Crawl Space Mold Removal in Clinton, WA

Why do so many Clinton crawl spaces have mold?

Part of the answer is age. Island County's Clinton Subarea Plan says about 61 percent of the community's housing was built before 1980, nearly all of it single-family, mostly owner-occupied, with very little new construction. Houses that old often still have their original foundation vents, thin or missing ground covers and batts that have sagged for decades. The other part is the land. The plan describes most of Clinton sitting on a steep bluff parallel to Saratoga Passage, with landslide potential, and places the shoreline in the Clinton Critical Drainage Area.

Does the bluff or the shoreline matter more?

Both, in different ways. On the bluff, rain soaks in uphill and moves through the soil, so the uphill foundation wall of a crawl space can weep water or stay damp all winter. Along the shore near Columbia Beach and the Mukilteo-Clinton ferry dock, the county says the entire Clinton shoreline is a FEMA high-risk flood area, with king tides and sea level rise a specific concern and possible inland flooding from a higher water table. During the December 27, 2022 king tide, the Whidbey News-Times reported flooding in Clinton reached high levels. A crawl space in either setting needs its water source traced before any cleanup will last.

What does a sound repair look like?

• Moisture readings in joists, beams and sills, plus a look at downspouts and grading.
• Wet insulation removed and bagged.
• Framing cleaned, then given time to dry.
• A new ground cover with sealed seams.
• Drainage work where groundwater is coming through the wall.

Washington has no state mold license, so check the company's L&I contractor registration on the Verify a Contractor tool.

A note on permits

Clinton is unincorporated, so building permits for replacing rotted framing come from Island County Planning & Community Development's Building Department in Coupeville or at the Camano Annex. Work in mapped flood areas falls under the county's flood rules. Because so many Clinton homes have been in the same hands for years, it is worth asking the company to note anything else they see under the floor, such as old plumbing or loose duct connections, so you can plan repairs once rather than reopening the space later.