Black Mold Removal in Portland, TN

What happens when you call

You'll be connected with an independent local mold remediation company that works in Portland and the surrounding part of Sumner and Robertson counties. They will ask where the dark growth is, how much of it you can see, whether there was water damage, and what kind of home it is. A visit usually includes moisture meter readings, a look under the house or into the attic, and a written scope listing the work area, containment, materials to remove and the clearance check at the end.

What affects the cost

Angi reports national typical remediation costs of $1,223 to $3,758, with most pros charging $10 to $25 per square foot; Middle Tennessee prices vary. On these jobs, cost depends on:

• The size of the area, including what is hidden inside walls or floors.
• Whether drywall, paneling, subfloor or insulation must be removed.
• Access under a manufactured home or in a low crawl space.
• Containment, HEPA filtration and debris disposal.
• Repairs afterward.

Licensing depends on the county. On the Robertson County side, TDCI requires the state Home Improvement license for residential jobs from $3,000 to under $25,000; Sumner County isn't on that list. Statewide, $25,000-plus jobs need a contractor's license with the S-F mold remediation classification.

Local conditions in Portland

Portland is a small city on the Highland Rim in far northern Middle Tennessee, about 32 miles from Nashville, known as the strawberry capital of Tennessee. Sumner County's Flood Insurance Study identifies Donoho Branch as a frequent flooding source because of sinkholes and local drainage, and the Portland Flood Channel was completed in 1997 to reduce that flooding. Multiple rescues took place in Portland during the May 19, 2017 flash flooding. The median home was built in 1995, about 11 percent of homes are mobile or manufactured, and over a third are rented. Manufactured homes can hide dark growth under the belly wrap and behind paneling after plumbing leaks.

Checklist before the company arrives

• Stop the water source if you can.
• Photograph the growth and any water lines on walls.
• Turn off the HVAC if vents or ducts look affected.
• Don't disturb large patches.
• Have your county (Sumner or Robertson) handy for licensing questions.
• Renters: send the landlord a written notice first.