If water got into a Pasadena home and the drywall, insulation or flooring stayed wet beyond a day or two, mold removal means cutting out those materials and cleaning the framing behind them. When you hire it out, Texas requires a mold assessment consultant to plan the job and a separate company to do it. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local mold remediation company in Pasadena.
Water and Pasadena homes
Pasadena is a large, mostly working-class city of about 152,000 people, roughly 17 miles from downtown Houston, with the Houston Ship Channel on its northern edge and heavy industry along it. Vince's Bayou runs through the city, and its southeastern corner fronts Galveston Bay near Armand Bayou. The 1900 Galveston hurricane heavily damaged Pasadena. Neighborhoods such as Red Bluff Terrace, Golden Acres, Parkview Manor and Burke Meadows deal with the same Gulf Coast pattern: sudden downpours on flat land, clay that drains slowly, and humidity that keeps walls wet long after the water leaves.
Doing it yourself vs hiring it out
| Question | Homeowner tear-out | Hired assessment and remediation |
|---|---|---|
| Is it allowed? | Yes, Texas homeowners may clean their own home | Both companies need TDLR licenses and must be different companies |
| Size | EPA suggests about 10 square feet as the limit for DIY | Flooded rooms are usually far larger |
| Protection | At least an N-95 respirator, gloves, goggles | Containment, air filtration and protective gear set in the protocol |
| Proof | Your own photos | Clearance report and a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation |
The certificate can help keep an insurer from making an adverse underwriting decision based on past mold damage, and it has to be shared with a buyer if you sell within five years. A homeowner tear-out leaves you without one. If you clean the house yourself and later want proof, a mold assessment consultant can inspect and certify the condition, though that is a separate visit and fee.
Signs to watch
- A smell like wet cardboard that will not leave
- Drywall that dents easily near the floor
- Mold spotting on the back side of baseboards and door trim
- Rust or water in the drain pan under the air handler after the storm
Timing notes
Drying has to come first, and EPA's 24- to 48-hour window is short in a Pasadena summer. Photograph damage before disposal and keep children out of the cleanup. The consultant's protocol reaches you at least a day before work, and projects of 25 contiguous square feet or more are reported to TDLR five days ahead. Residential rebuild permits are filed with the City of Pasadena Permit Department.
Post-Flood Mold Removal questions in Pasadena
Can I pull out wet drywall and carpet myself?
Does the county health department take mold complaints?
Is mold testing needed when the flood damage is obvious?
Do I have to tell a buyer about mold remediation after a flood?
More mold services in Pasadena
Post-Flood Mold Removal nearby
Sources
- EPA: Homeowner's and Renter's Guide to Mold Cleanup After Disasters (pdf)
- EPA: Mold Cleanup in Your Home
- EPA: Mold Information Slideshow (testing and sampling)
- TDLR: Mold Assessors and Remediators FAQs
- TDLR: Texas Mold Remediation Notification Requirements
- 16 Tex. Admin. Code 78.150: Photographs; Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation; Duty of Property Owner
- City of Pasadena: Residential Building Application (pdf)
- City of Pasadena: Code Enforcement
- City of Pasadena: Health Department
- Wikipedia: Pasadena, Texas
Last updated: