Typical outbuildings and their weak points

Building
Guest house or casita
Common moisture sources
Unused plumbing, a closed-up bath, HVAC set back too far
Where mold tends to appear
Behind the toilet and vanity, closets, under carpet
Building
Pool house
Common moisture sources
Wet towels and swimsuits, shower areas, condensation from pool equipment
Where mold tends to appear
Changing room walls, cabinet interiors, ceilings
Building
Carriage house or garage apartment
Common moisture sources
Snowmelt off vehicles, roof valleys, unheated walls
Where mold tends to appear
Lower drywall, stair walls, storage areas
Building
Horse barn or tack room
Common moisture sources
Water troughs, hoses, hay storage, wash bays
Where mold tends to appear
Tack room walls, stored leather and blankets, hay loft
Building
Detached studio or office
Common moisture sources
Window condensation, minimal heat in winter
Where mold tends to appear
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

  1. Does the building have its own HVAC, and does containment need to address it?
  2. Are any stored contents, like tack or furniture, salvageable, and who will clean them?
  3. Does the building need a permit for any rebuild, and from which jurisdiction?
  4. 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.