Commercial Mold Remediation in Lithonia, GA

Has flooding affected Lithonia buildings before?

Yes. During the September 2009 floods, the National Weather Service recorded the Lithonia South River gauge cresting at 13.55 feet against a 12-foot flood stage on September 21, and the Yellow River at Georgia Highway 124 cresting at 27.47 feet against a 15-foot flood stage. Buildings in low spots or near drainage ways can take on water during extreme rain, and any building that stayed wet more than a day or two should be assumed to have mold, as EPA's post-flood guidance puts it. Even without a flood, Lithonia's older commercial buildings face the usual metro Atlanta threats: summer storms, aging roofs and red clay that holds water against foundations.

What makes older Lithonia buildings tricky?

Lithonia grew around the railroad and its granite quarries starting in the 1840s, and the Lithonia Historic District and Main Street commercial core still hold buildings from that long history. Stone and brick walls are durable but porous; they wick ground moisture and release it into plaster, paneling and stored goods. Basements and back rooms tend to stay damp. A good remediation plan cleans and dries the masonry, removes drywall, carpet and insulation that were added later and got wet, and pairs the work with gutter, grading or roof repairs. Ask the company how it will handle original materials in the historic district, and check with the city before changing anything visible from the street.

Who is responsible, and who checks the work?

The owner, for the most part. DeKalb Public Health says its environmental health division can address indoor air quality, including mold, only for permitted facilities such as restaurants and hotels, and Georgia DPH says indoor air quality is not otherwise regulated. Georgia has no mold license, so the company's experience and references matter. If the job includes rebuilding, ask whether the contractor holds a Georgia general contractor license and confirm it on the Secretary of State's GOALS Verify Now lookup. The City of Lithonia lists building permits under Planning and Zoning, and the city has its own Code Enforcement office for property maintenance problems. For clearance, an independent inspector with no stake in the removal contract gives you a neutral record, as Angi recommends.

Local note

Lithonia sits about 16 miles east of downtown Atlanta near the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area. Church halls, lodges and storefronts that close for part of the week are worth checking after every heavy rain, since damp air sits undisturbed. Angi's Atlanta cost guide, at about $12 to $29 per square foot for home jobs, is a rough floor for small commercial work.