Commercial Mold Remediation in Fox Island, WA

What happens when you call

The call connects you with an independent mold remediation company that works in the Gig Harbor and west Pierce County area. Describe the property, who uses it, the affected rooms and how the water got in. If the company takes the job, it schedules a visit to measure moisture, look at crawl spaces and attics, and write a scope of what will be removed and how. You decide whether to go ahead. Washington has no mold license, so check that the company is registered with L&I as a construction contractor on the Verify a Contractor tool.

Cost factors

• Extent. Larger areas need more containment under EPA's commercial guidance.
• Access. Crawl spaces, attics and steep waterfront lots slow the work.
• Travel. Crews reach the island over the Fox Island Bridge, and travel time can show up in the bid.
• Occupancy. Working around tenants or guests can mean phased scheduling.
• Rebuild. Drywall, flooring and paint may be separate.

As a rough reference, Angi's Seattle cost guide puts home jobs at $10 to $25 per square foot and crawl space work at $425 to $1,650. Larger managed or shared buildings are priced per project.

Island conditions

Fox Island is a residential island in south Puget Sound about 29 miles from Seattle and 5 miles from Gig Harbor, reached by the Fox Island Bridge from Artondale since 1954. Hale Passage lies to the north and Carr Inlet to the southwest, and much of the island's residential property is waterfront. Salt air, wind-driven rain and damp crawl spaces are the usual mold drivers on waterfront buildings. The island is unincorporated, so building permits, including post-storm and flood repair permits, come from the Pierce County Planning & Public Works Development Center. The county says flood repairs need permits, and work exceeding 50 percent of a structure's value over five years must bring it up to current code. Pierce County Code Enforcement states it does not handle mold; the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department's Healthy Homes program offers mold resources for tenants.

Prep checklist

• Stop the leak or repair the failed flashing or gutter
• Let tenants or users know which rooms are off limits
• Turn off forced-air heat serving the area if it may be contaminated
• Gather photos and leak history
• Check Pierce County flood maps if the building sits near the shoreline