Basement seepage and plumbing leaks leave Portland floors and walls wet. We extract the standing water, set up dehumidifiers and air movers, and take moisture readings every day until the floors and framing test dry.
More about Water Damage
Available 24/7 · Portland and nearby areas
Mold Remediation in Portland, OR
Basement seepage, window condensation, or a failed window seal can feed mold. Our crew handles mold remediation in Portland, OR, finds the moisture behind it, and dries the space out. Call any time, day or night.
Call (503) 746-351345minutes
IICRC Certified Firm#70120685
We work with all major insurance carriers
Mold help
Mold in Portland homes
Many older homes have full basements built before modern waterproofing. Through the long rainy season, groundwater presses on old foundation walls. Moisture seeps in through cracks and where the wall meets the floor.
Converting basements into ADUs and family rooms has become common, and that’s where we often find mold. New drywall and carpet installed against damp concrete walls can trap moisture behind them, and growth stays hidden until there’s a smell.
Newer condos and apartments have the opposite problem. Tight buildings in the Pearl and South Waterfront hold in moisture from showers and cooking, and in winter it condenses on cold window frames. Long ice storm outages, like those in February 2021 and January 2024, let indoor humidity climb when heating stops.
Homeowners, property managers, and business owners across Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Clark, Columbia, and Yamhill counties call us about mold all year round.
Call Now (503) 746-3513Mold remediation at a glance
What’s included
Basement and ADU moisture control, containment, removing moldy finishes, HEPA cleaning, drying, and repairs.
Typical timeline
Window frames or a bathroom take a day or two. A finished basement or ADU can take a week or more.
How cost is set
Your estimate depends on how much basement or condo space is affected, what has to come out, the moisture source, and the rebuild.
First visit
Call (503) 746-3513A free inspection and estimate before any work starts.
Found mold?
What to do when you find mold
Finding mold is stressful, but you have time to do this right. Acting in the first day or two keeps it from spreading.
Not sure how big the problem is? Call and talk it through with our crew.
Call (503) 746-3513What to do
Look for the water
Check above and around the mold for a drip, a damp spot, or a stain. Stopping the water stops the mold from growing.
Bring the humidity down
Run the air conditioning or a dehumidifier. The EPA recommends keeping indoor humidity below 60%, ideally between 30% and 50%.
Take photos
Photograph the mold and any water damage before anything is cleaned. Your insurance company may ask for them.
Clean small spots the right way
For a patch under about 10 square feet, the EPA says you can usually clean it yourself with detergent and water. Wear gloves, eye protection, and a mask.
Keep sensitive people away
Anyone with asthma, allergies, or a weak immune system should stay out of the area until the mold is gone.
What not to do
Don’t scrub or sand it dry
Dry mold sends spores into the air and through the house. Keep the surface damp while you clean it, or leave it for a pro.
Don’t bleach it and paint over it
Bleach can whiten the surface, but on drywall and wood it doesn’t reach the mold growing inside. Paint over mold peels, and the mold keeps growing underneath.
Don’t point fans at it
Fans blowing across mold carry the spores into other rooms.
Don’t run the heat or air if the mold is in the ducts
The system will blow spores through the whole house. Leave it off until it’s been checked.
Don’t buy a test kit first
If you can see mold, the EPA says testing usually isn’t needed. Spend the money on finding the leak.
Where mold hides
Where we find mold in Portland homes
Around Portland, mold usually traces back to old basements, finished lower levels, or condensation in tight buildings.
Old Unfinished Basements
Groundwater seeps through older foundation walls through the rainy season.
Attics Under Mossy Roofs
Moss and clogged gutters push water under shingles into attic insulation.
Bathrooms in Pearl and South Waterfront Condos
Steam from showers in tightly built condo units lingers on ceilings and grout when fans are undersized or never run.
Window Frames
Warm indoor air turns to water on cold frames in Portland condos and older homes.
Basement ADUs and Family Rooms
Finishes installed against damp concrete trap moisture behind the walls.
Plumbing Leaks
Old galvanized pipes and newer fittings can leak slowly inside walls.
How we remove mold
How we remove mold
In Portland, mold returns unless basement seepage or indoor humidity is controlled. We find the source before anything else.
We contain the area. Plastic barriers and HEPA air scrubbers keep spores from rising out of the basement or spreading through a condo building.
We take out what’s been colonized. Basement drywall and carpet set against damp concrete, plus any insulation with growth, are removed, and concrete and old-growth framing are cleaned and treated.
We dry and rebuild smarter. Readings must match a dry room before repairs, and in basements we can suggest moisture-resistant materials for the rebuild.
