Check the quote against the public record
We're the party on this page not selling remediation. Whether you actually need a pro per the EPA's own guidance, what the job should cost at your scope, and whether the company quoting you holds a current state license: all of it checkable and sourced.
Independent reference · no obligation
- 6,967 TX licenses, searchable
- EPA guidance, quoted with links
- Every price has a dated source
- No account needed
The mold industry grades its own homework. The record doesn't.
Almost everything a worried homeowner reads about mold is published by companies selling remediation. The public record tells a calmer story: the EPA says small areas usually don't need a pro, sampling is usually unnecessary, and the moisture fix is the part that matters. We put that record in one place: the guidance, the licenses, the price bands.
- No account needed
- EPA and CDC quoted, never paraphrased into fear
- License data straight from the state, dated
- Says when you don't need a pro, too
Start with what you're seeing
Eight ways mold shows up
What each usually means and the question it actually raises. None of these is a diagnosis, and per the EPA, the moisture source matters more than the mold's appearance.
A musty smell you can't place
Persistent musty odor usually means moisture somewhere air moves: under, behind, above. The smell is a moisture finding first and a mold finding second.
Black spots on the bathroom ceiling
The most common sight on the most common surface. Color doesn't identify the mold or its danger. Size and the moisture source are what matter.
Mold after a leak or flood
Wet materials grow mold fast, which is why drying within a day or two is the whole game. What matters now is what's still wet.
Spots spreading on walls or drywall
Surface mold on paint wipes off; mold growing from inside the wall comes back. Which one you have decides everything about scope.
Mold in the attic
Almost always a roof leak or ventilation problem wearing a mold costume. The fix is priced by the moisture cause, not the staining.
Mold around the AC or vents
Dust plus condensation on registers is common; growth inside the system itself is the version worth taking seriously.
Crawl space or basement mold
Ground moisture rising into framing. Remediation without moisture control here is a subscription, not a repair.
The home inspection flagged mold
An inspector's note is a reason for an assessment, not proof you need remediation. Sequence matters: independent eyes before removal quotes.
Holding a quote for one of these? Check the license and the price band before you sign anything.
📞 Call (775) 368-8921How to read a mold quote
Three checks before you sign anything
Do you need it at all?
The EPA's own guidance draws the line: small areas are usually a cleanup you can do yourself once the moisture is fixed; big areas, HVAC contamination and sewage-water mold are professional territory. Walk the decision with the EPA text.
Is the company licensed?
In Texas, mold assessment and remediation are licensed occupations, and the law separates the diagnoser from the remover on the same job. Look the company up in the state's own files. Thirty seconds, no account.
Is the price in band for the scope?
A contained bathroom patch, an attic, and a whole-house job are different work at different prices. A quote that names one number without naming its scope can't be compared to anything. The published bands, by scope, with dates.
Most mold quotes collapse three questions (is this necessary, is this company legitimate, is this price fair) into one scary number. Take them one at a time.
The moat
The Texas register, in numbers
Every mold license the state publishes, re-downloaded at each build. As of 2026-10-12:
| License category | Current | Total on file |
|---|---|---|
| Mold Assessment Company | 205 | 255 |
| Mold Assessment Consultant | 935 | 1,109 |
| Mold Assessment Technician | 239 | 360 |
| Mold Remediation Company | 472 | 599 |
| Mold Remediation Contractor | 827 | 1,013 |
| Mold Remediation Worker | 4,226 | 6,719 |
| Mold Analysis Laboratory | 63 | 71 |
Full company registers, by county: remediation · assessment. Source: TDLR public bulk files.
Assessment and remediation are separate license tracks in Texas by design, so the diagnosis and the sale don't come from the same hand.
Questions, answered
Mold quotes: what people ask
What is Mold Record?
An independent reference for anyone staring at a mold problem or a mold quote, built on public records: the EPA's own cleanup guidance, the state license registers that say who is actually licensed to do this work, and published cost guides, linked and dated wherever a page quotes a price. Nobody on this site is selling remediation.
Do I actually need professional mold remediation?
Often not. EPA guidance says small areas, up to about 10 square feet (roughly a 3 by 3 foot patch), can usually be cleaned up yourself if you fix the moisture source. Larger areas, contaminated HVAC systems, and mold from sewage or major flooding are where professionals earn their fee. Our do-you-need-it page walks the decision with the EPA text quoted directly.
How do I know if a mold company is legitimate?
In Texas, check the state register: mold assessment and remediation are licensed occupations, and every license is in TDLR's public files. Our lookup searches all of them, no account needed. In other licensing states (Florida and New York among them), use the official state search we link. Anywhere, get the scope in writing and be wary when the same party diagnosing the problem is selling the cure.
What does mold remediation cost?
Published national guides put typical whole-project costs in the low thousands, but the honest answer is by scope: a contained single-room job, an attic or crawl space, and a whole-house problem are different jobs with different prices. Our cost page carries the published bands with their dates and sources, and flags when a quote is out of band for its scope.
Should I pay for mold testing first?
Usually not for visible mold: EPA guidance says that in most cases, if visible mold is present, sampling is unnecessary. You already know you have mold, and the money is better spent fixing the moisture. Testing earns its cost in specific situations: a real-estate transaction that requires documentation, post-remediation verification, or a suspected hidden problem. Our testing page covers when it's worth it.
Is black mold dangerous?
The phrase carries more folklore than the agencies support. CDC's guidance is that you do not need to know the type of mold you have: all molds should be treated the same with respect to potential health risks and removal. People with asthma, mold allergies or weakened immune systems can have more severe reactions. That part is real, and it applies to molds generally. Our black mold page quotes the CDC text directly.
Disclaimer: Mold Record is a free service to assist homeowners in connecting with local service providers. All contractors/providers are independent and Mold Record does not warrant or guarantee any work performed. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to verify that the hired contractor furnishes the necessary license and insurance required for the work being performed. All persons depicted in a photo or video are actors or models and not contractors listed on Mold Record.
Scary is not the same as necessary.
The EPA wrote down when a mold problem needs a professional. The state wrote down who's licensed to be one. Read both before the quote decides for you.
Independent reference · no obligation.
What a call is for
Read the quote together. What was actually scoped — containment, removal, the moisture fix — and whether the price fits the published range for that scope.
Read the public record. Whether the company holds a current Texas license, and whether the same party is both diagnosing the mold and selling the cure — Texas law separates those roles.
Decide the next step. Sometimes an independent assessment first; sometimes a smaller scope; for a small area, sometimes a cleanup you can do yourself, per the EPA.
Independent — no obligation.