Two kinds of ground in one city
Kelso is the Cowlitz County seat. Most of the city sits on the east side of the Cowlitz River, across from Longview, with a smaller section — West Kelso — on the west bank. Platted in 1884, it has homes from many eras, from older houses near the river to neighborhoods climbing the hills east of downtown.
That geography matters under the house. Homes on the lower ground near the river tend to raise questions about water and drainage. Homes on the hillsides raise different ones: how water moves through the slope, and how well posts, piers and foundations are holding up over time.
Hillside history Kelso homeowners know
Kelso has seen what water and unstable ground can do. The Aldercrest–Banyon landslide in east Kelso began moving in 1998 after years of above-average rainfall, and 137 homes were eventually condemned. It became the first landslide in the U.S. to receive a FEMA disaster declaration. Since then, the Washington Department of Natural Resources and local agencies have mapped landslide hazards across urbanizing parts of Cowlitz County.
This history is a good reason to pay attention to how water is handled around and under a hillside home, and to take changes in floors, doors and foundation walls seriously. We inspect the crawl space, foundation and drainage and give you a clear plan to keep water moving away from your home.
What we commonly help Kelso homeowners with
- Foundation repairs in Kelso — damaged piers, footings and wall concerns
- Post & beam repair in Kelso — rotted, settled or improvised supports
- Drain systems in Kelso — water that collects after long rains
- Vapor barriers in Kelso — replacing torn or missing ground cover
Before you call
Notice where the problem shows up. Is it a floor that dips toward one side of the house? A door that started sticking after a wet winter? Water along one foundation wall? Those details help us focus the inspection.