Mold in Walls & Drywall in Old Hickory, TN

Old houses, a river and a lake

Old Hickory is a Metro Nashville neighborhood on Hadley Bend, about 10 miles from downtown, 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 the Village of Old Hickory historic district still has worker bungalows and larger management homes, many on the National Register of Historic Places. About half of homes in the area were built before 1980. In May 2010, the National Weather Service documented high water at Old Hickory Dam, Old Hickory Lake and a bridge over Langford Cove. In older houses, wall mold often starts at aging window frames, original plumbing and spots where later remodels sealed in moisture.

Plaster walls vs drywall

Signs to watch

• Musty air in a room that's been closed for a while.
• Paint lifting around window trim after rain.
• Dark staining on the lower part of a wall near the lake side of the house.
• Bulging or crumbling plaster.
• Wallpaper peeling at the seams.

Timing and permits

EPA's guidance is to dry anything wet within 24 to 48 hours, which is hard to do inside a plaster wall, so call sooner rather than later after a leak. Summer humidity and spring storms are the peak seasons for new growth. If framing needs replacing, Metro Codes issues the permit, and Metro Water Services' flood hazard tools show whether a lot near the river or lake is in a mapped floodplain. For historic homes, ask the company how it handles original materials before demolition starts. Because Old Hickory is in Davidson County, a residential job of $3,000 up to $25,000 calls for the state Home Improvement license, and $25,000 or more a contractor's license with the S-F classification; check either on TDCI's Verify a License search. Renters can report unrepaired leaks to Metro Codes Property Standards.