How does the canyon affect the moisture check?
Houses set at the mouth of a canyon can receive runoff from the slopes above them, especially after a storm. The inspector reads the path of the water across the lot and notes where it reaches the foundation.
The fix is usually to extend the downspouts, regrade a low spot and move planting beds away from the wall. The report lists each change, because CSU names moisture at the foundation as a condition to manage.
What do the historic core houses need?
The older houses near the centre of Golden can have crawl spaces, older foundations and window frames that have moved over the decades. The inspector checks the sill, the joists and the foundation cracks, and the window frames for the gaps boxelder bugs use.
Repairs made over the years can leave joints where old and new work meet. Those are checked because they are easy to miss.
What do the hillside homes need from the inspector?
A hillside home often has a crawl space or basement on one side and a deck or stairs on the other. The soil line can differ on each side, and each side is read separately, with the wood in contact with the soil recorded.
Retaining walls that hold soil against the house are a moisture source, and the report notes any that run close to the foundation.
When should a Golden homeowner book?
Early autumn is the best time for a sealing visit, before the boxelder bugs gather on the warm walls. Spring is a good time for a termite inspection, when the soil is clear and the crawl space can be reached without ice.
A visit in the cold months is possible when access is safe, and the report says which parts of the outside could not be checked.
What should a Golden caller check on the licence?
Ask for the business and applicator licence details, and check them with the Colorado Department of Agriculture. The check is the same for an address in Jefferson County as for one in Boulder County.
The licence details are given on request by phone and are not printed on this site.
What happens after the first report?
The first report is followed by a plan with dates for the sealing, the moisture work and any follow-up visit. The homeowner keeps the plan with the house records, and the next technician reads the same plan and the same findings.
A homeowner who has questions can call back and ask for the section of the report to be explained, and the technician will walk through it on the phone or at the next visit.
