Post-Flood Mold Removal in Pinellas Park, FL

What happens when you call

The number connects you with an independent local mold remediation company. Tell them where the water came from, which rooms it reached, how long ago it happened and whether anything has been pulled out. Expect a site visit with moisture readings at the base of walls and under flooring, a look at the air handler and ducts, and a written plan for containment, removal and drying. Don't let anyone close walls until readings show the framing is dry. If you want a clearance test at the end, Florida's s. 468.8419 means it comes from a separate mold assessor, not the company that did the removal.

What affects the cost

Angi reports a typical Tampa-area remediation range of $1,347 to $3,778, about $10 to $25 per square foot; HomeAdvisor's typical Tampa range is $1,248 to $2,550. Neither is a quote for your home. The main factors are:

• Square footage of wet drywall and flooring
• Whether insulation inside exterior walls is soaked
• Access under a manufactured home and the condition of its underbelly
• Air handler or duct contamination
• How many days the house sat wet

Local conditions

Pinellas County says everyone in the county lives in a flood zone, high, moderate or low risk, and that standard homeowners and renters policies typically don't cover flood. Its Flood Map Service Center shows a property's zone. Pinellas Park's housing leans older: the median home was built in 1978 and about 57 percent of units predate 1980. About 15 percent of units are mobile or manufactured homes, and roughly 31 percent of occupied homes are rented. After Hurricane Milton, the county told residents of flooded homes to remove wet contents as soon as possible to prevent mold and to clean and disinfect everything that got wet. The city runs its own building department on 78th Avenue North, which permits drywall and structural repairs inside city limits.

Checklist before the company arrives

• Photos of each wet room, the waterline and damaged items
• The water source shut off or the leak repaired
• AC off if water reached the air handler or ducts
• Insurance claim number, if you've opened one
• Renters: a copy of your written repair request to the landlord