Mold in Walls & Drywall in Camano Island, WA

Can storm surge and king tides really cause mold inside my walls?

They can for homes close to the water. Island County says that although it has no major rivers, flooding generally happens in winter when intense storms line up with high tides, and wind-driven waves frequently overtop shore protection. In late December 2022, a king tide combined with low pressure and heavy rain flooded Camano Island State Park, closing the boat launch for several days, and Cama Beach State Park closed its cabins when water came within an inch of some front doors. If water reached the bottom of your walls in an event like that, the drywall and insulation inside usually stay wet far longer than the surface suggests, and EPA advises assuming mold in materials that couldn't be dried within 24 to 48 hours.

What if my house isn't on the beach?

Most Camano Island homes aren't, and for them the usual suspects are the same as anywhere around Puget Sound. Look at walls that face Saratoga Passage, Port Susan or Skagit Bay and take the most weather, at windows and decks, at bathrooms and laundry areas, and at bedrooms or guest rooms that stay closed and cool for weeks. Cold walls collect condensation, and closed rooms can't dry it out. Part-time owners often find the problem on the first weekend back after a stormy stretch, when the house has been shut and cool for weeks. Leaving some heat on, opening interior doors and asking a neighbor to check after big storms all help catch a leak before it soaks a whole wall.

Do I have to go to Coupeville for a repair permit?

No. Camano Island is unincorporated, so Island County's Building Department handles permits, and it keeps an office at the Camano Annex on North East Camano Drive. Mold cleanup on its own usually isn't permitted work, but replacing studs, structural repairs or rebuilding in a mapped flood zone can be; the county's Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance sets standards for frequently flooded areas. Ask before the wall is rebuilt.

A Camano Island note

Island County Code Enforcement takes complaints through an online request form, but its listed complaint types don't include rental housing or mold, so renters should put leak problems in writing to the landlord. Any company doing the repair work should be registered with Washington L&I as a construction contractor.