Commercial Mold Remediation in Canton, GA

Does the Etowah River matter for a Canton business?

It can. The Etowah River flows east to west through the center of Canton, and Hickory Log Creek Reservoir lies north of downtown. During the September 2009 floods the National Weather Service listed a gauge in the Etowah basin near Canton above flood stage, and Cherokee County was one of four counties designated for FEMA Individual Assistance on September 24, 2009. Commercial property on low ground near the river, the stretch followed by Heritage Park and the Etowah River Greenway, can carry damp foundations and high humidity in lower levels. If a building took water then, have suspect walls and floors opened under containment rather than assuming they dried.

What about older mill-era buildings downtown?

Canton was a mill town, home to Canton Denim until the mills closed in 1981, before it grew into a fast-moving I-575 suburb of about 33,000 people some 34 miles from Atlanta. Its revitalized downtown around Main Street and the Canton Theatre includes older masonry buildings that have been renovated in stages. Those layers can hide old leaks: new drywall over damp brick, ceilings installed below failing roofs, plumbing extended through old walls. Newer offices near Bluffs Parkway and retail along Riverstone Boulevard have the more common problems of flat roofs, rooftop units and condensate lines over drop ceilings.

Who looks at mold complaints, and who fixes it?

Cherokee County Environmental Health, part of the North Georgia Health District at 1130 Bluffs Parkway, receives mold complaints and provides information, but it does not inspect residences, and Georgia DPH says indoor mold has no enforceable state or federal standards. The repair falls to the owner or tenant under the lease. For anything over about 10 square feet, EPA's commercial guide is the usual framework: containment, negative air, the serving air handler shut down, porous materials removed, hard surfaces cleaned, and a written record. Angi recommends an independent assessor for the before-and-after check.

A local note

If walls, ceilings or mechanical systems are replaced after remediation, check with the City of Canton about permits for work inside city limits. Georgia has no mold license, so verify any rebuild contractor's Georgia license on the GOALS Verify Now lookup.