Des Moines runs from the Puget Sound shore and its city marina up a broad slope cut by creek ravines, and its commercial mold calls follow that mix: apartments, condos, offices and shops along Pacific Highway and near the waterfront. The job is to contain the area, remove what can't be cleaned and fix the moisture. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local mold remediation company in Des Moines.
Des Moines at a glance
Des Moines is about 16 miles south of Seattle on the east shore of Puget Sound, with the Des Moines Marina, Saltwater State Park and Des Moines Beach Park on the water and Des Moines and Massey creeks cutting ravines through the slope. The median year built for homes is 1974, and about 60.6 percent of housing units are owner-occupied, leaving a large share of rentals. Older apartment and condo buildings here are often on their original windows, piping or roof decks.
What to do now
- Find and stop the water: roof, window, plumbing, or runoff from a slope above the building.
- Keep people out of the affected rooms, especially anyone with asthma or a weakened immune system, as EPA advises.
- Check with facilities before running any air handler or exhaust system that serves the area.
- Photograph the damage and note dates for the owner, board or insurer.
- Leave stained materials in place so a company can measure the full extent.
- Tell affected tenants or staff in writing what is closed and why.
Signs and their likely causes
| What you see | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Spotting on ceilings of top-floor units | Roof or flashing leak, or attic condensation |
| Growth along one vertical wall line in several units | Leaking supply or drain line in a shared chase |
| Damp lower walls on the uphill side of a building | Groundwater or runoff seeping through the foundation |
| Black spotting on window frames each winter | Condensation from cold glass and high indoor humidity |
| Musty smell in a storage room or laundry | Poor ventilation or a slow plumbing leak |
What affects cost
Commercial projects are bid individually. As a reference, Angi's Seattle cost guide reports residential jobs averaging about $1,988, and wall cavities alone can run $825 to $16,550 depending on how far growth has spread. A building's price rises with the number of units, containment across shared spaces, after-hours scheduling and the amount of drywall and finish work. Rebuilding goes through the Des Moines Building Division, which issues permits and inspects construction. For renters, Public Health - Seattle & King County does not do mold assessments and points tenants to local code enforcement for the leak itself; in Des Moines that is Code Compliance's online complaint form.
Commercial Mold Remediation questions in Des Moines
How is the size of a commercial mold job judged?
Should the remediation company also do the clearance check?
A tenant reported mold in an apartment. What does Washington require of the landlord?
What indoor humidity should a commercial building aim for?
More mold services in Des Moines
Commercial Mold Remediation nearby
Sources
- Wikipedia: Des Moines, Washington
- City-Stats: Des Moines, WA
- U.S. Census QuickFacts: Des Moines city, Washington
- City of Des Moines: Building Division
- City of Des Moines: Report a Concern
- Public Health - Seattle & King County: Mold (tenants and landlords)
- EPA: Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings (pdf)
- EPA: Mold Cleanup in Your Home
- Angi: How Much Does Mold Remediation Cost in Seattle, WA?
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