Mold Removal & Remediation in Highlands, TX

Local conditions in Highlands

Highlands is an unincorporated community in east Harris County, about 24 miles from downtown Houston, between the San Jacinto River and the industry along the Houston Ship Channel. It began as an early-1900s rail stop and grew during World War II, when it housed military members and war-plant workers. In an October 2015 storm, an EF-0 tornado closed FM 2100 and the San Jacinto rose about six feet above normal, flooding some homes near the river. Even without high water, Gulf humidity and months of air conditioning bring condensation to attics, ducts and window frames, and flat clay ground holds rainwater against foundations. Neighborhoods off Main Street, East Wallisville Road and Interstate 10 all share that climate, whatever their distance from the river. For residents, the practical point is that a home does not need to flood to need remediation; a hidden roof leak or a dripping air handler in a closed-up room does the same damage more slowly.

Homeowner cleanup or a professional job?

Texas lets homeowners clean their own homes without a license. Anyone you pay to remediate must hold a TDLR mold remediation license, and the assessment must come from a different company.

Signs to watch

• Stains climbing from the floor on walls that faced river water
• Peeling paint and swollen door trim
• A sour, earthy smell in rooms kept closed
• Specks around AC supply vents

Timing and seasons

Spring and fall storms and the hurricane season carry the biggest risk of river flooding. Dry wet areas within 24 to 48 hours, as EPA advises, and wear at least an N-95 respirator if you handle moldy debris yourself. After a large job, rebuilding needs a permit from the Harris County Office of the County Engineer; work in the 100-year floodplain needs drawings sealed by a Texas architect or engineer, and no fill is allowed in a floodway.