Mold Remediation in Ball Ground, GA

Foothills town

Ball Ground is a small city in northern Cherokee County, chartered as a town in 1883, with about 2,600 residents at the 2020 Census. It sits at the foothills of the North Georgia mountains, about 41 miles north of downtown Atlanta in a straight line, and its downtown is a National Register historic district. Interstate 575 (Exit 27 at Howell Bridge Road), Ball Ground Highway (SR 5) and SR 372 connect it to the rest of the county. Gibbs Gardens and Calvin Farmer Park draw visitors.

Two kinds of houses

Ball Ground's housing ranges from historic homes built between the 1880s and 1920s to subdivisions built since 1997.

Older homes often sit on crawl spaces or piers with original framing. Humid summer air under the floor can condense on cool ducts and joists. Roofs, chimneys and window flashing have usually been patched more than once, and leaks can run inside plaster walls for a long time.

Newer homes are tighter, which helps with drafts but can trap moisture from cooking, showers and laundry if ventilation is weak. Slow leaks from supply lines, ice makers or a shower pan can soak drywall before anyone notices.

Storms

During the September 2009 floods, the National Weather Service gauge on Sharp Mountain Creek at Ballground reached its 18-foot flood stage on September 21. Cherokee County was one of four counties designated for FEMA Individual Assistance after those floods. EPA says if materials couldn't be dried within 24 to 48 hours after flooding, assume mold is growing.

Health department role

Cherokee County Environmental Health, part of the North Georgia Health District, has its office on Bluffs Parkway in Canton. It takes mold complaints and gives information, but it doesn't inspect residences, because there are no enforceable mold standards. EPA says mold can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs; people with asthma or weakened immune systems should stay away from moldy areas. Health questions go to a health professional.

Permits and renting

If mold removal leads to replacing framing, subfloor or walls, ask Ball Ground City Hall which office issues building permits for your address. Renters should know Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 44-7-13) requires landlords to keep the premises in repair; give written notice and keep a copy. Georgia doesn't allow rent withholding. This is general information, not legal advice.

Hiring

Georgia has no state mold license or certification. For older homes, ask how the company will handle plaster and original trim. For any rebuild, confirm a Georgia residential or general contractor license on GOALS Verify Now. When you call the number on this page, you'll be connected with an independent local company that works in Ball Ground.