What the signs usually mean
A mineral smell in an old basement
What it usually meansGroundwater seeping through the foundation
What to doRun a dehumidifier and have the walls checked.
A musty basement ADU after the first fall rains
What it usually meansMoisture trapped between new drywall and the old foundation wall
What to doHave the drywall opened at the base and the concrete checked.
Black spots on a condo’s aluminum or vinyl window frames each January
What it usually meansIndoor humidity condensing on cold frames
What to doRun fans, wipe frames daily, and have the sills and wall below checked.
Mildew on a bathroom ceiling in an older Portland home
What it usually meansSteam with no exhaust fan, common in 1920s bathrooms
What to doAdd or upgrade a fan; recurring growth needs a closer look.
Stains near the roofline
What it usually meansMoss or gutter overflow pushing water into the attic
What to doHave the roof, gutters, and attic checked.
A damp-concrete smell upstairs with nothing visible
What it usually meansGrowth behind basement finishes drifting up through the floor and ducts
What to doBook an inspection so we can take moisture readings below.
What can be saved
What can be cleaned and what gets replaced
Portland basements and condos vary, so what we clean or replace depends on the material, how long it stayed wet, and how far growth spread. The inspection confirms each item.
Concrete, tile, glass, and metal
Usually cleanedBasement walls and hard surfaces clean well once moisture is controlled.
Old-growth framing
Usually cleanedDense older lumber with surface growth can be cleaned and treated.
Window frames and sills
Depends on how deep it goesPainted or vinyl frames clean; soft wood is replaced.
Basement drywall
Depends on how deep it goesDrywall installed against damp concrete with growth is usually removed.
Fir floors
Depends on how deep it goesOld-growth fir floors with surface mold usually clean. Boards that cupped over a damp basement are replaced.
Basement carpet
Depends on how deep it goesCarpet over damp concrete with growth on the backing is replaced.
Furniture and stored items
Depends on how deep it goesSolid furniture usually cleans. Cardboard boxes, books, and fabrics stored in a damp basement often can’t be saved.
Photos and documents
Depends on how deep it goesOld photos, records, and books kept down in a damp basement are sometimes salvageable by a conservator if they’re moved upstairs quickly.
Insulation
Usually removedInsulation behind basement drywall and in attics that grew mold is pulled out and replaced.
Carpet pad
Usually removedPad with growth is replaced.
Particleboard furniture
Usually removedParticleboard shelving and dressers that swelled in a damp basement and grew mold are thrown out.
Do You Need a Mold Test?
Usually not. When the mold is visible and the cause is clear, like basement seepage or condo condensation, testing seldom changes the plan. It helps more when you smell mold but can’t find it, or when a buyer, tenant, or landlord needs documentation.
When testing helps, we’ll explain sampling and can bring in an outside tester if an ADU tenant or a buyer asks.
Stop the water behind the mold
Other restoration services we offer in Portland
Every job starts with a free inspection and estimate. Here’s how the 24 Hour Flood Pros team helps with each type of damage.
After a fire, soot and smoke odor settle into plaster and fir trim in older Portland homes. Soot is acidic and keeps staining surfaces, so cleanup starts early. We remove soot, treat odor at the source, clean what can be saved, and rebuild what can’t.
More about Fire and Smoke Damage
Windstorms, ice storms, and falling trees damage roofs. We dry the structure, remove damaged materials, and repair the ceilings and walls inside.
More about Storm Damage
Mold in a condo, a restaurant, or an office tower takes planning around residents. We extract, dry, and clean on a plan built around reopening, and we document each step for your carrier.
More about Commercial Restoration
When you’re ready to rebuild, the same crew puts it back together, from drywall to cabinets to the final coat of paint, so there’s no second contractor to hire.
More about ReconstructionDealing with one of these?
Call (503) 746-3513Call and talk to our crew about what happened. The call is free, and so is the inspection.
Our process
What happens after you call
- 1
You call, we send a crew
Call (503) 746-3513 any time, day or night, including weekends and holidays. Tell us what you’re seeing or smelling, and where. We’ll send a crew right away.
- 2
We inspect and find the source
The 24 Hour Flood Pros team looks for the moisture feeding the mold. We use moisture meters to find water hiding inside walls, under floors, and in the crawlspace. We take photos for your insurance. The inspection is free.
- 3
We close off the area
We seal the work area with plastic and set up HEPA air scrubbers, so spores don’t spread to clean rooms. The heat and air stay off in that area while we work.
- 4
We stop the moisture
We dry out the water and show you what’s causing it. If a plumber, a roofer, or an HVAC tech needs to fix a leak, we tell you before we go further.
