Mold Testing in Lithonia, GA

Does flooding history mean my Lithonia house needs a test?

Not by itself, but it raises the stakes of any water that gets in. During the September 2009 Atlanta floods, the National Weather Service recorded the Yellow River at Georgia Highway 124 cresting at 27.47 feet against a 15-foot flood stage, and the Lithonia South River gauge cresting at 13.55 feet against a 12-foot flood stage. Lithonia itself is a small historic granite-quarrying town in eastern DeKalb County, about 16 miles from downtown Atlanta, that grew around the railroad and quarries starting in the 1840s. If your home has taken on water from storms, a leak or a backed-up drain, and materials did not dry within 24 to 48 hours, EPA says to assume mold is growing. Testing then helps map how far it went.

What does a lab report actually tell me?

It lists mold types and counts, typically beside an outdoor sample taken the same day. Indoor counts above outdoor levels, or different types indoors, suggest growth inside. It does not deliver a safe or unsafe verdict: there are no EPA or federal limits for mold spores, and Georgia DPH says mold testing has no enforceable state or federal standards. Color is not a guide to risk either. Ask the tester to connect each result to a room and to moisture readings.

What should I do after testing?

Fix the water source first, then get remediation bids from a written scope. For tear-out and rebuilding over $2,500, ask whether the company holds a Georgia residential or general contractor license, check it on the Secretary of State's GOALS Verify Now lookup, and confirm current rules with the state licensing board. Building permits fall under the City of Lithonia's Planning and Zoning office. Test again after remediation, before new drywall goes up. Angi's 2026 national data lists air and surface testing at $250 to $500, and HomeGuide's 2026 national figures list $100 to $300 per air sample.

Local resources

Renters with a leak the landlord has not fixed can contact City of Lithonia Code Enforcement after giving written notice. DeKalb Public Health handles indoor air and mold issues only for permitted facilities such as restaurants and hotels, but offers homeowners information to help identify problems.