Mold inside a Lithia Springs wall points to water in the cavity, whether from creek flooding, a roof or window leak, or plumbing. The fix is to stop that water, remove affected drywall and insulation under containment, and dry the framing completely before rebuilding. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local mold remediation company in Lithia Springs.
Lithia Springs and water in the walls
Lithia Springs is an unincorporated community in northeastern Douglas County, about 16 miles from Atlanta, named for the mineral springs that made it a resort town in the 1880s. Sweetwater Creek, a Chattahoochee tributary, runs along its edge. In the September 2009 floods, 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. Douglas County as a whole saw seven deaths. Homes near the creek that were dried out and rebuilt in a hurry may still have damp framing or insulation inside walls.
For houses on higher ground, the causes are the same as anywhere in the metro: plumbing leaks inside walls, rain driven past windows, roof leaks, and humid air condensing on cool surfaces during the long AC season.
What to do now
- Stop the water. Shut off a leaking line, and if water came in from outside, look at gutters, grading and the creek side of the lot.
- Dry within two days. EPA says wet materials should be dried within 24 to 48 hours; after that, assume mold.
- Remove soaked contents. Rugs, boxes and furniture against the wall slow drying and can hold mold too.
- Do not cover the stain. EPA advises against painting or caulking over mold.
- Protect your lungs. EPA recommends at least an N-95 respirator for flood cleanup and says children should not take part.
- Get the wall measured. A moisture meter shows where to cut and how far.
Signs and their likely cause
| What you see | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| A level line of staining across several rooms | Past floodwater that wicked up the drywall |
| Spotting low on the wall nearest the creek side | Groundwater or poor drainage at the foundation |
| Bubbled paint next to a shower | Shower valve or grout leak |
| Stain spreading under a window | Flashing or sill failure |
| Odor in a closet with no visible mark | Growth on the back of the drywall |
Cost factors
Angi's Atlanta cost guide reports most pros charge $12 to $29 per square foot for remediation, with drywall repair at $1,174 to $3,405. Flood-related jobs usually cost more because more wall area is involved, insulation and flooring come out, and every cavity has to dry before rebuilding. Since Lithia Springs is unincorporated, rebuild permits come from Douglas County Building Permits & Inspections on Timber Ridge Drive in Douglasville.
Mold in Walls & Drywall questions in Lithia Springs
Water got into my walls during a flood or storm. What now?
I rent. What can I do about mold in my walls?
Can the insulation behind moldy drywall be saved?
Who should hang and finish the new drywall?
More mold services in Lithia Springs
Mold in Walls & Drywall nearby
Sources
- EPA: Mold Cleanup in Your Home
- EPA: Homeowner's and Renter's Guide to Mold Cleanup After Disasters (pdf)
- Georgia Bulletin: Flood of biblical proportion submerges home (2009)
- Times-Georgian: Two years later, historic flood's wrath still felt
- Angi: Mold Remediation Cost in Atlanta, GA
- Douglas County: Building Permits & Inspections
- Douglas County: Code Enforcement
- O.C.G.A. 44-7-13: Landlord's duties as to repairs (Justia)
- Georgia SOS GOALS: Verify Now
- Lithia Springs, Georgia (Wikipedia)
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