Mold in an Avondale Estates wall means water has been reaching the inside of the wall, through old plumbing, a roof or chimney leak, window gaps or damp ground at a lower wall. Good repair finds that source, removes only the damaged material, dries the framing and rebuilds without losing more original finish than necessary. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local mold remediation company in Avondale Estates.
Older walls in a planned 1920s community
Avondale Estates is a small DeKalb County city about 7 miles east of downtown Atlanta, founded in 1924 as a planned community by George Francis Willis and known for its Tudor-style homes and downtown. Houses from that era have usually seen a century of roof patches, plumbing changes and paint. Walls may be plaster rather than drywall, with wood lath behind, and steep roofs, chimneys and dormers create many spots where rain can work its way in. Water that gets behind plaster can stay there a long time because plaster does not show stains as quickly as painted drywall.
Lake Avondale sits within the city, and the zoning ordinance requires building site plans to show the 100-year floodplain boundary. For most homes, though, wall moisture comes from the roof, gutters and plumbing rather than the lake.
Patch repair or full section replacement?
| Situation | Patch repair | Full section replacement |
|---|---|---|
| Small, dry stain from a fixed leak | Often enough after cleaning and checking behind | Not usually needed |
| Growth on the back of plaster or lath | Rarely enough | Remove affected area, clean framing |
| Wet insulation in an exterior wall | Not possible | Open the bay, replace insulation |
| Long-running leak with soft wood | Not possible | Replace damaged framing too |
EPA advises against painting or caulking over mold, so a patch only works once the material behind it is clean and dry.
Signs to check
- Plaster that bulges, flakes or sounds hollow when tapped
- Stains around a chimney breast or under a dormer window
- Musty odor in an upstairs closet tucked under the roofline
- Dark staining at the base of walls in a lower level
Timing notes
Roof and gutter problems show up after the heavy storms of spring and summer, and hidden growth spreads fastest in the humid months that follow. Check closets and under-eave rooms after big storms. In Avondale Estates, the city manager issues building permits and the Planning and Community Development department oversees them, so check with the city before major wall or framing work. The DeKalb County Board of Health and Georgia DPH's mold page can help with health questions.
Mold in Walls & Drywall questions in Avondale Estates
How much drywall usually has to be cut out?
Can I paint over mold on drywall?
Do I need a permit to replace drywall after mold removal?
Is dark mold in a wall black mold, and is it worse?
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