Post-Remediation Clearance Testing in Marietta, GA

Is clearance worth it in an older Marietta home?

Usually. Marietta, the Cobb County seat about 17 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta, is built around Marietta Square and has six historic districts, including Whitlock Avenue, Church-Cherokee Streets and Northwest Marietta. Older houses in those areas often sit on crawl spaces, have plaster walls and carry decades of roof and plumbing repairs. When a remediation crew opens a wall or cleans joists, the wood behind the mold may have been wet for a long time. A tester's moisture readings and lab samples show whether the space is really ready to close, which is hard to judge by eye in an old house.

Did the 2009 floods reach Marietta?

Yes, along its creeks. During the September 2009 floods, the National Weather Service gauge on Sewell Mill Creek at Marietta crested at 13.26 feet against a 12-foot flood stage, and the Sope Creek gauge crested at 18.35 feet against a 12-foot flood stage. Homes in low spots near those creeks may have framing that was wet once and stays prone to dampness. If the remediation followed water intrusion from outside, ask the tester to take readings low on exterior walls and in the crawl space as well as inside the containment.

Who should do the test, and what counts as a pass?

Hire someone other than the company that removed the mold. Georgia does not require separate companies, but Angi recommends it. Since Georgia has no state mold license and DPH says there are no enforceable state or federal mold standards, put the pass criteria in writing: no visible growth or debris, dry materials, indoor air similar to a same-day outdoor sample, and clean surface swabs. EPA notes surface sampling can help show whether an area was adequately cleaned.

A local note

The City of Marietta Building Inspection Division inspects new and existing construction and remodels under the Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes; ask the city about permits for your rebuild. Renters can turn to Cobb and Douglas Public Health's guidance, which says tenants with mold from a mechanical or structural failure may contact their local building inspections department about the moisture problem.