Mold Removal & Remediation in Richmond, TX

My Richmond house took on water from the Brazos. Is mold a given?

If the water sat for more than a day or two, plan on it. EPA's guidance after disasters is that a flooded home that could not be dried within 24 to 48 hours should be treated as having mold growth. Richmond knows this pattern well: in the Memorial Day 2016 flood the Brazos reached 54.37 feet at Richmond, a record more than a foot and a half above the old mark, and the city issued a voluntary evacuation advisory. A year later Harvey damaged about 200 Richmond homes, and the Edgewood subdivision off Hwy. 90 beside the river flooded both times. A house that was gutted after 2016 and wet again in 2017 can hide growth behind newer drywall, in wall cavities or under flooring that went back in quickly.

Who actually does the work on a Texas mold job?

Two companies, by law. A mold assessment consultant who holds a TDLR license inspects and writes a protocol listing the affected areas, quantities of material, containment, protective gear, methods and clearance criteria; you get it at least one calendar day before work begins. The remediation company writes a work plan that meets that protocol, sets up containment, removes soaked drywall, insulation and flooring, and cleans framing and other hard surfaces. The same consultant then returns for a post-remediation assessment. Within 10 days after the job, the remediator gives you before-and-after photos and a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation.

Who do I contact in Richmond about permits or a rental that won't get fixed?

Putting walls and floors back is construction. The City of Richmond Building Department runs its Permit Office from the City Hall Annex at 600 Morton Street, with permits and inspection requests through the MGO Connect portal; the same department also runs residential rental property registration. For a leak or moisture problem a landlord has left alone, the city's Code Enforcement Department at the same address (281-342-0559) enforces the city's development code and general ordinances. Fort Bend County Health & Human Services lists mold complaints among the services it does not provide, so health questions are best taken to your own doctor.

A note on older Richmond buildings

Richmond is the Fort Bend County seat and one of the oldest towns in Texas, and many of its older buildings now serve as shops and law offices. Older structures often have more places for moisture to collect, so if you own one, ask the consultant to check wall cavities and floor framing, not just the visible stain.