Post-Remediation Clearance Testing in Waleska, GA

Moisture around Waleska

Waleska is a small Cherokee County college town of about 900 people built around Reinhardt University, roughly 7 miles northwest of Canton and about 40 miles from Atlanta. Lake Arrowhead, a residential reservoir community, lies about 2 miles west of town. Homes near water, on wooded lots or on slopes can hold more humidity in crawl spaces and lower levels, and the region's red clay, summer heat and heavy storms add to it. Cherokee County was among four counties designated for FEMA Individual Assistance after the September 2009 floods. When mold removal ends in a crawl space, basement or wall cavity, a clearance test is the last chance to look before those spaces are covered.

Simple check vs full clearance

Georgia does not require separate companies, but Angi recommends them. EPA sets no federal limits for spores, so agree on pass criteria in writing before the work begins.

Warning signs

• The crawl space floor or vapor barrier is still wet.
• Insulation was removed but the framing behind it was not cleaned.
• The crew plans to remove containment without any test.
• A musty smell persists after the work.

Timing

Testers may travel some distance to reach Waleska, so book once moisture readings show the area is dry, to avoid paying for a wasted trip. Humid summers lengthen drying time, and a crawl space near the lake or on a shaded slope may need dehumidifiers running longer than the crew first estimated. Keep the plastic sheeting sealed and the air filtration running until the tester has finished, and keep anyone with asthma out of the work area, as EPA advises. After a pass, building permits for repairs come from the Cherokee County Development Service Center, which permits construction in unincorporated Cherokee County and the City of Waleska. Cherokee County Environmental Health in Canton receives mold complaints but does not inspect homes. If an area fails, the crew re-cleans and the tester samples again.