When mold shows up in a Lithia Springs attic, the moisture source has to be fixed first, then wet insulation comes out and the decking and rafters are cleaned or replaced. Large or recurring growth is a job for a professional. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local mold remediation company in Lithia Springs.
Lithia Springs background
Lithia Springs is an unincorporated community of about 16,600 people in northeastern Douglas County, about 16 miles from Atlanta, named for the mineral springs that made it a resort town in the 1880s. It sits along Sweetwater Creek and the Chattahoochee. In September 2009, Sweetwater Creek crested just over 30 feet against a 17-foot flood stage, and a two-story home on Hasty Drive was submerged under more than 11 feet of water. Most attics stay above floodwater, but the same days of rain test roofs hard.
What to do now
- Check whether water is still coming in. Look during or after rain and while the AC is running.
- Find the trail. Stains running down a rafter point uphill to a roof leak; a wet ring under the air handler points to condensate.
- Get the source fixed. Call a roofer or HVAC technician as needed; EPA says to dry wet materials within 24 to 48 hours.
- Don't scrape or pull insulation yourself if the area is larger than about 10 square feet.
- Keep the HVAC off if you suspect the ducts or air handler are moldy, as EPA advises.
What you see and what it usually means
| What you see | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Stain spreading from a skylight or chimney | Flashing failure |
| Wet insulation under the furnace platform | Condensate pan overflow |
| Even gray film over the north slope | Poor ventilation, condensation |
| Growth around a dangling flex duct | Bath fan venting into the attic |
| Dark rot at a valley | Long-running leak behind leaf buildup |
Cost factors
Angi's Atlanta cost guide reports attic mold remediation at $1,174 to $4,696 and puts most mold work at about $12 to $29 per square foot. Size of the area, insulation volume, attic access and any decking replacement drive the number. Because Lithia Springs is unincorporated, decking or framing permits go through Douglas County Building Permits & Inspections on Timber Ridge Drive in Douglasville, and Douglas County Code Enforcement handles property maintenance complaints from renters. Georgia has no state mold license or certification, so for any carpentry ask whether the company holds a Georgia residential or general contractor license and check it on the Secretary of State's GOALS Verify Now lookup before signing.
Attic Mold Removal questions in Lithia Springs
Does all the attic insulation have to come out?
Do I need a permit to replace roof decking?
Will the county health department inspect attic mold?
Who should stay out of the attic while it's being cleaned?
More mold services in Lithia Springs
Attic Mold Removal nearby
Sources
- EPA: Mold Cleanup in Your Home
- EPA: A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home
- Georgia Bulletin: Flood of biblical proportion submerges home (2009)
- Angi: Mold Remediation Cost in Atlanta, GA
- Douglas County: Building Permits & Inspections
- Douglas County: Code Enforcement
- Georgia DPH: District Office Directory and Map (pdf)
- Georgia DPH: Indoor Air Quality/Mold
- Georgia SOS GOALS: Verify Now
- Lithia Springs, Georgia (Wikipedia)
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