Mold in Walls & Drywall in Burien, WA

Clues of hidden wall mold in Burien

• Drywall that has darkened or turned blotchy on the side of the house facing the weather
• Window sills and the wall below them that stay damp after storms off the Sound
• Seams or tape lines starting to show through paint
• An odor in a bedroom or hallway that returns every time the house is closed up
• Black dots creeping out from behind a headboard or bookcase on an outside wall

Why Burien walls take on water

Burien is a Highline-area city about 11 miles south of Seattle with 5.5 miles of Puget Sound shoreline along its western edge. Waterfront homes, especially around Three Tree Point, get the full force of wind-driven rain, and that weather finds its way past aging siding, trim and window flashing. FEMA maps set base flood elevations and flood depths for properties next to the Sound. On Dec. 18, 2024, a 12.66-foot high tide combined with strong winds sent waves over waterfront properties and roads at Three Tree Point and left SW 172nd Street covered with water and debris. Seawater that reaches a lower wall soaks drywall and insulation the same way a river would, and the cavity needs to be opened and dried.

Away from the beach, wall mold in Burien is more often a plumbing or condensation problem: a slow drip behind a kitchen sink, a weeping shower valve, or cold exterior walls collecting moisture through the long gray months.

How cost is figured

Angi's Seattle cost guide reports wall mold remediation at roughly $825 to $16,550, plus about $825 to $2,400 for drywall replacement. The total depends on how much wall is opened, whether insulation and exterior sheathing are wet, and whether plumbing, window or siding repairs are needed before closing up. Repairs to plumbing, electrical, gas or mechanical systems may need a City of Burien permit, so check before the wall goes back together.

What happens when you call

The number on this page reaches an independent local mold remediation company; this site doesn't do inspections or removal. Let them know if the problem started after a storm, whether there is an active leak, and which rooms are involved. Expect a moisture survey, a written scope and containment for the cut-out. Washington has no state mold license, so confirm the company is registered with Washington L&I as a construction contractor on L&I's Verify a Contractor tool. Renters have a local option too: Burien's Rental Housing Inspection Program inspects apartments, duplexes, triplexes and four-plexes every three years, and tenants who have given the landlord written notice without a response can contact city officials.