Basement Mold Removal in Camano Island, WA

How does water reach a Camano Island basement?

Camano is an unincorporated island bordered by Saratoga Passage on the west, Port Susan and Davis Slough on the east and Skagit Bay to the north, reached by road only over the Camano Gateway Bridge from Stanwood. Island County says that although it has no major rivers, flooding usually comes in winter when intense storms line up with high tides, waves often overtop shore protection, and lakes and low-lying areas flood more often but less severely. In late December 2022, a king tide combined with low pressure and heavy rain flooded Camano Island State Park, and at Cama Beach State Park water came within an inch of some cabin doors. Inland, the more common cause is slower: soil that stays wet all winter and walls that never warm up.

Our basement only got wet once. Do we still need to worry?

It depends on how fast it dried. EPA and the Washington Department of Health both say wet materials should be dried within 24 to 48 hours, and EPA's post-disaster guidance says to assume mold if a flooded space couldn't be dried in that time. Carpet pad, the bottom of drywall and fiberglass insulation hold water longest. If they stayed damp for days, have someone check behind the finishes even if the surface looks clean.

What should removal include?

• Moisture mapping across walls and floor so hidden wet areas aren't missed.
• Containment so dust from cutting drywall doesn't travel upstairs.
• Removal of moldy porous materials, then cleaning of concrete and framing.
• Drying with dehumidifiers and air movers, and a check before rebuilding.
• A written scope, with cleanup priced separately from rebuilding.

Angi's Seattle cost guide lists basement mold remediation at $425 to $2,475; HomeGuide's 2026 national ranges run $1,500 to $6,000 for part of a basement and $6,000 to $15,000 for a full one. Check that the company is registered with Washington L&I as a construction contractor on L&I's Verify a Contractor tool.

A local note

Island County's Building Department keeps an office at the Camano Annex on North East Camano Drive, so repair permits can be handled on the island. The county's Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance sets construction standards for frequently flooded areas.