Crawl Space Mold Removal in Lawrenceville, GA

Why Lawrenceville crawl spaces stay wet

Lawrenceville is the Gwinnett County seat, about 27 miles from Atlanta, and it drains into the Yellow River watershed. Gwinnett County stormwater staff reported that the heaviest rain of the September 2009 floods fell near Lawrenceville, with parts of the watershed getting roughly 19 inches over eight days, and NWS gauges on Pew Creek, Shoal Creek and the Alcovy River at Lawrenceville all went above flood stage on September 21. A house does not need to sit in a floodplain to feel that kind of rain: saturated red clay holds water against the foundation long after the storm ends.

The everyday cause is quieter. From May through September, humid outdoor air drifts through foundation vents and meets joists and ducts cooled by the air conditioning above. Moisture beads on the wood, and fiberglass batts soak it up like a sponge.

Vapor barrier, cleaning or encapsulation?

A coating sprayed over wet wood is not a fix. EPA says not to paint or caulk over mold.

What Lawrenceville homeowners notice first

• An earthy smell in a hallway or bedroom that returns after cleaning
• Hardwood boards that cup or feel spongy
• Rusty nail heads and dark staining on the subfloor seen from the access hatch
• Ducts dripping or wrapped in soggy insulation
• Pest activity, since damp wood draws insects

Timing the work

Late summer is when crawl spaces here look their worst, but it is also a fine time to get an assessment because the moisture is easy to measure. Repairs that replace sill plates or subfloor inside city limits go through Lawrenceville Planning & Development, which handles permits through its online Licensing, Permits, and Plans portal. Georgia has no mold license, so ask whether the company holds a Georgia residential or general contractor license for any structural repair and check it on GOALS Verify Now.