Mold Remediation Process in Texas: Step by Step

Steps of mold remediation in a licensed Texas project

The process starts with a licensed mold assessment consultant from a testing company. They inspect the home to find the mold, measure its extent and, most importantly, find the water source. Sampling is optional here: TDLR says testing to identify the mold type is not required before remediation, and the EPA says if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary in most cases.

The consultant then writes a mold remediation protocol. Under 16 TAC § 78.100, it must identify the rooms or areas where work will occur, estimated quantities of material, methods, containment and clearance procedures and criteria. The consultant must give it to you at least one calendar day before remediation begins.

This protocol is what makes removal quotes comparable. Hand the same document to each mold removal company you're considering. Our mold remediation cost guide covers what to expect on price.

Once you pick a removal company, it prepares a remediation work plan that meets the protocol and gives it to you at least one calendar day before preparation work begins.

Before any mold work starts, licensed assessors and remediators must give you the Consumer Mold Information Sheet, a two-page TDLR summary of your rights.

For jobs where mold covers 25 contiguous square feet or more, the contractor must notify TDLR at least five calendar days before the anticipated start date. There's an emergency exception after water damage, when waiting would make the mold worse; the contractor must then notify TDLR no later than the next working day.

The contractor must also keep the work plan, protocols and a list of everyone on the project with their license or registration numbers on site. You can check any of them with our license check tool.

Containment keeps spores and dust from spreading into the rest of the house while moldy material is cut out.

In Texas, containment is required when the job affects 25 or more contiguous square feet. It must prevent mold from spreading outside the area and stay in place until the job is cleared. For walk-in containment, supply and return vents must be blocked, and the inside must be at lower air pressure than the areas around it, which is called negative pressure.

The EPA's remediation guidance describes two levels:

• Limited containment, a single layer of 6-mil plastic sheeting, generally for areas between 10 and 100 square feet.
• Full containment, with double plastic layers and an airlock, for areas greater than 100 square feet.

You'll also see yellow signs at each entrance. Texas rules require signs reading "NOTICE: Mold remediation project in progress", at least 8 by 10 inches, black on yellow.

Expect the contractor to keep you out. TDLR says only licensees and department representatives may enter containment, and a contractor may prohibit owner entry in the contract. Also avoid running your HVAC if it may be contaminated; the EPA warns it can spread mold through the building.

This is the core of the mold removal process.

Porous materials come out. TDLR says mold is difficult to clean from absorbent (porous) surfaces such as drywall, carpet, fleecy furnishings and insulation, so those materials should be removed and discarded. The EPA recommends double-bagging unsalvageable items in 6-mil polyethylene before they leave containment.

Hard surfaces get cleaned. TDLR says mold should be cleaned from non-porous surfaces such as concrete, metal, glass, tile, and solid wood.

HEPA vacuuming finishes the job. The EPA recommends HEPA vacuums for final cleanup of remediation areas. Many contractors also run air scrubbers; Fixr describes cleaning the air with HEPA vacuums, dry fog, or air scrubbers.

Chemicals are not the fix. The EPA says the use of a biocide, such as chlorine bleach, is not recommended as a routine practice, and TDLR says bleach on drywall without removing the source is not a permanent effective solution. In Texas, disinfectants and antimicrobial coatings may be used only if the protocol specifies them and they are EPA-registered for that use. Dead mold still matters: the EPA notes it can still trigger allergies, so it must be physically removed.

Workers who disturb mold on larger jobs must be given protective equipment, with an N-95 respirator as the recommended minimum.

Mold comes back if the water does. The EPA says cleaning mold without fixing the source usually lets it return, and recommends drying water-damaged areas within 24 to 48 hours to prevent growth.

The repair itself (a plumbing leak, a roof, a failed AC drain line) may be done by other trades. TDLR notes that correcting the cause may involve other types of professional services that are not regulated by the mold rules, such as plumbing or carpentry. The protocol should still include procedures for confirming the underlying moisture or cause has been addressed.

Flood jobs take longest. After flooding, Texas A&M AgriLife says drying can take a few weeks to a month. See mold after a flood in Texas.

Before the job counts as done, a licensed mold assessment consultant must inspect it. Under 16 TAC § 78.140, the work area must be free of all visible mold and wood rot, the work must have followed the protocol and work plan, and it must meet the protocol's clearance criteria. If walk-in containment was used, the check occurs while it is in place, and the contractor may not take containment down until it receives written notice that the project has achieved clearance.

If it passes, the consultant gives you a passed clearance report. If it fails, further remediation as prescribed by a consultant will be necessary. Our mold clearance testing guide walks through this step in detail.

Within ten calendar days after the project stop date, the remediation contractor must give you before-and-after photographs and the Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation. The consultant who did the clearance must also sign it, stating that the mold has been remediated and whether the underlying cause of the mold has been corrected.

Keep it. With a certificate showing the cause was fixed, an insurer may not make an underwriting decision based on previous mold damage or claims, and if you sell, you must give buyers each certificate issued in the five years before the sale.

There's no single answer. Fixr says the process takes a few hours to several weeks, depending on the amount of mold, what caused it, and the level of damage. What we can tell you is the minimum paperwork timeline Texas rules build in:

What to expect, in order, on a licensed Texas job of 25+ square feet

Can you stay home? Fixr's answer is that in most cases you'll need to leave, because the area is sealed off and air scrubbers run. In practice that depends on the size and location of the work, so ask the contractor before signing.

For small areas, yes. The EPA says areas under about 10 square feet can usually be handled yourself, and TDLR says a homeowner can take samples for mold or clean it up in the home without a license. The trade-off is the paperwork: only a licensed remediator is authorized to give a CMDR, which matters for insurance and resale.

Ready to start? Find licensed testing companies to write your protocol in Dallas, Austin or San Antonio, and separate removal companies in Dallas, Fort Worth or Corpus Christi. See all cities on our Texas page, and read how we verify each license.