Basement Mold Removal in Port Orchard, WA

Local conditions in Port Orchard

Port Orchard, the Kitsap County seat, sits on the south shore of Sinclair Inlet across from Bremerton, with a waterfront downtown along Bay Street. The city warns that king tides combined with winter weather can raise water enough to threaten shoreline areas and downtown businesses, asks residents to keep catch-basin drains clear, and has put out sandbags downtown. In one storm, heavy rain running off the hill couldn't drain into the bay because the tide was too high, and the city closed part of Bay Street and the roundabout at Bethel Avenue and Mile Hill Drive until the water dropped. Much of the city's housing is newer, with a median year built of 2004 in Census-derived figures, but newer basements still get wet when water has nowhere to go.

Seepage or condensation?

Signs to look for

• A musty smell after storms or during cold snaps.
• Mold on the lower edge of drywall or behind a couch.
• Water stains on the slab near the wall.
• Rust or corrosion on items stored downstairs.
• Carpet or rugs that feel cool and damp near the outside walls.
• Paint flaking off the foundation in patches.

Timing

When storm water reaches a basement, start drying right away; EPA and Washington DOH both point to a 24 to 48 hour window. Slower problems are easier to fix in drier months, when walls dry faster and rebuilding can follow sooner. Either way, don't close walls back up until the company confirms the framing and concrete are dry. Washington has no state mold license, so check the company's L&I registration on the Verify a Contractor tool. Rebuilding permits come from the city's Department of Community Development Permit Center, and its Code Enforcement takes complaints through the Code Compliance Complaint Form.