Mold remediation referrals for Seattle & nearby townsCall: (206) 759-5187
(206) 759-5187

Mold in Walls & Drywall in Des Moines, WA

moldremovalseattlewa.com

Hillside lots above Puget Sound, creek ravines and homes from the 1970s all play into wall mold in Des Moines.

Damp or spotted wall in your Des Moines home or rental?
Call now to be connected with a local mold remediation company in Des Moines.
(206) 759-5187

Mold in Des Moines walls usually traces to rain getting past older windows and siding, a plumbing leak, or runoff pressing against the uphill side of a house. The moisture source gets fixed first, then wet drywall and insulation are removed and the framing is cleaned and dried. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local mold remediation company in Des Moines.

Bubbling paint and stains on an interior wall, mold in walls & drywall in Des Moines, WA

Wall mold in Des Moines homes

Des Moines runs down a broad slope to Puget Sound about 16 miles south of Seattle, with Des Moines Creek and Massey Creek cutting ravines through the hillside. The median home was built around 1974, and the owner-occupied rate is about 61 percent, so a good share of residents are renters living with older walls. Hillside lots, weather off the Sound and decades-old plumbing are the usual ingredients behind mold inside a wall here.

What to do now

  1. Stop the water if you can: close the valve to a leaking fixture, or tarp damaged siding or flashing until it can be repaired.
  2. Don't sand, scrape or cut moldy drywall yourself if the area is larger than about 10 square feet; EPA suggests a professional for bigger jobs.
  3. Move furniture and stored items away from the wall and let the room air out.
  4. Take dated photos of stains, peeling paint and any visible leak.
  5. If you rent, notify the landlord in writing and keep a copy.
  6. Hold off on painting; EPA says not to paint or caulk over mold.
Call now to be connected with a local mold remediation company in Des Moines.
(206) 759-5187
Wall opened up to studs after mold removal, mold in walls & drywall in Des Moines, WA

What you see and what it usually means

What you seeLikely cause
Brown ring on drywall below a windowRain getting past window flashing or trim
Spots behind a bed or dresser on an outside wallWinter condensation where air doesn't move
Soft drywall next to a tub or showerLeaking valve, failed grout or a worn tub seal
Damp lower wall on the uphill side of the houseGroundwater or runoff pressing against the foundation
Stain spreading from a ceiling corner down the wallRoof, gutter or upstairs plumbing leak

Cost factors

Angi's Seattle cost guide lists mold-in-wall work at about $825 to $16,550 and drywall replacement at about $825 to $2,400. Where your job lands depends on how much wall is opened, whether insulation and sheathing are involved, and what other trades need to come in. Rebuilding with new drywall, insulation or framing may need a permit from the City of Des Moines Building Division, which reviews plans, issues permits and inspects work. Check that any company is registered with Washington L&I as a construction contractor on L&I's Verify a Contractor tool.

Mold in Walls & Drywall questions in Des Moines

I rent and there's mold on my walls. What can I do?
In general, Washington landlords must keep units reasonably weathertight, keep walls and plumbing in good repair, and give tenants Department of Health-approved mold information. Report the leak or moisture to the landlord in writing; for most non-emergency problems the landlord has 10 days to start repairs. If the leak goes unfixed, Des Moines Code Compliance takes complaints through its online code enforcement form; code officials act on the water or maintenance problem, not on mold by itself. This is general information, not legal advice.
Can I cut out a small moldy patch of drywall myself?
EPA says a homeowner can usually handle mold covering less than about 10 square feet, roughly a 3-by-3-foot patch. Growth inside a cavity is hard to size up from the outside, and Washington DOH suggests considering a professional when mold is hidden.
Why does the same outside wall get moldy every winter?
Warm indoor air condenses on a cold exterior wall where furniture or a closet blocks airflow, and a long Puget Sound winter keeps that surface damp for months. Steady heat, running bath and kitchen fans, and a gap behind furniture help; growth that keeps returning can also point to missing insulation.
Do I need mold testing to confirm mold inside a wall?
Usually not. EPA says sampling is generally unnecessary when mold can be seen, and there are no federal limits for spores to compare results against. Moisture readings tend to say more about how far the problem runs inside a wall.

More mold services in Des Moines

Mold Removal & Remediation in Des MoinesMold Inspection in Des MoinesMold Testing in Des MoinesBlack Mold Removal in Des MoinesMold & Mildew Cleanup in Des MoinesAll mold services in Des Moines

Mold in Walls & Drywall nearby

Mold in Walls & Drywall in SeaTacMold in Walls & Drywall in KentMold in Walls & Drywall in Federal WayMold in Walls & Drywall in BurienMold in Walls & Drywall in AuburnMold in Walls & Drywall in Seattle

Helpful guides

Call now to be connected with a local mold remediation company in Des Moines.
(206) 759-5187

Sources

Last updated:

☎ Call (206) 759-5187