the current FEMA Elevation Certificate form for applicants. Renters with unrepaired leaks can use the city's online Report a Code Violation form. The Galveston County Health District lists mold as outside its jurisdiction. Before the visit, leave any growth uncovered, shut off the AC if the vents smell and gather paperwork from earlier flood repairs, such as invoices or a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation, so the inspector knows which walls were already replaced.