Most mold in North Texas homes starts as a water problem: a supply line that let go, a roof that leaked through one storm season, a slab leak nobody noticed. When a water loss has been wet for more than a day or two, or when a musty odor or visible growth turns up during demolition, the project changes character. It stops being only a drying job and becomes a regulated mold project. This post explains what that means in Texas and how we handle it.
Texas treats mold as licensed work
Texas regulates mold assessment and remediation under state rules administered by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. In plain terms:
- Assessment (inspecting, sampling and writing the remediation protocol) must be done by a licensed mold assessment consultant or technician.
- Remediation (containment, removal, cleaning and treatment) must be done by a licensed mold remediation contractor when the affected area exceeds 25 contiguous square feet in a residence.
- The assessor and the remediator must be independent of each other. The company that writes the protocol cannot be the company that performs the removal on the same project, and neither can have a financial interest in the other.
That independence rule is the point of the whole system. The person who decides how much needs to come out and what “clean” means is not the person getting paid to take it out.
Why we manage mold rather than perform it
Fire & Water Restoration Plus does not test for mold and does not perform mold abatement. We subcontract all mold testing, protocol writing and abatement to Texas-licensed partners, and we oversee that work as a specialized general contractor with more than 30 years in the restoration industry.
Homeowners sometimes ask why we do not simply do it all. Because the rules require the assessor and remediator to be independent, no single company can lawfully handle every step of a regulated mold project alone. What a project does need is one accountable party who understands the water side, coordinates the licensed specialists, protects the rest of the house, and rebuilds when the space is cleared. That is the role we fill. You can read how it fits together on our mold remediation services page.
How a water loss becomes a managed mold project
- Stop and correct the water. Our technicians locate the moisture source with meters and thermal imaging and correct it. Mold cannot be remediated durably while the water that fed it is still active.
- Mitigate active water damage. Where the loss is recent, extraction and structural drying to IICRC S500 standards proceed as they would on any water damage restoration project, with care not to spread growth that is already present.
- Bring in a licensed assessor. The assessor inspects, samples where appropriate, and writes the remediation protocol that defines the work area, containment, methods and clearance criteria.
- Coordinate a licensed remediator. The remediation contractor performs the removal under that protocol and the IICRC S520 standard, with containment, negative air and HEPA filtration.
- Clearance. The assessor returns for a post-remediation assessment. Rebuild waits for a passed clearance.
- Rebuild. Our crews replace drywall, insulation, trim and flooring and return the room to pre-loss condition.
What this means for your schedule and your claim
A regulated mold project adds steps and therefore days: an assessment visit, protocol writing, notice to the state before remediation, the remediation itself and clearance. We tell homeowners this up front so the calendar is realistic. On the insurance side, mold coverage varies widely. Many policies cover mold that results from a sudden, covered water loss but exclude growth from long-term leaks, often with a separate mold sublimit. We document the moisture source and the mitigation, and the assessor’s independent report gives the claim an objective basis. Coverage decisions rest with your carrier.
When to call
If you have had a water loss and are worried about what is behind the walls, or you see or smell mold, call us. We will look at the moisture situation, explain how the Texas assessment and remediation process applies to your home, and coordinate the licensed partners the project needs. Our line is answered 24 hours a day: 972-455-8252.