Mold Inspection in Mountlake Terrace, WA

Local conditions in Mountlake Terrace

Mountlake Terrace was founded in 1949 as a planned postwar community and has long been a bedroom community for Seattle, about 12 miles to the south. Houses from the city's early decades often have original framing and foundations under newer finishes, and moisture problems tend to show where old meets new: under updated bathroom floors, behind fresh drywall hung over an old leak, and in crawl spaces with aging vapor barriers. Lake Ballinger, fed by Hall Creek and draining through McAleer Creek toward Lake Washington, sits in the southwest corner of the city, and other neighborhoods drain through the Lyon Creek and Swamp Creek watersheds. Homes near those waters may see higher groundwater in winter, and an inspector should check crawl space soil, sill plates and the bottom of basement walls on those lots before moving on to attics and bathrooms.

Independent inspector or the removal company?

Signs to watch

• A musty smell when the furnace first kicks on in fall.
• Dark spots in closet corners along outside walls.
• Soft or stained flooring beside a toilet or tub.
• Water pooling on window sills in the morning.

Seasonal notes

Most problems here surface between October and April, when gray weather slows drying and indoor air holds moisture from cooking and showers. Book during those months if you want the inspector to see a leak while it's active. Late spring and summer suit the repairs, and drywall, framing or plumbing work that needs a permit goes through the city's Community Development permit specialists. Renters with an unfixed leak can contact the city's Code Compliance office about building code problems after notifying the landlord in writing.