Mold in Walls & Drywall in Kirkland, WA

What wets Kirkland walls

Kirkland stretches along the east shore of Lake Washington, about 8 miles from Seattle, from the Moss Bay waterfront downtown north to Juanita Bay, Finn Hill and Kingsgate. The city says flooding here is most likely when heavy rain overwhelms the drainage system, so the water that reaches a wall usually comes from a clogged gutter, a downspout dumping beside the foundation, or runoff from an uphill lot rather than the lake. The median Kirkland house was built around 1980, which puts many homes at an age where original windows, flashing and plumbing start to fail. Combine that with the long wet season and winter condensation on cold exterior walls, and hidden wall mold is common in older homes and in remodels where a new bathroom was tied into old plumbing.

Handle it yourself or hire a company?

Signs worth checking

• Peeling paint or a yellow-brown stain under a window
• A musty smell near a bathroom or laundry wall
• Warped or loose baseboard
• Recurring spots in a closet on an outside wall

Seasonal timing

Most Kirkland wall problems surface between October and April, when rain is steady and the heat is on. That's when condensation is worst and when roof and window leaks show themselves. A company may open the wall during the wet season but wait to close it until readings confirm it's dry, which takes longer in winter. Permits for rebuilding go through the Development Services Center, the shared front desk for Planning and Building, Public Works and Fire. The city notes flood damage is rarely covered by homeowners or renters policies, so ask your insurer early.