Black mold in Des Moines homes is usually a sign of a roof leak, condensation, plumbing drip or downhill seepage that has kept a surface wet, and removal means fixing that water and then cleaning or cutting out the growth. Patches under about 10 square feet are often a homeowner job; larger or hidden growth is not. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local mold remediation company in Des Moines.
Des Moines spreads down a broad slope to Puget Sound about 16 miles south of Seattle, from Zenith and Woodmont to Redondo, with the ravines of Des Moines Creek and Massey Creek cutting through it. The city's median home was built around 1974, and about six in ten housing units are owner-occupied, so a good share of residents rent. Older walls and windows, damp marine air and hillside lots with water moving downhill all give dark mold places to start.
What to do now
- Find the water. Look above and around the growth for a roof leak, a plumbing drip, condensation, or seepage on the uphill side of the house.
- Stop it if you can. Shut a supply valve, tarp a roof or clear a clogged gutter.
- Measure the area. Under about 10 square feet is usually a homeowner job, per EPA and DOH. Larger, or inside a wall, is professional work.
- Otherwise leave it alone. Don't dry-brush, sand or spray it; that puts spores in the air.
- Protect sensitive people. EPA says those with asthma or weakened immune systems should stay away from moldy areas.
- Renters: put it in writing. Notify the landlord about the leak or moisture in writing and keep a copy.
What you see and what it usually means
| What you see | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Black spots on a ceiling under a bathroom or near a skylight | Roof or flashing leak, or a bath fan venting into the attic |
| Dark growth low on a wall that faces uphill | Groundwater or runoff pushing against the foundation |
| Speckled window sills and frames | Winter condensation on cold glass |
| Staining that spreads from under a sink or dishwasher | Slow plumbing leak |
| Musty smell with no visible growth | Mold in a wall cavity, crawl space or behind cabinets |
Cost factors
Angi's Seattle cost guide reports most remediation jobs at $1,008 to $2,967, with crawl space work at $425 to $1,650 and walls at $825 to $16,550. Size, access, containment, the amount of drywall or insulation removed and the repairs afterward set the final number, not the mold's color. Rebuilding walls or repairing plumbing may need a permit from the City of Des Moines Building Division. For leaks a landlord hasn't fixed, the city takes code enforcement complaints through its online form; Public Health - Seattle & King County doesn't do mold assessments.
Black Mold Removal questions in Des Moines
Why does dark mold show up around my windows every winter?
Why did the black mold come back after I cleaned it?
I rent and there is black mold in my unit. What can I do?
What does black mold removal cost in the Seattle area?
More mold services in Des Moines
Black Mold Removal nearby
Sources
- Wikipedia: Des Moines, Washington
- City-Stats: Des Moines, WA
- City of Des Moines: Building Division
- City of Des Moines: Report a Concern
- Public Health - Seattle & King County: Mold (tenants and landlords)
- Angi: How Much Does Mold Remediation Cost in Seattle, WA?
- EPA: Mold Cleanup in Your Home
- Washington DOH: Mold
- RCW 59.18.060: Landlord, Duties
- RCW 59.18.070: Landlord's failure to remedy, Tenant's remedies, Notice
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