Mold & Mildew Removal in Columbia, TN

Columbia and the Duck River

Columbia, the Maury County seat about 41 miles from Nashville, grew up along the Duck River, the longest river entirely within Tennessee. In May 2010 the Duck at Columbia reached 44.91 feet, its seventh-highest level on record. In February 2019 it crested at 42 feet, the highest since 1991; fire and police went door to door urging Riverside residents from 3rd Avenue south to Riverside Drive to leave, riverside parks went underwater, and some buildings near the river took on water. About 37 percent of Columbia's occupied homes are rented.

What to do now

1. If water came inside, dry it within 24 to 48 hours; after that, EPA says to assume mold is growing.
2. For small mildew on hard surfaces, scrub with detergent and water and dry thoroughly.
3. Wear gloves, goggles and an N-95, and keep children out of flood cleanup.
4. Bag and discard wet porous items you can't clean and dry.
5. Check basement humidity; the Tennessee Department of Health notes basements often run above 50 percent and need moisture reduction.
6. If you rent, notify the landlord in writing.

Signs and likely causes

Cost factors

Angi reports national typical ranges of $500 to $1,000 for bathroom mold remediation and $500 to $3,000 for basements; Middle Tennessee prices vary with size and material removal. Maury County is not one of the counties where the state Home Improvement license applies, but a job of $25,000 or more needs a Tennessee contractor's license. Rebuilding permits come from the City of Columbia Development Services Building Inspections office on N Garden Street. Columbia takes part in the National Flood Insurance Program and posts its FEMA flood map panels on its floodplain page, which is worth checking before rebuilding near the river. Renters can report unrepaired leaks to Columbia Codes Enforcement, and the Maury County Health Department on Hampshire Pike can help with health questions.