Which Golden house do you have?
Golden's housing varies a lot within a short distance. Start with the type that matches yours.
- IfAn older house near downtown or Clear CreekExpect stone, brick or early concrete foundations, cellars and crawlspaces with limited dampproofing. Check cellar walls and floor framing.
- IfA mid-century ranch or split-level on the flatter east sideBasement and crawlspace patterns are similar to Wheat Ridge: summer humidity, window wells and finished basements.
- IfA newer home on a foothill slopeFocus on runoff from above, retaining walls, and the buried side of walkout basements.
- IfA rental near the Colorado School of MinesTurnover and crowded occupancy raise humidity. Watch bathrooms, basements used as bedrooms and closets on exterior walls.
Foothills weather and runoff
Golden sits at the mouth of Clear Creek Canyon, with North and South Table Mountain on one side and the foothills on the other. Summer thunderstorms often build over the mountains and roll in with little warning, and on sloped lots rain moves quickly across the surface toward whatever is downhill, often a foundation or window well.
Snow can also linger on north-facing slopes and in the shade of steep lots, melting slowly against foundations into spring. Homes tucked into hillsides may have one or two walls that stay cold and damp much of the year, which is where mold on drywall and stored items tends to appear.
A Golden homeowner's moisture year
- Late winter
- Check shaded, uphill foundation walls as snow melts slowly against them.
- Spring runoff
- Clear Creek rises with mountain snowmelt; homes near the creek should watch basements and crawlspaces.
- Summer storms
- Check window wells and the uphill side of the house after intense storms.
- Fall
- Clean gutters after leaf drop, and check rentals at move-in for prior moisture damage.
For landlords and student renters
- Make sure every bathroom has a working exhaust fan that vents outdoors
- Do not put beds or stored boxes against cold basement walls
- Report leaks and condensation in writing right away
- Landlords: inspect basements and bathrooms between tenants, not only at complaints
- Ask whether basement bedrooms have adequate egress windows and ventilation
Local contacts
- Permits
- City of Golden for properties inside city limits
- Nearby unincorporated areas
- Jefferson County
- Historic properties
- Ask the city whether exterior changes need historic review
- Emergencies
- 911; Xcel Energy for gas
Common questions
- Does Golden's dry, sunny climate mean less mold?
- Outdoors, often yes. Indoors, mold depends on local moisture: a leak, a damp buried wall or a steamy bathroom can support growth in any climate. The dry air mainly helps materials dry faster once the source is fixed.
General information for Wheat Ridge, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.