Crawl Space Mold Removal in Old Hickory, TN

Living on Hadley Bend

Old Hickory was a DuPont company town, and its historic district is full of worker bungalows and larger management homes, many on the National Register of Historic Places. About 49.7 percent of homes in the area were built before 1980, and roughly 68 percent are detached houses. The Cumberland River bounds the neighborhood on the north and west and Old Hickory Lake on the east. In May 2010 the National Weather Service documented high water at Old Hickory Dam, on the lake and at a bridge across Langford Cove.

Older crawl spaces here were built to breathe through foundation vents, but on a humid July afternoon by the lake the air coming in carries more moisture than the space can shed. Old wood, original piers and patched plumbing all add to the mix.

Spot cleanup or full remediation?

EPA says homeowners can usually handle less than about 10 square feet. More than that, or any space with ongoing water, is a job for a remediation company.

Signs to look for

• A musty smell that comes up through floor registers or old floor gaps.
• Original hardwood that has cupped or gone soft.
• Sweating ducts or pipes under the house.
• White crust on brick piers or block, a sign that water is moving through the masonry.
• Dark growth on joists and the underside of the subfloor.

When to act

Summer humidity is when growth speeds up, so a problem spotted in spring is worth handling before July. After high water or a leak, EPA says to dry things within 24 to 48 hours. Replacing joists or other load-bearing members needs a permit from Metro Codes. Davidson County requires the state Home Improvement license for residential jobs from $3,000 to under $25,000, and a Tennessee contractor's license with the S-F classification above that. Metro Public Health's "Mold, Moisture, and Your Home" handout covers prevention.