Mold & Mildew Cleanup in The Woodlands, TX

Why does mildew grow here when the house is fairly new?

The Woodlands was dedicated in 1974 and built under a forest canopy, which is lovely for summer shade and hard on moisture control. Walls and roofs that rarely see direct sun stay cool and damp; window frames on shaded sides collect condensation; leaves clog gutters and send water against the house. Inside, the AC carries the whole drying load. If it is oversized, short-cycling or has a dirty coil, rooms stay clammy and mildew appears on closet walls and vent covers first. A hygrometer reading above 60 percent, EPA's upper limit, tells you the air is part of the problem.

We had water from Spring Creek or Panther Branch during Harvey. What now?

During Harvey, Bear Branch, Panther Branch and Spring Creek 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. If your house was one of them, recurring mildew along lower walls, inside base cabinets or on the underside of stairs can mean moisture or growth left behind in the original repair. EPA's guidance after floods is to assume mold wherever materials stayed wet more than 24 to 48 hours. That's a job for a professional, with walls checked by moisture meter and opened where needed.

What's safe to tackle on a Saturday?

Small patches on hard surfaces: grout, tub caulk lines, tile, window frames and vent grilles. Scrub with detergent and water, dry completely and replace caulk only after the surface is clean and dry. Wear gloves, goggles and an N-95. Bag and toss moldy items you can't clean. Keep anyone with asthma away while you work. Stop at around 10 square feet, the size EPA treats as a homeowner job.

A note for Woodlands owners

The Woodlands is a township in unincorporated Montgomery County, with a portion in Harris County, so building permits for repairs on the Montgomery County side come from the Montgomery County Permit Department in Conroe rather than a city office. That department also handles floodplain permits for substantially damaged homes. For a full remediation project, Texas requires separate companies for the assessment and the removal; ask for the TDLR Consumer Mold Information Sheet before work starts.