Mold in Walls & Drywall in Cottontown, TN

Warning signs in Cottontown homes

• An earthy, closed-up smell that is worse when the house has been shut for a while.
• Paint that puckers, cracks or flakes in one area.
• Gray or brown blotches near the floor or under a window.
• Caulk lines or grout that stay damp around a tub or shower.
• Drywall tape lifting at the seams.
• A baseboard or door casing that feels spongy when pressed.

Local conditions in Cottontown

Cottontown is a small unincorporated community along State Route 25 northwest of Gallatin, about 24 miles from Nashville. On the morning of May 19, 2017, flash flooding hit Cottontown during a wider Sumner County storm, and the water had begun to recede by later that day. Even when floodwater leaves quickly, wall cavities don't dry on their own: drywall pulls water upward and insulation holds it. EPA's disaster guide says that if a flooded home couldn't be dried within 24 to 48 hours, you should assume mold has grown. The county Flood Insurance Study adds that headwater streams rise fast in intense local rain, with major floods usually in late winter and early spring.

Day to day, most wall mold starts inside the house: a drain line behind a vanity, a washing machine hose, or an ice-maker line running through a kitchen wall.

Cost factors

Angi reports a national range of about $1,000 to $20,000 for removing mold from walls, and Middle Tennessee prices vary. Price follows the amount of drywall removed, the wet insulation, the containment needed, how many rooms are involved and whether new drywall and paint are part of the quote. Jobs of $25,000 or more need a Tennessee contractor's license, and mold remediation is the S-F classification. Check the company on TDCI's Verify a License search.

What happens when you call

The number on this page connects you with an independent local mold remediation company. They'll want to know where the problem is, what water the wall may have had, and whether the house took on water in a storm. Expect moisture readings and a written scope. If studs or sills need replacing, unincorporated Sumner County permits go through the Sumner County Building & Codes Department in Gallatin.