Choose a mold removal specialist by verifying licenses, getting a written scope and keeping testing and cleanup in separate hands. Texas licenses mold assessors and mold remediators as two different roles, and TDLR publishes a license search anyone can use. Ask every company for its license numbers and check them yourself before signing anything.
Two roles, two licenses
| Role | What they do | License type |
|---|---|---|
| Mold assessor | Inspects, finds moisture, may sample, writes the protocol with cleanup criteria, checks results after cleanup | Mold assessment, licensed by TDLR |
| Mold remediator | Follows the protocol, builds containment, removes and cleans material, dries the space | Mold remediation, licensed by TDLR |
| General contractor or handyman | Rebuilds drywall, flooring and paint after clearance | Not a mold license |
The split exists for a reason. A company that profits from cleanup has a reason to find a lot of mold, and one that tests its own work has a reason to pass it. When the assessor and the remediator are different companies, each checks the other.
Smaller jobs differ. Visible mold under 25 contiguous square feet may generally be cleaned by unlicensed people, and owners or managers of buildings with fewer than 10 dwelling units do not have to be licensed for mold work on that property. Beyond those lines, a protocol and a licensed remediator are the usual path.
A ten-minute vetting routine
- Ask for license numbersRequest the assessor or remediator number and the company name as filed. Look it up on the TDLR public license search and match names.
- Ask about the standardTesting and cleanup follow ANSI/IICRC S520. Ask the company whether its work follows it and how.
- Request a written scopeIt should list rooms, areas, methods, containment, materials to remove and what will be rebuilt by someone else.
- Ask about moistureThe company should explain how it found the source and what must be fixed before cleanup counts as done.
- Ask who clears the jobFind out who verifies that the work met the protocol's criteria, and whether you get documentation.
- Confirm insuranceAsk the company to show proof of liability coverage, and check it with the carrier named.
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What a good written plan contains
Protocol or scope
A document that names the affected areas, the cleanup goals and the methods. For larger jobs it comes from a licensed assessor.
Containment plan
Sealed barriers, negative air or filtered air machines, controlled entry and how debris leaves the building.
Drying plan
How moisture will be measured and what readings count as dry.
Clearance step
Who inspects at the end, what criteria apply and what paperwork you receive.
TDI guidance for a mold claim says to use a licensed mold professional, expect an inspection confirming removal and that the cause was fixed, and get a certificate of removal. Even if you are not filing a claim, those are good expectations for any job.
Finally, trust how a company answers. Clear, patient answers about license numbers, standards and limits are a good sign. Vague replies, a rush to start or irritation at being asked to put things in writing are reasons to keep looking.
Ask also about the order of work. Cleanup that starts before the moisture source is fixed, or before drying is under way, tends to be redone. A sensible plan puts the water fix first, the removal second, the drying third and the clearance last.
Cheap is not the same as thin. A fair bid shows its math in plain terms: how much area, which materials come out, how long the containment stays up and how many days of drying follow. When two bids differ widely, compare the scopes line by line before comparing totals, because the lower one often leaves out containment or drying.
Red flags
- No license number, or a number that does not match the company name on TDLR's search.
- A verbal quote with no written scope.
- Pressure to sign the same day or a story that you must act within hours.
- A test offered as a giveaway to lead into a cleanup sale.
- The same company inspecting, selling the cleanup and declaring the job clean.
- No mention of finding or fixing the moisture source.
- A promise that mold will never come back. Nobody can honestly say that.
Mold clearance for a home purchase
Some buyers learn that a lender will not fund a purchase until mold is removed. Lender rules differ and no company can promise a lender's decision, so start by asking the lender or title company what documentation it requires.
Commonly, parties look for an assessor's findings, a written remediation scope, evidence the moisture source was addressed and clearance paperwork once the work is done. Timelines depend on the size of the job, drying and any rebuild, so share the closing date with the company early.
Water first, mold second
A mold specialist can only succeed in a dry building. If the water is still present, a leak is unrepaired or materials remain wet, drying comes first through water mitigation by qualified crews. Ask whether the company can handle that step or coordinates with someone who can.
Ask, too, who does the rebuild. Mold crews remove and clean. Replacement drywall, flooring and paint typically follow after clearance, and the scope should say who does what.
What restoration can and cannot do
A qualified company can remove affected material, clean what can be cleaned, dry the structure and document the result. It cannot promise mold will not return, diagnose illness or tell you what exposure might mean for a person. Those questions belong to a physician.
Costs depend on the area affected, the materials, containment needs, drying days and equipment, and the rebuild scope. Scope and price should be explained before work starts. For questions on how a job could run, call the mold remediation team and bring your list of questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Texas licenses the roles separately, and many people prefer different companies so each one checks the other. If one company offers both, ask how it handles that conflict and who verifies the result.
Use TDLR's public license search. Enter the number or company name, confirm the license type and check that the name matches the person or company that quoted you.
Ask any company, including us, for license numbers and verify them on TDLR's public license search. That is a good habit with every contractor.
It is paperwork TDI advises insurance claimants to obtain showing the mold work was completed. Ask the company and the assessor what documents they issue and what they cover.
The state license is the main credential. For permits on related repairs, ask the City of Hurst Building Inspections office at City Hall. The city requires a permit for substantial damage, meaning repairs costing 50 percent or more of pre-damage market value.
Hiring Mold Help in Hurst
Hurst has about 39,000 residents and a median owner-occupied home value of $315,200, according to the Census. With that much value in a home, a mistake in vetting is expensive. Spending ten minutes on the TDLR license search before you sign is a small step against a large risk.
The City of Hurst says repairs costing 50 percent or more of a structure's pre-damage market value count as substantial damage and need a building permit through Building Inspections. If a mold and water loss is big, ask the city early so the scope matches permit needs.
Homeowners in Euless and North Richland Hills go through the same state licensing system, so the questions in this guide apply across the area. A company that is licensed in the state is licensed in all three cities, but you still need to read the written scope for your address.
Sources: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Texas Department of Insurance, Census QuickFacts, City of Hurst.