Your Mold Journey: 3 Steps From Inspection to Resolution
Every home is different. Some mold concerns can be resolved after the initial assessment, while others need a mold remediation protocol and follow-up testing. Explore the three steps below to understand what may be needed for your home.
Save or print this one-page guide to follow the three steps as you go.
Download the One-Page Mold Roadmap (PDF) ↓Step 1. Mold AssessmentFind out what is happening and where the moisture is coming from. ▾ Open this step
A mold assessment looks for mold, moisture, and the conditions that allow mold to grow. The assessor may use a visual inspection, moisture tools, and samples when useful.
Who can do it? Mold assessment and sampling services in Texas generally require a TDLR-licensed Mold Assessment Technician (MAT) or Mold Assessment Consultant (MAC), subject to legal exemptions. A MAT works under a MAC's supervision. Check the person's license before hiring them.
Find the source of the mold and moisture problem.
The assessor explains where the problem is and what needs to happen next.
Depending on the affected area and who performs the work, you may be able to arrange small-area cleanup or you may need a licensed remediator working from a formal protocol. The assessor should explain which path applies.
The first visit did not identify a clear source.
Possible next steps include carefully opening concealed areas, inspecting the attic or HVAC system, DNA dust testing, or a trained mold-detection dog.
If the home still is not identified as the source, consider other places you spend time and other environmental factors such as allergens, VOCs, water quality, or radon. Discuss ongoing symptoms with a health professional.
Check a TDLR license · Texas mold assessment FAQs
Mold assessment FAQs
How do I find a qualified mold professional in Texas?
Check the person's active license in the TDLR license search. Ask who will visit your home, who supervises the work, and who will prepare any protocol you may need.
What is the difference between a MAT and a MAC?
A Mold Assessment Technician (MAT) performs permitted assessment activities under a licensed Mold Assessment Consultant's (MAC's) supervision. A MAC can prepare and sign a mold remediation protocol. If a MAT visits your home, ask which MAC is responsible for the project.
Do I always need mold samples?
Not every concern needs the same tests. The assessment professional should explain which tests will answer your questions and what the results can and cannot tell you.
What if the first assessment does not find the source?
Ask what areas could not be inspected and whether further investigation makes sense. Hidden moisture, HVAC systems, and other buildings where you spend time may need to be considered.
Do you need to move on to Step 2?
Not every mold concern needs a remediation protocol. If the assessment finds no mold problem that needs cleanup, or a small area can be safely addressed without licensed remediation, your journey may end after Step 1.
If a licensed mold remediation company is needed, continue to Step 2 for a formal mold remediation protocol and cleanup.
Step 2. Protocol & RemediationMake a plan, hire the right professional, and fix the problem. â–¾ Open this step
A mold remediation protocol is a written plan that tells the cleanup company what needs to be done, how to keep mold from spreading, and how the work will be checked when it is finished.
Who prepares the mold remediation protocol in Texas?
In Texas, a licensed Mold Assessment Consultant (MAC) prepares and signs the protocol. A Mold Assessment Technician (MAT) may help with the assessment under a MAC's supervision but cannot independently write or sign the protocol. The plan identifies the work areas, what materials need cleaning or removal, safety measures, and the checks needed before rebuilding. The MAC must give the client the protocol at least one calendar day before remediation begins. The remediation company then prepares its own work plan for carrying it out.
Mold remediation: The remediation company carries out the cleanup using the protocol. Before work begins, confirm who will fix the moisture source, what is included in the price, and who pays if the work fails verification. When cleanup is complete, move on to Step 3 for post-remediation verification (PRV), before rebuilding or covering the work.
Important Texas rules: The company assessing the mold cannot also perform remediation on the same project. If you hire a licensed mold remediation contractor, the contractor must follow a protocol written by a licensed MAC, even when the affected area is smaller than 25 contiguous square feet. Certain small-area cleanup projects performed by unlicensed people are exempt; those exemptions do not remove the requirements for a licensed contractor.
Read the Texas mold rules and exemptions.
Protocol and remediation FAQs
What is a mold remediation protocol?
It is a written plan prepared by a licensed Mold Assessment Consultant (MAC). It tells the remediation company which areas need work, what to clean or remove, how to keep mold from spreading, and how the work will be checked when it is finished.
Can the company that assesses my home also remove the mold?
Texas generally requires assessment and remediation to be performed by independent parties on the same project. Check the TDLR rules for the exemptions that apply to particular work.
Do I need a protocol for a small area?
Some small-area work is exempt from state licensing requirements. But when you hire a Texas-licensed mold remediation contractor, that contractor must follow a protocol prepared by a licensed MAC, even for a small project.
What should I agree on before hiring a remediation company?
Get a written scope and price. Ask who fixes the leak, who pays for unexpected work, whether rebuilding is included, and who pays for a second verification visit if the first one fails. Share the protocol and your assessment professional's contact details with the remediation team.
When is Step 2 finished?
When the remediation team says the cleanup is complete and ready to be checked. Do not cover the work with new finishes before the required post-remediation verification in Step 3.
Step 3. Post-Remediation Verification (PRV)Check the work before rebuilding. â–¾ Open this step
Post-remediation verification (PRV) is an independent check after mold cleanup. It helps confirm that the affected area has been cleaned properly, the moisture problem has been addressed, and the work meets the pass criteria in the remediation protocol. It takes place before the area is rebuilt or closed up.
A licensed Mold Assessment Consultant (MAC) checks the cleaned area against the protocol. This usually includes looking for remaining visible mold, dust or debris, checking that affected materials are clean and dry, and confirming the moisture source was addressed. The MAC also takes any air or surface samples required by the protocol. Samples are sent to a laboratory when needed. The MAC reviews the findings and results before deciding whether the area passes or needs more work.
The remediation company fixes any remaining mold, dust, moisture or other issues found. The affected area must be checked again and meet the protocol's pass criteria before clearance.
If the work meets the protocol's pass criteria, the MAC documents the results. Once the required clearance is issued, the area can be closed up and rebuilt.
Schedule the PRV before new drywall, flooring, or other finishes hide the work. Ask the remediator in advance who pays if the job fails PRV and the assessor must return.
Read TDLR's Consumer Mold Information Sheet.
Post-remediation verification FAQs
What is PRV?
Post-remediation verification (PRV) is a check of the completed cleanup against the protocol. The licensed Mold Assessment Consultant (MAC) may inspect the area, review the work, and collect samples when required by the protocol.
When does post-remediation verification happen?
PRV happens after the remediation company finishes the cleanup, but before the area is rebuilt or covered with new drywall, flooring, or other finishes. Book the visit with a licensed Mold Assessment Consultant (MAC) before remediation starts, so the timing is clear to everyone. If the protocol requires walk-in containment, leave it in place until verification is complete. If the work does not pass, the remediation company must fix the remaining issues before it can be checked again.
What happens if the project fails PRV?
The remediation company must address the remaining problems, then the work is checked again as needed. Before hiring the company, agree in writing who pays for repeat visits and tests.
When can rebuilding start?
Wait until the required verification has passed and the area is cleared for rebuilding. Do not replace drywall or other finishes before the work has been checked.
For the official requirements, visit the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation's mold program. Licensing rules have exceptions, so check which apply to your project.
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