Wall mold in Kingwood typically comes from water trapped in the cavity: Lake Houston-area flooding, a slow plumbing leak or an attic AC drain that overflowed. The wet drywall and insulation are cut out once the leak is stopped, and the studs are cleaned and dried. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local mold remediation company in Kingwood.
Kingwood at a glance
Kingwood is a master-planned part of the City of Houston, annexed in 1996, about 24 miles from downtown in the Lake Houston area. Lake Houston, the West Fork of the San Jacinto River, Spring Creek and several bayous surround it, and Lake Conroe releases flow down the river into the lake. In Hurricane Harvey, more than 80 percent of homes in Kingwood Greens Village, Barrington and Fosters Mill had water damage, according to the district council member, and the first floor of Kingwood High School filled with water. The Houston Health Department also reported areas outside the mapped floodplain under several feet of water.
What to do now
- Trace the moisture. Look above the stain for an attic air handler or bathroom, and beside it for plumbing or an exterior window.
- Stop the source. Close the supply valve, clear the condensate drain or have the roof or window leak repaired.
- Keep the wall closed for now. Opening moldy drywall without containment spreads spores and dust.
- Ask about the permit. The Houston Permitting Center issues building permits, and most renovation or repair projects need plan approval before a permit can be bought.
- Use two companies on a hired job. A mold assessment consultant who holds a TDLR license writes the protocol; a different company removes the mold.
- Renting? Apartment leaks fall under Houston's Multifamily Habitability program, and single-family problems go to Community Code Enforcement, both through Houston 311.
Signs and likely causes
| What you see | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Band of staining at the same height in several rooms | Old flood line where the cavity was not fully dried |
| Wet patch on a hallway wall under the attic | Overflowing air handler drain pan |
| Bubbled paint beside a shower | Leaking valve or failed tile seal |
| Swollen trim around a window | Rain getting past flashing in heavy storms |
Cost factors
Angi's Houston cost data reports an average mold removal job of $2,016, typically $863 to $3,329. Expect the consultant's fee on top, plus drywall and paint if not quoted. Larger cut areas, insulation removal, containment across several rooms and built-ins all raise the price. The Houston Health Department does not test for mold and refers mold questions to TDLR, so the assessment comes from a private consultant.
Mold in Walls & Drywall questions in Kingwood
Do I need a permit to put the walls back?
My landlord has not fixed the leak behind a moldy wall. What can I do?
Who do I call about health questions from mold in the house?
How far up the wall does floodwater soak?
More mold services in Kingwood
Mold in Walls & Drywall nearby
Sources
- EPA: Mold Cleanup in Your Home
- TDLR: Mold Assessors and Remediators FAQs
- Angi: How much do mold removal services typically cost? (Houston, TX)
- Tex. Prop. Code 92.052: Landlord's Duty to Repair or Remedy
- Houston Permitting Center: Building Code Enforcement
- Houston Public Works: Flood Hazard
- Houston Health Department: Indoor Air Quality
- Houston Health Department: Hurricane Harvey report
- City of Houston: Multifamily Habitability (pdf)
- Community Impact: Rebuilding the Lake Houston area
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