Commercial Mold Remediation in The Woodlands, TX

There's no city here. Who issues permits for the rebuild?

The Woodlands is a township and census-designated place, mostly in unincorporated Montgomery County with a portion in Harris County, so the right office depends on the address. On the Montgomery County side, the county Permit Department under Environmental Health in Conroe issues Development Permits, which its FAQ says are needed for fully enclosed structures and additions and for substantially damaged structures in the floodplain. Ask the county before replacing walls or ceilings after a large removal.

Harvey pushed the creeks to record levels. Should commercial owners near them worry?

During Harvey, Spring Creek, Panther Branch and Bear Branch all reached historic levels, preliminary data showed 141 homes in The Woodlands with flood damage, and the fire department made 224 high-water rescues and evacuations. Most commercial mold here doesn't come from the creeks, though. It comes from rooftop units, condensate overflows, plumbing in multi-story buildings and the humidity that sits under a heavy tree canopy. If a building does take water, EPA's guidance is to dry it within 24 to 48 hours and, when that isn't possible, to assume mold has started.

We manage an apartment community. When do we need outside help?

Once the property has 10 or more units, visible mold covering 25 contiguous square feet or more must be removed by a TDLR remediation license holder working from an assessment consultant's protocol. Smaller patches may be handled by the owner, managing agent or on-site staff. On the larger jobs, the contractor notifies TDLR at least five days before work, and at the end you receive a passed clearance report, photos and a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation within 10 days.

A note for this area

The Montgomery County Public Health District does not list mold or housing complaints among those it takes, so building owners hire assessment privately. Check every company on TDLR's license search, and don't run an air handler you suspect is contaminated while you wait. For office and retail tenants, read the lease before calling anyone: it usually says whether the landlord or the tenant arranges and pays for repairs after a leak.