Commercial Mold Remediation in Old Hickory, TN

Local conditions

Old Hickory sits on Hadley Bend in eastern Davidson County, about 10 miles from downtown Nashville, bounded by the Cumberland River on the north and west and Old Hickory Lake on the east. It began as a DuPont company town, and its historic district of worker bungalows and larger management homes includes many buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. About half of local housing was built before 1980.

Water surrounds the bend. In May 2010, the National Weather Service documented high water at Old Hickory Dam, Old Hickory Lake and a bridge across Langford Cove. Lake humidity, older plumbing and aging roofs mean churches, small businesses and rental bungalows on the bend all see mold from time to time. Lower rooms in buildings closest to the water, and any space that stays shut for days, are the usual starting points.

Historic buildings add a wrinkle: original plaster, wood trim and flooring are worth saving where possible, so ask the company how it handles materials that can be cleaned rather than replaced.

Staff cleanup compared with a remediation company

Signs to watch

• Damp, musty air in a sanctuary, hall or shop after a stretch of rain
• Peeling paint and soft plaster near old windows
• Growth on stored hymnals, files or inventory against outside walls
• Water marks along the bottom of walls in lower rooms

Timing and seasons

EPA says to dry wet materials within 24 to 48 hours. Lake-country summers stay humid, so growth spreads quickly once it starts. Schedule removal before fall events or rental turnovers, not after. Replacing supporting walls or load-bearing members requires a Metro Codes permit. Metro Water Services can tell owners whether a parcel is in a FEMA flood zone, and its maps are worth checking before rebuilding a lower floor. Ask for an independent clearance check before walls are closed, so the record of a clean, dry structure stays with the building.