Commercial Mold Remediation in Austell, GA

Signs your building needs attention

• Water lines or tide marks on lower walls from past flooding
• A musty smell in a back room or lower level after heavy rain
• Swollen, stained drywall along the base of exterior walls
• Mold on stored goods, records or furniture kept on the floor
• Carpet that stays damp near doors facing the creek side
• Rust and growth around a dripping air handler

Austell conditions

Austell, incorporated in 1885 and about 15 miles west of downtown Atlanta, grew up around a railway depot where two Norfolk Southern lines meet, on level ground along Sweetwater Creek. Most of the city is in Cobb County, with a small part in Douglas. Sweetwater Creek, a Chattahoochee tributary, flows through town, and Olley Creek has a National Weather Service gauge listed at Austell. In the September 2009 floods, Austell was among the hardest-hit places, with five major streams overflowing. NWS gauges there went far above flood stage: Sweetwater Creek crested at 30.80 feet against a 10-foot flood stage and Olley Creek at 27.40 feet against 12, and NWS says the Sweetwater Creek basin rose to the 500-year flood level. Buildings on low, level ground near the creeks can take on water again in extreme rain, and EPA advises assuming mold when a flooded building couldn't be dried within 24 to 48 hours.

What drives cost

Angi's Atlanta cost guide reports about $12 to $29 per square foot for residential remediation, a floor for commercial work. Austell jobs cost more when they involve:

• Removing flood-soaked drywall, insulation and flooring across large areas
• Drying slabs and wall cavities before removal can finish
• Disposing of damaged stock and furnishings
• Cleaning or replacing ductwork that took on water
• Rebuilding to a higher standard so the next flood does less damage

What happens when you call

You'll be connected with an independent local company. Explain whether the water came from the creek, the roof or plumbing, and how long the building stayed wet. Expect moisture mapping and a written scope. Austell's Community Affairs Department issues all building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits, so rebuild work goes there. Cobb & Douglas Public Health states it does not have authority over mold in private residences or rentals.