Black Mold Removal in Waleska, GA

Local conditions in Waleska

Waleska is a Cherokee County city of about 900 people, roughly 40 miles from Atlanta and about 7 miles northwest of Canton, built around Reinhardt University and the Funk Heritage Center along State Routes 140 and 108. Lake Arrowhead, a residential reservoir community, lies about 2 miles west of town. Wooded lots, shaded north walls and homes near the water can stay damp for long stretches, and houses that sit empty part of the year, or rentals between students, can go weeks with a small leak unnoticed. Cherokee County was one of four Georgia counties designated for FEMA Individual Assistance after the September 2009 floods. Day to day, the main sources are roof and window leaks, plumbing and the humidity of a Georgia summer settling into crawl spaces.

What to clean and what to remove

Signs to watch for

• Black spotting on a north-facing wall inside a closet
• A musty smell when you open up a house after time away
• Stains around a skylight or chimney
• Dark growth on floor joists seen from a crawl space hatch
• Spotted window sills in rooms that stay shaded all day

A house near the lake or under heavy tree cover may show several of these at once, which usually points to humidity across the whole home rather than a single leak.

Timing and seasonal notes

Spring storms and the long humid summer are when growth spreads quickly, so deal with leaks right away. EPA says wet materials should be dried within 24 to 48 hours and indoor humidity kept below 60 percent; a dehumidifier helps in a house that sits closed up. When it is time to rebuild, the Cherokee County Development Service Center permits construction in the City of Waleska as well as unincorporated Cherokee County. Cherokee County Environmental Health takes mold complaints and gives information but does not inspect homes. Georgia has no state mold license, so check any rebuild contractor on GOALS Verify Now.