Mold Remediation in College Grove, TN

College Grove is a mostly rural, unincorporated community along U.S. Route 31A in southern Williamson County, about 26 miles from Nashville as the crow flies. Its crossroads mixes farm property with commercial buildings, and several structures are on the National Register, including the Bank of College Grove building, College Grove Methodist Church and the William Ogilvie House.

Water is the starting point

Williamson County's emergency management office names the Harpeth River and its creeks as the county's main flood sources and warns that flash floods can arrive with little notice. The county points to the May 2010 flood as proof that 20 inches or more of rain can fall in two days. It also notes that most streams on private land are the owner's responsibility, and that clogged culverts, ditches and drains cause flooding too. Look up your property on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, and remember that a standard homeowner's policy doesn't cover flood damage; that coverage comes through the NFIP.

The Tennessee Department of Health says mold can start growing within 48 hours of flooding. EPA's flood guide goes further: if a house couldn't be dried within that window, assume mold is there. Even without a flood, Middle Tennessee humidity keeps crawl spaces damp through summer, and older buildings tend to have more places for moisture to hide.

County offices to know

Because College Grove has no city government, building codes are administered by the Williamson County Building Codes Division in Franklin. Mold cleanup alone isn't permitted work, but replacing structural framing or making larger repairs afterward may be. Electrical permits in the unincorporated county come from the State of Tennessee instead. Williamson County Codes Compliance handles enforcement, mostly zoning matters; renters with a landlord who won't fix a leak can call to ask whether their problem falls under it. The Williamson County Health Department, also on West Main Street in Franklin, can field health questions.

Health and hiring

EPA says mold can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs, and that people with asthma or weakened immune systems should stay out of moldy areas. Talk to a health professional about symptoms.

When you call, you'll reach an independent company serving the area. Tennessee requires a contractor's license, with the mold remediation (S-F) classification for this work, before a company bids $25,000 or more. Williamson County isn't on TDCI's list of counties that require the Home Improvement license for smaller residential jobs. Check the company on TDCI's Verify a License search, and think about hiring a separate inspector to confirm the work is done.