Kirkland's commercial mold calls come from downtown retail around Moss Bay, offices and medical space near Totem Lake, and condo and apartment buildings along Lake Washington. The work should be sized to the problem, contained from occupied areas and finished with a check that the space is dry and clean. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local mold remediation company in Kirkland.
Kirkland conditions
Kirkland is an Eastside city about 8 miles from Seattle on the east shore of Lake Washington, with downtown on Moss Bay and Juanita Bay and Juanita Beach Park to the north. The city says flooding there is most likely when heavy rain overwhelms the drainage system, rather than from a river, and that flood damage is rarely covered by property policies without separate NFIP coverage. Owners can check King County's floodplain maps for a specific parcel. The median year built is 1980, so a lot of the multifamily and small commercial stock is old enough for roof membranes, windows and plumbing risers to fail.
Buildings near the lake and on the slopes of Finn Hill, Rose Hill and Houghton add another factor: runoff and groundwater pushing against below-grade walls during long rainy stretches.
Containment by job size
| Affected area | Typical approach under EPA commercial guidance |
|---|---|
| Under about 10 sq ft | Trained maintenance staff can often handle it with gloves, eye protection and a respirator |
| About 10 to 100 sq ft | Plastic sheeting around the work area and more protective equipment; occupants kept out |
| Over 100 sq ft | Full containment with negative air pressure, and professional oversight |
| HVAC involved | Shut the system down and have it evaluated before restarting |
Signs to watch for
- Stained ceiling tile below rooftop units or skylights
- Musty air in a parking garage storage room or elevator lobby
- Black spotting on window frames in several units facing the lake
- Soft drywall at the base of walls on the uphill side of a building
Timing and seasonal notes
October through April brings the rain that exposes leaks, and cool temperatures mean drying takes longer, so allow several days of dehumidification before walls are closed. Summer is the best time for exterior fixes. Rebuild permits run through the Development Services Center, the shared counter for Planning and Building, Public Works and Fire. Kirkland Code Enforcement handles dangerous buildings and other code complaints, which gives tenants a route when a leak goes unrepaired. Washington has no mold license, so check each bidder's L&I contractor registration on the Verify a Contractor tool and get every bid in writing.
Commercial Mold Remediation questions in Kirkland
Is there a Washington license for commercial mold remediation?
Will our commercial property policy pay for mold cleanup?
What should we tell tenants or staff before work starts?
Can moldy ceiling tiles, carpet and drywall be cleaned and kept?
More mold services in Kirkland
Commercial Mold Remediation nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
- Wikipedia: Kirkland, Washington
- City-Data: Kirkland, WA houses
- City of Kirkland: Floods
- City of Kirkland: Development Services Center
- City of Kirkland: Code Enforcement
- EPA: Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings (pdf)
- EPA: Mold Cleanup in Your Home
- L&I: Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business
- Washington DOH: Identifying an Unknown Indoor Air Quality Problem (hiring a contractor)
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