Crawl Space Mold Removal in Austell, GA

Signs of crawl space mold

• A musty smell inside, worse after rain or on humid days
• Water lines or mud on foundation walls under the house
• Growth on joists, beams or the subfloor
• Wet, sagging or fallen insulation
• Floors that feel soft or have started to buckle
• Rust on nails, straps and duct hangers

Local conditions in Austell

Austell is a small south Cobb city about 15 miles west of downtown Atlanta that grew up around a railroad junction on level terrain along Sweetwater Creek. During the September 2009 floods it was among the hardest-hit places, with five major streams overflowing. National Weather Service gauges listed at Austell recorded Sweetwater Creek cresting at 30.80 feet against a 10-foot flood stage and Olley Creek at 27.40 feet against a 12-foot stage, and NWS says the Sweetwater Creek basin rose to the 500-year flood level. Homes that took on water then, or in smaller floods since, may still have damaged framing or insulation under the floor. EPA's post-disaster guidance says to assume mold growth if a flooded home could not be dried within 24 to 48 hours. Even without flooding, flat ground near creeks drains slowly, and humid summers keep crawl spaces damp.

What affects the price

Angi's Atlanta cost guide lists crawl space mold remediation at $587 to $2,348, with crawl space encapsulation from about $5,000. Price factors include:

• Size of the space and how much framing shows growth
• How much flood-damaged insulation, barrier and debris must go
• Replacement of rotted joists, sill plates or subfloor
• Access and clearance
• Drainage, sump or humidity control added to the job

What happens when you call

You will be connected with an independent mold remediation company that serves Austell. They will ask about flooding history, leaks and what you have noticed, then visit to crawl the space, take moisture readings and write a scope. Building permits for structural repairs come from the City of Austell Community Affairs Department at 5000 Austell-Powder Springs Rd. Renters with unrepaired leaks can file with the Austell Code Enforcement Division, which enforces the International Property Maintenance Code; complaints must be signed, as anonymous ones are not acted on.