Mold Inspection in Kirkland, WA

Kirkland's moisture picture

Kirkland sits about 8 miles from Seattle along Moss Bay, with Juanita Bay and Juanita Beach Park to the north. The City of Kirkland says flooding is most likely from heavy rainfall or other situations that overwhelm the drainage system, and notes that homeowner and renter policies rarely cover flood damage. Residents can check King County's FEMA-recognized floodplain maps to see whether a property sits in a 100-year floodplain.

The median home here was built around 1980. Houses of that age in Rose Hill, Finn Hill or Kingsgate often have original single-pane windows, older bath fans, and attic or crawl space ventilation that doesn't keep up with a Puget Sound winter. Hillside lots near the lake can push groundwater against lower walls.

Inspection, testing or both?

Signs to take seriously

• Water pooling against the foundation after a downpour.
• A musty smell in a lower-level bedroom or office.
• Dark staining at ceiling corners on outside walls.
• Swollen window sills or peeling paint beneath windows.
• Insulation in the attic that looks matted or stained.

Seasonal timing

Problems peak from late fall through spring, when long rainy stretches and heated indoor air meet cold surfaces. That is the best time to see and measure condensation. A summer visit can still find leaks and stains, but a dry August house may read normal even where a wall soaks up water every January, so tell the inspector what you saw in winter. If the report leads to rebuilding, start at Kirkland's Development Services Center, the shared front desk for development permits. Renters with unrepaired leaks can reach the Planning and Building Department's Code Enforcement program after giving the landlord written notice.