Shot list
Take each shot with a flash or bright work light. Turn on the timestamp, or note the date in the file name.
- The hatch or access door, open, showing its size
- A wide shot in each direction from the hatch
- The soil or floor: bare dirt, partial plastic, full liner or concrete
- Any standing water, mud or wet patches, with something for scale
- Foundation walls, especially white crust, cracks or dark staining
- Joists and subfloor in the area of heaviest spotting, close up
- The same area from farther back to show extent
- Ducts and their insulation, including any sweating or torn wrap
- Plumbing runs under bathrooms, kitchen and laundry
- Fallen or sagging insulation batts
- Foundation vents, open or closed, and what is outside them
- Any wood that looks soft, cracked or broken
A simple log to go with the photos
| Area | What you saw | Photo numbers | Wet or dry | Smell 1 to 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under the main bathroom | ||||
| Under the kitchen sink | ||||
| Under the laundry hookups | ||||
| Along the north foundation wall | ||||
| Near the furnace and main ducts | ||||
| At any addition or connection |
Using the photos
Send the same set of photos to each contractor you contact so that their first impressions start from identical information. When estimates come back, compare what each one says about the areas you documented. A proposal that never mentions the wet patch you photographed under the bathroom deserves a follow-up question.
Photos also help later. If moisture correction work is done, shoot the same angles a season afterward. A crawlspace that looks dry in October and wet in July tells you something different than one that is damp all year. Keep the files with your home records; a future buyer's inspector may ask what was done and when.
Gear that makes this easier
- Light
- A bright LED work light or headlamp
- Protection
- N95 respirator, gloves and old clothes if you enter
- Reach
- A phone on a selfie stick or pole for shots from the hatch
- Scale
- A tape measure or ruler in close-up shots
Common questions
- Is video better than photos?
- A slow video sweep is a good supplement because it shows how areas connect. Still photos are easier to label, compare and attach to emails, so take both if you can.
General information for Wheat Ridge, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.