Small-Area Mold Cleanup in Garland, TX: Understanding the 25-Square-Foot TDLR Rule

If you've found mold under a Garland bathroom sink or a dark patch on a closet wall, you've probably wondered who you're even allowed to call. Texas has a specific rule that decides this, and most homeowners have never heard of it. Here's a plain-English breakdown of the 25-square-foot threshold, what small-area cleanup we can legally handle, and how to tell which situation you actually have.

What the Texas TDLR 25-Square-Foot Rule Actually Says

In Texas, mold remediation is regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). The state requires a licensed mold remediation contractor for most mold jobs, but it carves out one important exception: cleanup of mold that affects less than 25 contiguous square feet does not require a TDLR mold license.

"Contiguous" is the word that trips people up. It doesn't mean the total mold scattered around your house added up. It means a single connected patch. A two-foot-by-two-foot area behind a vanity (four square feet) is well under the threshold. A wall where mold runs floor-to-ceiling across several feet is a different story and likely crosses the line.

Go Green Restoration is bonded, insured, IICRC-certified, and EPA Lead-Safe certified. We are not a TDLR-licensed mold remediation company, so we scope our mold work strictly to small areas under 25 contiguous square feet. When a job is larger or more widespread, we don't stretch the rules. We refer you to a licensed mold remediation contractor who can legally handle it.

What Small-Area Cleanup We Can Do in Garland

Plenty of Garland mold problems genuinely are small and localized, especially the ones caught early. A surprising number trace back to the same local sources. Many homes in Downtown Garland and South Garland were built in the 1960s through the 1980s, and those original cast iron sewer lines have been quietly corroding for decades. A slow leak under a slab or behind a wall can feed a contained patch of mold long before anyone smells it.

For these small, contiguous areas, we focus on doing the cleanup correctly and controlling the moisture that caused it. That typically includes:

• Containing the work area so spores don't spread during cleaning
• Cleaning the affected surface using EPA Lead-Safe certified methods, which matters in older Garland homes where lead paint may also be present
• Drying the area thoroughly and addressing the underlying moisture source, since mold always comes back if the water doesn't stop
• Confirming the affected area genuinely stays under 25 contiguous square feet before we proceed

That last point is not a formality. If we open up a wall and the problem is bigger than it looked, we stop and bring in a licensed remediator. We never claim to "remove all mold" or perform full remediation, because that's not what a small-area cleanup is, and it's not what we're licensed for.

How to Tell Which One You Have

You usually can't measure a mold problem accurately just by looking at the surface, but a few signs point toward the larger category that needs a TDLR-licensed contractor:

A patch bigger than roughly five feet by five feet, mold that keeps reappearing after you clean it, a persistent musty smell with no visible source, or staining that spreads across a whole wall or ceiling all suggest the problem is bigger than the surface shows. Flooding makes this especially likely. Properties near Lake Ray Hubbard that have taken on water during heavy rains often develop hidden mold inside wall cavities and under flooring, where a small visible spot can sit on top of a much larger contiguous area.

By contrast, a defined spot under a sink, around a window frame, or behind a toilet that's clearly contained and well under 25 square feet is the kind of thing small-area cleanup is built for. If you're unsure, that's normal. The honest answer often requires opening up the area to see the true extent, and that's exactly the assessment we provide.

Either way, you won't be stuck. If your situation is a small contiguous area, we'll handle the cleanup and the moisture control directly. If it's larger or widespread, we'll tell you plainly and connect you with a TDLR-licensed mold remediation contractor so the job gets done legally and right.

If you've spotted mold in your Garland home and want a straight answer about which category you're in, call Go Green Restoration at (469) 727-3217. We'll assess the area honestly, take care of the small-area cleanup we're certified to handle, and point you to the right licensed help if your situation calls for it.