Mold after water damage: what to do and what not to guess

The short answer

EPA says to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours. If mold is already there and the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet, EPA's guide treats that as a size you can clean up yourself. Larger areas are for a professional.

What this page does not do is tell you how to test for mold, how to remove it or what it does to your health. We did not find enough in the official sources we read to say that responsibly, and Hildebrand does not do mold remediation. We can tell you what the agencies say and what happens in the rebuild.

Moisture comes first

EPA's guide is called a brief guide to mold, moisture and your home, and its first advice on water damage is about drying, not scrubbing.

Both EPA and FEMA put a number on the clock. EPA: dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours. FEMA: items that cannot be properly cleaned and dried within 24 to 48 hours must be discarded.

One thing we checked and could not confirm: that mold "begins growing" at exactly 24 to 48 hours. EPA's wording is about drying within that window to prevent growth, so that is how we state it.

The 10 square foot line

EPA says a do-it-yourself cleanup applies when the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet. That is roughly a 3 foot by 3 foot patch. Past that size, the same guide points to a professional.

Two notes from us. First, "about 10 square feet" is EPA's own hedge, so measure honestly. Second, if wet drywall or insulation stayed wet past the 24 to 48 hour window, FEMA says to discard it, whatever the stain looks like.

What happens to wet drywall and insulation

FEMA's guidance is to remove all drywall and insulation that has been in contact with floodwaters. For material that got wet some other way, the 24 to 48 hour rule applies: if it cannot be dried in that time, discard it. Our guide on water-damaged drywall goes through this in more detail.

Where the rebuild fits

There are two jobs after water damage, and they are done by different people. One is mold cleanup or remediation. The other is rebuilding what had to be removed: drywall, framing, finish work and paint. The second job is ours. The first is not.

Before a rebuild starts, Manatee County's post-storm guidance says to obtain permits before starting repairs. Drywall repair outside a flood zone may not need a permit, and the scope of work decides. Homes in a flood zone need a Substantial Damage Review. Our guide on storm damage repair steps has the full order.

How Hildebrand handles it

Hildebrand does home restoration after storm or water damage. That means drywall, framing and finish work. We do not do mold remediation, and we will not tell you a wall is clear of mold. If your home needs remediation, that is done first by a separate professional, and we rebuild after.

We document the damage and coordinate the construction scope with your insurance adjuster, then rebuild to code. We do not negotiate your claim. Plumbing and electrical are done by licensed trade partners that we manage and coordinate, so a leak source can be dealt with as part of the repair.

The visit and written estimate are free. We are open Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, and have no emergency or after-hours service. See our process and our guarantee.

Questions homeowners ask