A Minnetonka water damage inspection isn't a walk-through with a flashlight. It's a systematic, instrument-driven assessment that produces a written report showing exactly where the water went, how saturated each affected assembly is, and what needs to happen next.
Here's what makes our Minnetonka inspection service more than a visual walk-through.
Thermal imaging is non-destructive and covers large surface areas quickly — making it the most efficient way to map water migration in a Minnetonka property.
Thermal imaging shows probable moisture — calibrated moisture meters confirm it. Our Minnetonka inspectors use both pin-type meters (direct reading in framing and structural members) and non-penetrating radio-frequency meters (surface reading through drywall and flooring) to take quantified moisture content readings at all thermal-identified locations. These readings are recorded at labeled sensor points and become the data basis for the written inspection report.
A verbal assessment is an opinion. A written report with instrument readings is documentation.
Our Minnetonka inspection service covers two distinct use cases that require slightly different approaches: pre-remediation inspection (mapping an active or recent water event for claim documentation and remediation scoping) and pre-purchase or post-remediation verification inspection (confirming whether previous water damage was properly remediated or whether current conditions indicate an ongoing or previous water problem). Both use the same instrument suite and produce the same written report format, but the findings are interpreted differently for each use case.
Here are the specific inspection scenarios and assembly types our Minnetonka team handles.
When a water damage event has just occurred in a Minnetonka property — or happened within the last several days — our inspection maps the full extent of saturation while the moisture is still detectable by thermal imaging and direct meter readings. This inspection is the foundation of the remediation scope and the insurance claim documentation. