Black Mold Removal in Friendswood, TX

Our home was rebuilt after Harvey. Why is black mold appearing now?

Harvey's rains caused 500-year flood events along Clear Creek all through Friendswood, and a preliminary estimate put about 3,000 Friendswood homes inundated. The city issued 1,787 permits for Harvey repairs in 2017 alone. With that much work happening at once, some walls were closed up while studs, sill plates or slab edges were still damp. Growth from that trapped moisture can appear years later as dark spots near the floor, a persistent odor or warped trim. A new leak can do the same thing. Either way, the dark color isn't the issue; the moisture is.

Should I pay for a lab test first?

For visible growth, usually not. EPA says sampling is generally unnecessary when you can see mold, and there are no federal limits to judge a number against. The species won't change how it's removed. Where testing helps is when you smell mold but can't find it, or after removal as part of the clearance check. A consultant who holds a TDLR mold assessment license decides what sampling, if any, belongs in the protocol.

Can one company handle everything?

Not in Texas. The company that assesses the mold and writes the protocol cannot also do the removal on that project. You'll hire a consultant to plan and later clear the work, and a separate company with a TDLR mold remediation contractor license to remove it. Angi's Houston cost data puts average removal at $2,016, with typical jobs between $863 and $3,329, and the consultant's fee is added on top. Look up both firms on TDLR's license search before signing, and keep the Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation you receive at the end.

Local note

Friendswood is mostly in Galveston County with part in Harris County, about 24 miles from Houston. Rebuilding permits come from Friendswood Community Development, and the city's Code Enforcement staff investigate substandard and dangerous buildings through a Submit a Concern form. Renters dealing with a leak the landlord won't repair can start there, and a written repair request to the landlord is worth sending first.