Mold Testing in Missouri City, TX

Could my Missouri City home have hidden mold?

It's possible anywhere in this climate. Missouri City is a mostly single-family suburb in eastern Fort Bend County, partly in Harris County, about 15 miles from downtown Houston. Oyster Creek flows southward through the city. During the Memorial Day 2016 Brazos River flood, runoff came within feet of covering Highway 6, officers went door to door in neighborhoods of concern, county crews built an emergency access road in Sienna Plantation and fourteen city streets were impassable. Even far from the creek, humidity, attic AC equipment and heavy rain on clay soil create moisture that can stay hidden in master-planned areas like Quail Valley, Lake Olympia and Lakes of Brightwater.

What does a test tell me that I can't see?

Air samples taken indoors and compared with an outdoor sample show whether spore types or levels inside look unusual, which points to a hidden source. A swab identifies growth on one surface. Neither gives you a simple pass or fail, because EPA notes there are no federal limits for mold spores; the assessor's inspection and moisture readings put the numbers in context. If you can already see the growth, skip the lab and spend the money on fixing the moisture.

Who can test, and what happens if mold is found?

Anyone you hire must hold a TDLR mold assessment license, which you can check on TDLR's license search. If removal is needed, the assessor writes a protocol, a different company holding a TDLR remediation contractor license does the work, and the assessor returns for a clearance check. You should receive a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation within 10 days of the job's end, which can help with insurance underwriting.

One local note

Missouri City Development Services, Permits & Inspections, handles residential building permits for any rebuilding after remediation. The city's Code Enforcement division enforces property maintenance rules, including keeping exterior walls free of holes and rot, and renters can use it for unrepaired leaks. Missouri City has its own Health division, while Fort Bend County Health & Human Services lists mold complaints among services it does not provide.