Water getting in from outside

Rain Water Intrusion in Bothell, WA

Atmospheric rivers drive rain sideways into windows, doors and siding. Water that gets past the trim often ends up inside the wall.

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Rain water intrusion in Bothell shows up as a damp carpet under a sliding door, a stain below a window or bubbling paint on an exterior wall after a big storm. Puget Sound rain usually falls gently, but atmospheric river events push warm, moisture-heavy air off the Pacific with strong southerly winds, and that combination tests every gap in a building envelope. Bothell Water Damage connects you with independent local providers who find where the water went and dry it before it causes rot or mold.

Where rain gets in

Windows. Failed caulk, missing head flashing and clogged weep holes in vinyl and aluminum windows from the 1980s and 1990s.
Sliding and French doors. Thresholds without proper pan flashing let water under the door and into the subfloor.
Siding. Cracked or poorly lapped siding, gaps around vents and light fixtures, and older hardboard siding that swells and fails.
Decks and balconies. Decks attached to the house without proper ledger flashing send water into the rim joist and wall below.
Chimneys and roof-to-wall joints. Missing step or kick-out flashing lets water run down inside the wall.
Grading and drainage. Soil or bark built up against the siding wicks water into the bottom plate.

Why it is hard to see

Water that gets behind siding or a window frame runs down the sheathing and collects at the bottom of the wall. Insulation holds it there. By the time a stain appears inside, the framing may have been wet through several storms. Thermal imaging after a storm, and moisture readings at the base of the wall, show the real extent.

What the restoration provider does

Traces the wet area with moisture meters and thermal imaging, ideally during or right after rain.
Removes wet carpet pad, baseboard and, where necessary, drywall and insulation at the bottom of the wall.
Dries the sheathing and framing with dehumidifiers and air movers.
Checks for rot and mold, and points out the likely entry point.

The leak itself — flashing, window, siding — is repaired by a general contractor, window installer or siding company. Drying without fixing the entry point just sets you up for the next storm.

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During the storm

Put towels at the base of a leaking door, move rugs and furniture away, and photograph where the water is coming in — the pattern is very useful to whoever repairs it. Clear gutters and drains if you can do it safely. Once the storm passes, email info@bothellwaterdamagewa.com while our phone line is being set up.

Rain intrusion questions

Why does my window only leak in certain storms?

Wind direction matters. Many leaks only show when heavy rain is driven against one side of the house, usually from the south or southwest during Puget Sound storms. Failed flashing, cracked caulk or a clogged sill weep hole lets wind-driven rain in, and it may run down inside the wall before you see it.

Is water coming in around a window covered by insurance?

Often not, if it comes from wear, failed caulk or poor installation, which policies treat as maintenance. Sudden damage from a storm, such as a tree branch breaking a window, is more likely to be covered. Ask your insurer before work begins.

Can water inside walls dry without opening them?

Sometimes. If the wall was wet briefly, technicians may dry it through small holes behind the baseboard. Repeated leaks that soaked the sheathing or framing usually need the wall opened so wet insulation can come out and the source can be repaired.

Book an on-site water damage inspection

Burst pipe, wet crawl space or a leak you just found — a local provider can measure the moisture, explain the drying plan and start the work.

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