Mold in Walls & Drywall in Roswell, GA

My house is old. Does that change the job?

It can. Roswell's National Register historic district includes antebellum homes such as Barrington Hall and Bulloch Hall, and the older streets around them hold houses that have been remodeled many times. Older walls may be plaster on wood lath rather than drywall, with gaps where newer plumbing and wiring were threaded through. Plaster can hide growth on the lath behind it, and taking it out makes more dust, so containment matters. A company used to older homes will cut conservatively, protect trim and flooring, and explain what can be saved. If the house is in the historic district, ask whether any exterior repairs need extra review before work starts.

We live near a creek. Is that why the basement wall is moldy?

It may be part of it. Roswell's southern boundary follows the Chattahoochee River, and Vickery Creek and Big Creek both run through the city. Homes on lower ground near water often sit in soil that stays wet after storms, and red clay drains slowly. A finished basement wall built against that soil can wick moisture up into the drywall from the bottom. Fixing it means more than replacing the board: grading, gutters, downspout extensions or foundation drainage may need attention first, or the new wall will grow mold too.

I rent. Who do I call about a leak in the wall?

Start with your landlord, in writing, and keep a copy. Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 44-7-13) requires landlords to keep rentals in repair, and Georgia does not allow tenants to withhold rent. The City of Roswell's Code Enforcement Division runs a multi-family inspection program, but the city says complaints about conditions inside rental units are usually civil landlord-tenant matters and points tenants to the Georgia Landlord Tenant Handbook. Georgia Legal Aid also has guidance on repairs. This is general information, not legal advice.

A local note on the rebuild

Roswell's Building Division handles permits, plans review and inspections, and all applications go through the city's online Permitting and Licensing HUB. Ask your contractor whether the drywall or framing work needs a permit before the wall is closed. The Fulton County Board of Health's complaint office says it does not respond to mold complaints.