Mold Removal & Remediation in Lithonia, GA

Has Lithonia flooded before?

Yes. During the September 2009 Atlanta floods, the National Weather Service recorded the Yellow River at Georgia Highway 124 cresting at 27.47 feet against a 15-foot flood stage, and the South River gauge at Lithonia reaching 13.55 feet against a 12-foot flood stage. Homes in low areas took on water, and anything that stays wet that long grows mold. EPA's guidance after a flood is blunt: if the house could not be dried within 24 to 48 hours, assume mold is growing. Soaked carpet, pad, insulation and drywall usually have to come out, and the framing behind them needs to be cleaned and dried before anything is closed back in.

Why do older Lithonia houses get musty?

Lithonia is a small granite-quarrying town about 16 miles east of downtown Atlanta, grown up around the railroad and the quarries since the 1840s. The historic district along Main Street and Bruce Street holds many older homes, often on crawl spaces or stone foundations that let ground moisture wick up. Granite outcrops near Arabia Mountain shed rain quickly, and lots downhill from them can stay wet. Combine that with humid summers and an AC system running most of the year, and crawl space framing and ducts are common places for growth. A vapor barrier, working gutters and a dehumidifier are often part of the long-term fix after remediation.

What do I need for the rebuild?

The City of Lithonia handles building permits under Planning and Zoning, so check with the city before replacing drywall, framing or subfloor. Georgia has no state mold license or certification, and DPH says mold work has no enforceable state or federal standards. When tear-out turns into rebuilding, 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.

A local note

Renters can bring unrepaired leaks to City of Lithonia Code Enforcement after notifying the landlord in writing. DeKalb Public Health says it addresses mold only in permitted facilities such as restaurants and hotels, though it offers homeowners information to help identify problems. Under O.C.G.A. 44-7-13, keeping the rental in repair is the landlord's job. This is general information, not legal advice.