Mold Remediation in Jonesboro, GA

The county seat

Jonesboro has been Clayton County's seat since well before most of the surrounding suburbs existed. The city incorporated in 1859 and grew as a stop on the old Macon and Western rail line. It's small, with about 4,200 residents at the 2020 Census, and sits roughly 16 miles south of downtown Atlanta in a straight line. The Jonesboro Historic District along Main Street, the Stately Oaks house, Flint River Baptist Church and Tara Stadium are local landmarks, and the town is tied in popular memory to the fictional Tara of Gone with the Wind. Clayton County International Park is here too.

Older houses, familiar problems

A historic downtown usually means a share of older homes, and older homes in the Atlanta area often sit on vented crawl spaces. In a long, humid Georgia summer, outside air drifts under the floor, meets cool ductwork and framing, and condenses. Add red clay that holds water after a thunderstorm and a crawl space can stay damp for months. Original plumbing, aging roofs and window flashing add more chances for a slow leak.

Clayton County was among the Georgia counties under a state of emergency during the September 2009 floods. Whether the water comes from a storm or a pipe, EPA's advice holds: dry wet materials within 24 to 48 hours, and if that wasn't possible, assume mold is growing. Porous materials such as carpet and ceiling tiles may have to be thrown out.

Permits and complaints

Building permits for addresses inside city limits go through Jonesboro City Hall on City Center Way, which has a building permits page. If mold removal means replacing joists, subfloor or wall framing, ask City Hall whether the rebuild needs a permit before work starts.

For a rental with an unrepaired leak, ask City Hall which office handles property maintenance or housing code complaints. Georgia Legal Aid advises calling the local housing code office when a landlord won't make repairs. Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 44-7-13) requires landlords to keep the premises in repair. Give notice in writing and keep a copy. Georgia does not allow rent withholding. This is general information, not legal advice.

Health

The Clayton County Board of Health's environmental health office is right in Jonesboro on Battlecreek Road. Georgia's Department of Public Health notes that indoor air quality in private homes isn't a regulated state program. EPA says mold can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs, and that people with asthma or weakened immune systems should stay away from moldy areas. Bring health concerns to a health professional.

Who you'll talk to

Calling the number on this page connects you with an independent local company. Georgia has no mold license, so ask how they'll seal off the work area, what they'll remove and how they'll confirm the space is dry. For rebuild work, check that the company holds a Georgia residential or general contractor license on GOALS Verify Now. Some homeowners also bring in an independent inspector for the before-and-after assessment.