Signs you're past DIY territory
- Growth covering more than about 10 square feet
- Mold returning after you've cleaned it
- A musty smell you can't locate
- Mold appearing after known water damage — inside closets, behind furniture on exterior walls, or around bathroom ceilings
- Family members with worsening allergy or respiratory symptoms at home
What professional remediation involves
Containment with negative air pressure so spores don't spread during removal; HEPA air filtration; removal of contaminated porous materials; cleaning and treatment of structural surfaces; and drying or repair of the moisture source. In Texas, larger jobs (over 25 contiguous square feet) fall under state mold remediation rules with licensed assessors and remediators — a legitimate crew will know exactly where that line is.
Texas requires certain mold remediation work to be performed by state-licensed remediators, and homeowners receive a Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation (CMDR) after qualifying jobs — which matters when you later sell the home. Ask about it when discussing larger jobs.