Typical outbuildings and their weak points
| Building | Common moisture sources | Where mold tends to appear |
|---|---|---|
| Guest house or casita | Unused plumbing, a closed-up bath, HVAC set back too far | Behind the toilet and vanity, closets, under carpet |
| Pool house | Wet towels and swimsuits, shower areas, condensation from pool equipment | Changing room walls, cabinet interiors, ceilings |
| Carriage house or garage apartment | Snowmelt off vehicles, roof valleys, unheated walls | Lower drywall, stair walls, storage areas |
| Horse barn or tack room | Water troughs, hoses, hay storage, wash bays | Tack room walls, stored leather and blankets, hay loft |
| Detached studio or office | Window condensation, minimal heat in winter | Window returns, exterior wall corners, bookshelves |
Why separate buildings get less attention
Outbuildings are often on their own water lines and sometimes on their own HVAC equipment. When a guest house is set to a low winter temperature and left alone for months, small leaks and condensation go unseen. Pool houses may be used heavily for a few summer months and then locked with damp towels and gear still inside.
Barns and tack rooms add organic materials such as hay, leather and fabric blankets, which mold readily colonizes when humidity rises around wash bays and water sources. Hay itself can mold if baled or stored damp, and moldy hay is a health concern for animals and people, so storage should be dry and ventilated.
A simple year-round outbuilding routine
- Fall closing
- Empty and dry the pool house, prop cabinet doors open, set heat to protect pipes, and shut off water to unused fixtures where possible.
- Winter
- Walk through each building after big snows and cold snaps; check ceilings, window sills and under sinks.
- Spring
- Look at roof valleys, gutters and grading around each building as snow melts.
- Summer
- Keep wet items out of closed cabinets, run exhaust fans in showers and check tack room humidity.
If an outbuilding needs remediation, ask
- Does the building have its own HVAC, and does containment need to address it?
- Are any stored contents, like tack or furniture, salvageable, and who will clean them?
- Does the building need a permit for any rebuild, and from which jurisdiction?
- What changes will keep the building drier during the months it sits empty?
General information for Cherry Hills Village, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.