Mold & Mildew Cleanup in Norcross, GA

Local conditions in Norcross

Norcross is a Gwinnett County city of about 17,200 people, roughly 17 miles northeast of Atlanta, bounded on the south by Interstate 85. Beaver Ruin Creek runs through it, and in the September 2009 floods the National Weather Service gauge on Crooked Creek at Norcross crested above flood stage on September 21. Homes near creeks and low yards tend to carry more moisture into crawl spaces and lower levels.

Day to day, the larger driver is the air itself. Humid summers, rooms closed up behind blinds and bathrooms without a working fan give mildew everything it needs.

Mildew vs mold that has moved in

Most Norcross calls fall somewhere in the middle of that table: a bathroom ceiling that has been wiped down three times, or a closet wall where paint has started to flake. A quick test helps decide. Press a screwdriver handle against the stained drywall; if it feels firm and the stain lifts with detergent, it is surface growth. If the wall feels soft or the stain stays put after drying, the paper facing has been colonized and the section usually needs to be cut out and replaced once the moisture source is fixed.

Signs to watch

• Peeling paint or a brown water ring around the growth.
• Mildew on the back of furniture pushed against an outside wall.
• A musty smell that grows stronger when the AC kicks on.
• Condensation on windows on summer mornings.

When it tends to appear

Growth usually builds in late summer, after months of high humidity, and again after long rainy spells in winter when windows stay shut. EPA's target is indoor humidity under 60 percent, ideally 30 to 50 percent. Before peak season, clear the AC condensate line and clean the drip pan, and run bath fans for 20 minutes after showers. If cleanup turns into replacing drywall or framing, the City of Norcross Building Official reviews plans, issues permits and performs inspections.