Black Mold Removal in Canton, GA

Does the Etowah River raise the risk for my house?

It can, depending on where you live. Canton, the Cherokee County seat of about 33,000 people roughly 34 miles north of Atlanta, has the Etowah River flowing east to west through the center of the city, and Hickory Log Creek Reservoir lies to the north. In the September 2009 floods, NWS listed a gauge in the Etowah basin near Canton above flood stage, and Cherokee County was one of four Georgia counties designated for FEMA Individual Assistance. Homes on lower ground near the river or its tributaries can see wet crawl spaces and damp lower levels after heavy rain. Homes on higher ground are more likely to get dark mold from roof leaks, plumbing and summer humidity.

Should I test it to find out what it is?

Usually not. EPA says sampling is generally unnecessary when mold is visible, and there are no EPA or federal limits for mold or spores. You cannot judge risk by color, and every species is removed the same way. Testing is more useful after cleanup, to confirm the area was cleaned well, or when you smell mold but cannot find it. Angi recommends using a separate company for testing so the check is independent of the company doing the removal.

Who can I call locally about mold?

Cherokee County Environmental Health, part of the North Georgia Health District, has an office on Bluffs Parkway in Canton. It receives mold complaints and gives information, but it does not inspect residences, because there are no enforceable mold standards. For repair work after the mold is removed, check with the City of Canton about building permits before replacing walls or framing. Georgia has no state mold license; ask whether the company holds a Georgia residential or general contractor license and look it up on GOALS Verify Now.

A local note

Canton was a mill town until the denim mills closed in 1981, and older homes near downtown and Main Street often sit over crawl spaces with long-patched plumbing. Angi's Atlanta cost guide lists crawl space remediation at $587 to $2,348, and a typical job overall at $1,249 to $4,363.