Post-Remediation Clearance Testing in Fox Island, WA

What happens when you call

You'll be connected with an independent mold inspector who serves Fox Island and the Gig Harbor area. Expect questions about what was removed, the size and location of the work area, whether containment is still up, and how the moisture was stopped. The inspector will recommend a visual check with moisture readings, lab samples or both, explain how they report results and set a time that works with the bridge crossing from Artondale.

Cost factors

• Number of rooms or containment zones.
• Crawl space or attic access.
• Samples: HomeGuide's 2026 national ranges are $100 to $300 for air and $50 to $200 for surface samples.
• Travel time to the island.
• Retest charges if the first visit fails.

Prices vary by home. Get the scope in writing and, as L&I recommends, pay as phases are completed.

Island conditions

Fox Island is a residential island in south Puget Sound about 5 miles from Gig Harbor, connected to the mainland at Artondale by the Fox Island Bridge, opened in 1954. Hale Passage lies to the north and Carr Inlet to the southwest, and much of the island's residential property is waterfront. Marine air and the long wet season keep crawl spaces, closets on exterior walls and attics damp, and waterfront houses face wind-driven rain on the water side. Those conditions explain why remediation that skips the moisture fix tends to fail clearance. A careful assessor will compare readings in the cleaned framing with sound wood elsewhere in the house and won't sign off on a cavity that is clean but still damp, even if the samples look fine.

Fox Island is unincorporated, so Pierce County's Development Center issues building permits, including post-flood or storm repair permits. County guidance says repairs after flood damage need permits and work exceeding 50 percent of a structure's value over five years must bring it to current code. Pierce County Code Enforcement states it does not handle public health concerns such as mold; the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department's Healthy Homes program offers mold resources.

Checklist before the assessor comes

• Leak, roof or ventilation repair finished.
• Containment sealed with air filtration running.
• Scope, invoice and drying logs ready.
• No paint, primer or new drywall in the work area.