Mold in Walls & Drywall in Waleska, GA

Local conditions in Waleska

Waleska is a small Cherokee County city of about 900 people, roughly 40 miles from Atlanta and about 7 miles northwest of Canton, built around Reinhardt University. Lake Arrowhead, a residential reservoir community, lies about 2 miles west of town. Cherokee County was one of four Georgia counties designated for FEMA Individual Assistance after the September 2009 floods.

In a rural setting, walls get wet in familiar ways. Homes on wells may have pressure tanks and supply lines in closets where a slow leak goes unnoticed. Hillside lots often put finished lower levels against clay that stays damp after rain. Long humid summers and strong thunderstorms test roofs, windows and door thresholds. Cabins and lake homes that sit closed up for stretches can build up humidity with no one there to notice. Student rentals near campus see the same problems, and a short written note to the landlord the day a stain appears creates a useful record.

Cleaning the surface vs removing the drywall

EPA says porous materials may have to be thrown away if moldy and that mold should never be painted or caulked over.

Signs to watch for

• A stain on a wall after a hard rain
• Paint bubbling near a shower or tub
• Drywall that gives under pressure at the base
• Black specks on the back wall of a closet
• A musty smell when you open up a seldom-used house or room
• Trim around an exterior door that has darkened or softened

One sign on its own may be minor. Several together, especially near plumbing or on the uphill side of a hillside house, usually mean the wall needs a closer look.

Timing

Deal with active leaks right away; EPA says wet materials should dry within 24 to 48 hours. A house that has been closed up over a humid summer is worth checking as soon as you return. For the rebuild, the Cherokee County Development Service Center handles building permits for the City of Waleska as well as unincorporated Cherokee County, so ask there whether your job needs one.