Mold remediation in Dallas: costs, Texas licensing and how the job works

No Texas agency publishes local mold remediation prices, so the figures below are national ranges from two established cost guides. Use them to judge whether a written quote is in a normal range. Size, location in the house, access and the amount of drywall, flooring or framing that has to be replaced move the real price.

In Texas, a larger job usually has two separate bills: one from a licensed mold assessment consultant who writes the plan and checks the result, and one from a licensed mold remediation contractor who does the cleanup. That split is required by state rules, as explained below.

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) regulates mold assessment and mold remediation under Chapter 1958 of the Texas Occupations Code and the Texas Mold Assessment and Remediation Rules in 16 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 78. TDLR defines mold assessment as inspecting or surveying a structure for the presence of mold or to develop a remediation plan, and mold remediation as the removal, cleaning, sanitizing or other treatment of mold or mold-contaminated matter.

TDLR issues these credentials: mold remediation worker registration, mold assessment technician, mold assessment consultant, mold remediation contractor, mold assessment company, mold remediation company and mold analysis laboratory. According to TDLR's Consumer Mold Information Sheet, individuals must meet qualifications, complete training and pass a state exam and a criminal history check before a license is issued.

The statute was amended recently, and TDLR has said its rules will be updated through formal rulemaking. Before relying on any detail below, check TDLR's program page for news and rule changes.

1. Consumer Mold Information Sheet. Licensed assessors and remediators must give you this TDLR sheet before any mold-related activity begins.
2. Assessment and protocol. A licensed mold assessment consultant inspects the property and writes a remediation protocol. The CMIS says the protocol must specify the estimated quantities and locations of materials to be remediated, the methods and the clearance criteria.
3. Separate remediator. To prevent conflicts of interest, the rules prohibit a licensee from doing both the assessment and the remediation on the same project. Ask both companies to confirm in writing that they are independent of each other on your job.
4. Notification. When mold covers 25 contiguous square feet or more, the remediation contractor must notify TDLR at least five calendar days before work starts, under 16 TAC 78.110. In a water damage emergency, notice is due by the next working day.
5. Remediation and work plan. The contractor follows the protocol and its own written work plan.
6. Clearance. A consultant performs a post-remediation assessment and gives you a passed clearance report. If the project fails, more remediation is needed.
7. Certificate. No later than the 10th day after the project stop date, the contractor must sign and give you a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation, also signed by the consultant. The CMIS explains that the certificate keeps an insurer from making an underwriting decision based on previous mold damage, and that sellers must give buyers copies of certificates received in the preceding five years.

Often, yes. The CMIS says a homeowner can sample or clean up mold in their own home without a license, and owners of residential property need no license unless the property has 10 or more dwelling units. TDLR's FAQ adds that in most instances visible mold under 25 contiguous square feet can be cleaned by people who are not licensed. If an exempt person discovers more mold that brings the area to 25 square feet or more, 16 TAC 78.30 says the work must stop. The EPA suggests most homeowners can handle areas under about 10 square feet, recommends drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours, and advises keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally 30 to 50 percent.

One catch: TDLR says a consultant who did not write a protocol before the work cannot later declare that a do-it-yourself job achieved clearance. If you will need a certificate for insurance or a sale, plan the licensed route from the start.

• Search every company and individual in the TDLR license search. The CMIS says a licensed individual must carry a current TDLR license certificate showing the license number.
• Ask for proof of commercial general liability coverage. The CMIS says licensees must carry at least $1 million or be self-insured.
• Get the protocol, the work plan and the clearance criteria in writing before work begins.
• Fix the water source first. The certificate asks whether the underlying cause was corrected, and plumbing repairs need a plumber licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.

Complaints go to TDLR; its FAQ says they must be filed within two years of the event. For the timing question, see our guide on how fast mold grows after water damage. To reach a restoration company, call one of the companies listed on this page or see all listed companies. We are an independent guide, not a mold company; you can email us your question through our contact page.