Mold Remediation in Ashland City, TN

Life on the bottomland

Ashland City is the county seat of Cheatham County, about 18 miles northwest of downtown Nashville. The town is set in bottomland on the northeast bank of the Cumberland River. Sycamore Creek runs just north of town, Cheatham Lake was formed by Cheatham Lock and Dam, and the Harpeth River meets the Cumberland a few miles downstream.

The May 2010 flood showed what that location can mean. With the Cumberland running high, search parties worked by boat near Ashland City. Coverage from Cheatham County described homes filled with mud, and a flooded post office, Corps of Engineers building and school.

After high water

EPA's guidance for flooded homes is to assume mold is growing if the house could not be dried within 24 to 48 hours, even when walls look clean. Mud and river water soak into drywall, insulation and flooring, and those porous materials usually need to come out. EPA also says children shouldn't take part in flood cleanup and adults should wear at least an N-95 respirator. People with asthma or weakened immune systems should stay away from moldy sites.

Between floods, the river still affects homes here. Air near water stays humid through the summer, and crawl spaces on low ground can hold moisture for weeks after rain. Ducts running through those spaces pick up condensation. Keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent and fixing drainage around the foundation are the steady, unglamorous parts of prevention.

Town offices

The Town of Ashland City's Building Codes, Planning and Zoning office on North Main Street handles building permits, inspection requests and permit status through the town's iWorQ portal. Mold removal doesn't take a permit, but rebuilding walls, floors or structure after flood damage can. The town's Code Enforcement takes property maintenance complaints through the same iWorQ citizen portal, which gives renters a path when a landlord leaves a leak unfixed.

The Cheatham County Health Department on John Mayfield Drive in Ashland City is the local public health office. For personal health concerns, talk with a health professional.

Who does the work

When you call, you'll be connected with an independent local company. Tell them whether river or creek water came in, how high it reached and how long things stayed wet. A project of $25,000 or more must go to a contractor holding the Tennessee contractor's license with the mold remediation (S-F) classification; check it on TDCI's Verify a License search. Angi suggests an independent inspector for the assessment and a final check, separate from the removal company.