- 5
We remove moldy materials
Drywall, insulation, and carpet pad with mold growing in them are cut out, bagged, and carried out. That way we only remove what really needs it.
- 6
We clean and dry what stays
Framing, subfloor, and other solid surfaces are HEPA-vacuumed, cleaned, and treated. Then we dry them until they read close to a dry room elsewhere in the house.
- 7
We make the repairs
When you’re ready, the 24 Hour Flood Pros team fixes the damage. We replace drywall, install cabinets, and finish with fresh paint. Our goal is to make your home look the way it did before.
- 8
Final check with you
Before we take the plastic down, we check the area for any mold or dust left behind. Then we walk through it with you and send the final records to your insurance company to close out the claim.
Musty basement aDU?
Call (503) 746-3513Finishes installed against damp concrete often hide mold. Call us for a free inspection.
Insurance and claims
Mold remediation and your insurance claim
Sometimes. Many homeowners policies cover mold when it comes from a sudden, covered water event, like a burst pipe or a water heater that gives out. Mold from a slow leak or ongoing humidity is often excluded, and some policies cap mold coverage at a set amount.
Your policy decides what’s covered, not us. We work with all major insurance carriers, including State Farm, Allstate, Liberty Mutual, Farmers, American Family, Travelers, and Nationwide, and we keep the paperwork clear enough that your claim doesn’t stall.
Report it soon after you find it. Waiting can make it harder to show the mold came from a sudden event.
If a claim stalls, you can file a complaint with Oregon’s Division of Financial Regulation.
What your adjuster will ask for
- When you first noticed the mold or the smell
- What caused the moisture, and when it started
- Photos of the mold and any water damage
- Receipts for any work already done on the leak
What we send them
- Date-stamped photos of each affected area
- Moisture readings showing where the water is
- A line-by-line estimate for removal and rebuild
- One point of contact for your adjuster
Where we work
Areas we serve around Portland
We serve Portland, its suburbs, and nearby southwest Washington.
Counties
- Multnomah County
- Washington County
- Clackamas County
- Clark County
- Columbia County
- Yamhill County
Nearby cities
- Gresham
- Beaverton
- Hillsboro
- Lake Oswego
- Tigard
- Tualatin
- Oregon City
- Milwaukie
- Happy Valley
- Vancouver
- St. Helens
- Newberg
Don't see your area listed? Call us and we'll tell you right away.
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Common questions
Portland mold remediation FAQs
How fast can 24 Hour Flood Pros get to me?
A crew can be there within 45 minutes. We work 24/7, including nights, weekends, and holidays, so you can call the moment you find mold or a leak.
Is black mold dangerous?
Any mold growing indoors should be removed, whatever its color. The CDC’s advice is that you don’t need to know the type of mold to deal with it. Mold can trigger allergies and asthma, so people with breathing problems or weak immune systems should stay away from it.
Can I clean mold myself?
For a small area, yes. The EPA says a patch under about 10 square feet, roughly 3 feet by 3 feet, can usually be cleaned with detergent and water while you wear gloves, eye protection, and a mask. Call a professional for anything larger, mold in the heating and air system, mold after sewage or flood water, or mold that keeps coming back.
Do I need a mold test before remediation?
Usually not if you can see the mold. Testing is most useful when you smell mold but can’t find it, or to confirm the cleanup worked.
Will the mold come back after remediation?
Not if the moisture is fixed. Mold comes back when the leak, the drainage problem, or the humidity is still there. That’s why every job starts with finding the source, and why we dry everything before the walls are closed.
Do I need to leave my home during mold remediation?
Usually not. We seal off the work area and filter the air, so most people stay home. For large jobs, or if someone in the house has breathing problems, we’ll tell you in advance if staying somewhere else makes sense.
How much does mold remediation cost in Portland?
It depends on how big the area is, what has to be removed, how hard it is to reach, and what it takes to stop the moisture. A bathroom wall costs far less than a whole crawlspace or attic. The inspection and estimate are free, so you know the cost before any work starts.
How long does mold remediation take?
A small area can take a few days. Crawlspaces, attics, and rooms that need rebuilding take longer. Your estimate includes a schedule.
Does Oregon require a license for mold remediation?
Oregon doesn’t issue a specific state license for mold remediation, so it’s worth checking a company’s training and certifications before you hire it. 24 Hour Flood Pros is an IICRC Certified Firm, #70120685.
Available 24/7
Get a free inspection
Day or night, weekend or holiday, call (503) 746-3513. A crew can be there within 45 minutes to start your free inspection.
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