Mold in Walls & Drywall in Palmetto, FL

A short local picture

Palmetto is a small historic city on the north bank of the tidal Manatee River, across from Bradenton, where U.S. 41 and U.S. 301 meet. About 31 percent of its homes are mobile homes, roughly 47 percent of housing was built before 1980, and the median build year is 1983. The city's flood guide describes Palmetto as extremely flat with numerous wetlands and floodplains, warns that areas outside mapped flood zones can still flood, and notes that a home that hasn't flooded before isn't guaranteed to stay dry. Along the immediate coast, the guide names storm surge as the greatest threat; the Riviera Dunes marina community sits right on the river.

What to do now

1. Stop the source if you can: shut off water, clear the AC drain, or cover a roof leak.
2. Photograph walls, ceilings and floors, including any water line.
3. In a mobile home, check the roof seams, windows and the underbelly for where water is getting in.
4. Start drying within 24 to 48 hours, as EPA advises.
5. Don't paint, caulk or spray over the growth.
6. Call your insurer; remember flood coverage is a separate policy, and Palmetto notes a 30-day waiting period on new flood policies.

What you see and what usually causes it

Cost factors

Angi reports Tampa-area wall remediation at $1,075 to $21,500 and overall mold jobs at $1,347 to $3,778; HomeAdvisor's typical figure is $1,248 to $2,550. What moves your price is the area opened, insulation and panels replaced, containment, and whether rebuilding is included. In a flood zone, repairs reaching 50 percent of a home's pre-damage value count as substantial damage and must meet new-construction standards. The City of Palmetto Building Department, at 601 17th Street W, issues permits, and City of Palmetto Code Enforcement handles minimum maintenance and health and safety complaints from renters.