Mold in Walls & Drywall in Langley, WA

Langley homes and the weather

Langley is a small city at the south end of Whidbey Island, overlooking Saratoga Passage, with a historic Main Street downtown and a marina. Homes that face the water take the full force of storms coming up the passage, and wind-driven rain is good at finding small gaps at window corners, trim joints and where decks meet the house. Inland, the common sources are plumbing leaks, gutters and condensation in closets and rooms that aren't heated often. In older village buildings and homes that have been remodeled several times, new and old wall sections meet, and those seams are another place water can work its way in. When a stain sits right where an addition joins the original house, mention that to the company.

What to do now

1. Note exactly where the stain, smell or soft spot is and when it started.
2. Look for the obvious sources: a fixture on the other side of the wall, a window above, a downspout outside.
3. Stop any active leak and keep the room warm and ventilated so it can begin drying.
4. Resist the urge to bleach and repaint. EPA advises against painting or caulking over mold, and paint hides the problem rather than solving it.
5. If the area is larger than about 10 square feet, or the drywall is soft, call a professional.
6. Plan the rebuild. Langley handles its own permits through City of Langley Community Planning & Building, not Island County.

Signs and likely causes

Cost factors

Angi's Seattle cost guide puts wall mold at about $825 to $16,550 and drywall replacement at $825 to $2,400. The final number depends on how much wall is opened, whether insulation and framing are affected, containment needs, and the separate repair of the water source. Washington has no state mold license, so check that the company is registered with Washington L&I as a construction contractor.