Mold & Mildew Cleanup in Tacoma, WA

Signs of a mildew problem

• Black dots or fuzz around window glass and in the window tracks.
• Ceiling paint over the tub turning gray or peeling.
• Spotting on the back of furniture set against an exterior wall.
• Clothes or shoes in a closet that come out smelling stale.
• Growth that returns within a few weeks of cleaning.

Local conditions in Tacoma

Tacoma wraps around Commencement Bay, with the Thea Foss Waterway and the Puyallup River running through it, and neighborhoods from the North Slope and Stadium District to Hilltop and Proctor. The city's comprehensive plan names the West End, North End and Tideflats as more exposed to coastal flooding than inland areas. Flooding is not what causes most mildew, though. Older apartments and houses with single-pane windows, bathrooms vented poorly or not at all, and units kept cool to save on heat all hold moisture on their coldest surfaces through the wet season. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department's advice comes back to water: stop leaks, repair roofs and plumbing, and move water away from walls.

What drives the cost

Angi's Seattle cost guide reports bathroom mold remediation at $425 to $825 and says most pros charge $10 to $25 per square foot. A job grows when growth has gone into drywall, when ceilings or several rooms are involved, and when a roof or plumbing leak has to be fixed first. Replacing drywall afterward is its own cost. Bids that name the moisture source and separate cleanup from rebuilding are easier to compare.

What happens when you call

You'll reach an independent local mold remediation company. Be ready to describe the rooms, the size of the area and anything you know about leaks. A site visit usually includes moisture readings and a look at fans and windows; it should end with a written scope. Washington has no state mold license, so check the company's L&I registration on the Verify a Contractor tool. Structural or drywall repairs go through the City of Tacoma Permit Center. Renters first give the landlord written notice; if repairs aren't made, Tacoma's Rental Housing Code complaint process runs through TacomaFirst 311, and Code Compliance inspects conditions such as leaking roofs.