Mold Remediation in Houston, TX

Harris County knows flood cleanup better than most places. During Hurricane Harvey in August 2017, 154,170 homes in the county flooded, according to the Harris County Flood Control District, and about two-thirds of them sat outside the 100-year floodplain. The same district counts about 73,000 homes flooded by Tropical Storm Allison in 2001. Those numbers explain why so many Houston remediation jobs start with a waterline on the wall.

Three kinds of Houston jobs

After a flood. Rising water is treated as contaminated because it can carry sewage. Crews remove carpet, pad, lower cabinets, and drywall and insulation to a cut line above the high-water mark, then dry the wall cavities before cleaning the framing. Nothing porous that sat in floodwater is saved.

After a long outage. When Hurricane Beryl knocked out power in July 2024, CenterPoint counted 2.26 million customers affected, and some waited close to two weeks. A closed house with no air conditioning in Houston summer can grow mold on drywall, closet contents, and furniture without a single leak. Those jobs are usually more cleaning than demolition, but walls that stayed damp still come out.

Leaks inside the house. Most newer Houston homes sit on slabs over clay soil that swells and shrinks, which can crack plumbing under the foundation. Attic air handlers overflow, and the February 2021 freeze split pipes across the region. Here the source gets repaired first, by a plumber or HVAC technician, and the mold work follows.

Drying in Gulf humidity

Opening windows in a Houston summer adds moisture instead of removing it. Professional drying relies on dehumidifiers and air movers with the house closed, and on a moisture meter rather than a hand on the wall. Ask the contractor to share daily readings. The EPA advises drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours, and in this climate that only happens with equipment.

Texas rules on every licensed job

Once mold covers 25 contiguous square feet or more, a contractor licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation must do the removal, and a separately licensed consultant writes the protocol and checks the result. You should get the Consumer Mold Information Sheet before work starts and a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation within 10 days after clearance passes. That certificate travels with the house: Texas sellers must give buyers copies of any issued in the previous five years.

Choosing a mold remediation company in Houston

Demand for mold crews jumps after every named storm, and so do door-knockers. Look up any company at tdlr.texas.gov before signing, ask for a certificate of insurance, and avoid paying the full price up front. Get the scope from an independent mold inspection in Houston so bids can be compared line by line, and hold the last payment until post-remediation testing passes.

What it costs in Houston

Houston price guides from 2026 put most remediation jobs at about $1,500 to $5,000, a single bathroom at $500 to $2,000, and whole-house work above $10,000. Contractors often quote $10 to $25 per square foot, according to a 2025 Houston guide. After a flood, drying equipment, debris hauling, and rebuilding walls and floors are usually billed apart from the mold removal, so compare totals, not just the remediation line. Our remediation cost guide explains the line items.

Insurance, briefly

Floodwater is covered only by a flood policy. A sudden leak, such as a split supply line, is usually a homeowners claim, according to the Texas Department of Insurance, while slow leaks and long-term humidity generally are not. Photograph the waterline and damaged materials before anything is removed.

When you call

Tell the company you are connected with whether the water came from outside or inside, how long ago, and how high it reached. That is enough for them to say whether you need a consultant's assessment first and what the next visit costs. The call is free, and hiring is your decision.

Storm seasons bring out-of-town crews to Harris County. Texas requires a TDLR-licensed remediation contractor for 25 contiguous square feet or more; look up the license at tdlr.texas.gov before signing anything.