Mold Inspection in Acworth, GA

The inspection in six steps

1. Background. You explain any leaks, flooding, smells and repairs, and which rooms bother you most.
2. Site and drainage. The inspector looks at how rain moves across the lot, where downspouts empty, and whether soil slopes toward the house.
3. Roof and attic. Decking, vents, insulation and the AC condensate pan.
4. Living areas. Moisture readings at baseboards, windows and around plumbing.
5. Lower level. Basement walls, crawl space framing and ductwork.
6. Write-up. Photos, readings, causes and a scope you can use for bids.

Acworth conditions

Acworth calls itself "The Lake City." It sits along the southeastern banks of Lake Acworth and Lake Allatoona in the foothills of the North Georgia mountains, about 27 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta, and spans parts of Cobb and Cherokee counties. Homes on lake-facing slopes may have walk-out basements, with one wall cut into the hill. That wall takes groundwater after storms, and finished basements hide it well. Older houses near Main Street, which follows the old Western and Atlantic Railroad, are more likely to have crawl spaces, older plumbing and roofs that have been patched over the years. Add Atlanta's humid summers and a cooling season that keeps the AC running for months, and attics and crawl spaces get plenty of chances to collect condensation.

Cost at a glance

A large lake home with a finished walk-out basement will typically sit higher in the range than a small one-story house.

Hiring and local contacts

Georgia has no state mold license or certification. Ask about voluntary training, request a sample report, and consider an inspector who is independent of the cleanup company. Cobb & Douglas Public Health says it has no authority to address mold in private homes or rental properties. It notes that tenants with mold caused by a mechanical or structural failure may contact their local building inspections department, which may be able to address the moisture problem. Acworth posts its building permit information on the city's Permits, Applications & Ordinances page, and residents can file code concerns through the Report Code Violation form on the city website.