Basement Mold Removal in Lakewood, WA

Water close at hand in Lakewood

American Lake, Lake Steilacoom, Gravelly Lake, Lake Louise and Waughop Lake all lie inside Lakewood, and Chambers Creek carries water from Lake Steilacoom toward Chambers Bay. Along Clover Creek, the city says newer flood maps show a 1% annual-chance flood risk in the Springbrook and Hillside neighborhoods, and some land once mapped in the 500-year floodplain now falls in the 100-year zone, so affected owners may eventually need flood insurance. Away from those maps, a below-grade room near water can still stay damp through the rainy months. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department's mold advice reads like a basement checklist: stop leaks, repair roofs and plumbing, and move water away from basement walls and slabs.

Handle it yourself or hire it out?

Signs to watch for

• A musty smell that builds after several days of rain.
• Gray or green spotting low on drywall or on the backs of stored boxes.
• Carpet that feels cool and damp near an outside wall.
• White crusty deposits on bare concrete, a sign water is moving through it.
• Paint that bubbles or flakes on the foundation wall.

Timing in Lakewood

Late summer is usually the driest stretch of the year and a practical time to open walls and rebuild. When a pipe bursts or water comes in during a storm, don't wait for August: EPA and Washington DOH both say to dry wet materials within 24 to 48 hours. Reframing or drywall work that needs a permit goes through the Permit Center in Lakewood's Planning and Public Works department, which also runs the city's Rental Housing Safety Program. Washington has no state mold license, so check any company's L&I registration on the Verify a Contractor tool before work begins.