Post-Remediation Clearance Testing in Brentwood, TN

Our remediation company offered to test its own work. Is that enough?

Tennessee allows it, and some companies do a careful job of checking themselves. Still, Angi recommends separate companies for testing and remediation, and the reason is simple: the firm that did the cleanup has an interest in calling it finished. An independent inspector does not. In a market like Brentwood, where finished basements and large homes are common and a home sale may come later, a report from a neutral party carries more weight with buyers and adjusters. Ask any inspector up front whether they also do remediation and how they keep the two separate. A good one will also tell you what would count as a fail before the visit starts.

We live near the Little Harpeth, Mill Creek or Owl Creek. What should the inspector check?

In the May 2010 flood, about 16.6 inches of rain fell on Brentwood over two days. The Little Harpeth River flooded the far west side of the city, and Mill Creek and Owl Creek flooded the far east side, both areas mostly subdivisions. If your remediation followed water from a creek or a storm, ask for moisture readings in the bottom plates, studs and subfloor, and a look at insulation cavities that were opened. EPA says to assume mold where a flooded area could not be dried within 24 to 48 hours. A finished basement should be checked behind any wall that took water, not only at the stain.

Do we need a permit to rebuild after the area passes?

Mold cleanup is not normally treated as permitted work, but replacing framing, electrical or major wall sections can be. The City of Brentwood Planning and Codes Department on Maryland Way issues building permits and has an online portal. Its Codes Enforcement Section handles property maintenance and nuisance complaints through the city's Citizen Comment Form, which renters can use for leaks a landlord has not fixed.

Local note: Williamson County emergency management points out that homeowner's policies do not cover flooding, with coverage available through the NFIP, and suggests checking FEMA's Flood Map Service Center for your property before rebuilding in a low area.