09/24/2026
We recently performed a mold assessment for a family who relocated from Tomball to Houston so they could be closer to the hospital while their critically ill son prepares to undergo a major, life-saving surgery.
The family rented a home and made their circumstances known.
During our assessment, we inspected a guest bathroom that had previously been remodeled. While investigating the bathtub plumbing access, visible microbial growth was discovered within the wall cavity separating the bathroom from the adjacent nursery.
Our assessment then moved into the adjacent nursery.
The childâs crib was positioned directly against the shared wall with the bathroom. Several electrical outlets were located directly behind the area where he sleeps. When an outlet cover was removed as part of the assessment, heavy visible microbial growth was discovered within the wall cavity.
There was also obvious moisture damage to the flooring in the nursery. Based on the condition and appearance of the affected materials, neither the moisture damage nor the microbial growth appeared to be recent.
Knowing that this bathroom had previously been remodeled, while longstanding moisture damage and microbial growth remained concealed within the adjoining wall cavity, raises serious questions about what conditions may have been present or observable during that renovation.
This is difficult to see under any circumstance. Knowing that this family moved into the home specifically to be closer to medical care for their critically ill child makes the situation especially upsetting.
In the same home, the dishwasher was pulled away from the wall and again a heavy presence of mold growth was discovered.
This is also why a proper mold assessment cannot consist of simply walking through a property and looking at exposed surfaces.
Moisture damage and microbial growth can exist behind plumbing, beneath flooring, inside wall cavities, around electrical penetrations, and in areas that may appear completely normal from the occupied space.
environment.
Sometimes the most significant conditions are the ones hidden behind the wall.