Mold in Walls & Drywall in Clinton, WA

Does the age of Clinton's houses matter?

It does. Island County's draft Clinton Subarea Plan says about 61 percent of the area's housing was built before 1980, that homes are overwhelmingly single-family and mostly owner-occupied, and that very little new construction has been added. Walls that have been through four or more decades of Whidbey winters often have tired window seals, older siding and trim details, patched-in additions and less insulation than newer houses. Each of those can let water in or let a cold wall collect condensation, and owners who have been in the house for years sometimes get used to a smell that a visitor notices right away.

I live up on the bluff. Can the hillside itself cause wet walls?

It can contribute. The county says most of Clinton sits on a steep bluff parallel to the shoreline, that the shoreline is part of the Clinton Critical Drainage Area, and that flooding may come not only from king tides but also inland from a higher water table. A lower floor cut into a slope can have wet soil against its uphill wall for months. The whole Clinton shoreline is also a FEMA high-risk flood area, and the Whidbey News-Times reported that flooding in Clinton reached high levels during the December 27, 2022 king tide.

What does the repair usually involve, and who issues permits?

Expect moisture mapping, plastic containment, removal of wet or moldy drywall and insulation, cleaning and drying of the studs, and a dryness check before rebuilding. Clinton is unincorporated, so permits for structural or plumbing repairs come from the Island County Building Department. Angi's Seattle cost guide lists wall mold at about $825 to $16,550, a range driven mostly by how much wall comes out.

A note for Clinton

Island County Public Health is the local health department. Island County Code Enforcement's listed complaint types don't include rental housing or mold, so renters should start with written notice to the landlord. Any company bidding on the repair should be registered with Washington L&I as a construction contractor. Ferry commuters can set up the visit for a day they're home, since the company will want to see the outside of the wall as well as the inside.