Basement Mold Removal in Kennesaw, GA

Kennesaw at a glance

Kennesaw is a suburban city about 23 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta, home to Kennesaw State University and next to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. Butler Creek runs through the area, and during the September 2009 floods the National Weather Service gauge on Butler Creek listed at Kennesaw crested at 14.27 feet against a 12-foot flood stage. Most basement mold here, though, comes from everyday sources: storm water in the clay against a buried wall, overflowing gutters, plumbing leaks and humid summer air. Many homes near the mountain and on the city's rolling suburban streets sit on sloped lots, so a buried basement wall with a finished room behind it is a common setup.

What to do now

1. Stop the water. Fix the leak, clear the gutter or extend the downspout feeding the wet area.
2. Start drying. EPA recommends drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours, and keeping humidity below 60 percent afterward.
3. Measure what you see. Growth under about 10 square feet is usually a homeowner job, per EPA; larger areas or anything inside walls calls for a professional.
4. Stay safe. Wear gloves, goggles and an N-95 respirator for small cleanups, and keep anyone with asthma or a weakened immune system away.
5. Leave the paint can closed. EPA says not to paint or caulk over mold.
6. Check your city limits. Kennesaw Building Services can confirm whether an address is inside the city, which decides who issues rebuild permits.

Signs and what they usually mean

Cost factors

Angi's Atlanta cost guide puts basement mold remediation at $587 to $3,522 and lists foundation repair from about $2,225 if structural work is needed. The total depends on square footage, how much finished material comes out, containment and drainage work. The City of Kennesaw Building Services Department takes all permit applications online, so build permit time into the rebuild schedule. Ask any company whether it holds a Georgia residential or general contractor license and check it on GOALS Verify Now before you sign.