Mold Remediation in Stone Mountain, GA

The village under the mountain

The City of Stone Mountain was chartered as New Gibraltar in 1839 and renamed in 1847. Locals call it Stone Mountain Village to tell it apart from the larger unincorporated Stone Mountain area and Stone Mountain Park. The village covers about 1.7 square miles at the western base of the granite formation, had about 6,700 residents at the 2020 Census, and lies roughly 13 miles from downtown Atlanta. Much of it falls inside a historic district, along with Main Street, Ridge Avenue, the Shermantown neighborhood and the ART Station in the old trolley car barn.

Call City Hall before you rebuild

The City of Stone Mountain Building and Permits Department at City Hall, 875 Main Street, (770) 498-8984, issues building, electrical, HVAC and plumbing permits. The city asks residents to contact City Hall before beginning any construction, even if they think no permit is needed. Buildings in the Historic District may also need historic permits for repair work. After a mold job, replacing siding, windows, trim or framing could fall under that review, so ask early and build the timing into your plans.

Moisture in older houses

Many homes in the village have stood for generations. Over that time, roofs, porches and plumbing have been repaired and changed, and every joint is a potential leak. Common sources include:

• Porch roofs and their connection to the main wall.
• Crawl spaces where humid summer air condenses on ducts and joists.
• Exterior walls behind gutters that overflow during heavy storms.
• Kitchens and bathrooms with older plumbing.

EPA recommends drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours and keeping humidity below 60 percent.

Renters and health

Code Enforcement for the village is handled through City Hall at the same number. Before filing, send your landlord a written repair request and keep a copy, as Georgia Legal Aid advises. Under O.C.G.A. 44-7-13 the landlord must keep the premises in repair. Georgia doesn't allow rent withholding. This is general information, not legal advice.

DeKalb Public Health says its Environmental Health Division addresses mold only in permitted facilities such as restaurants and hotels. EPA says mold can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs, and people with asthma or weakened immune systems should stay away from moldy areas.

Hiring

Georgia has no state mold license or certification. Ask whether the company holds a Georgia residential or general contractor license if rebuilding is involved, check it on GOALS Verify Now, and make sure it knows the village's historic permit process.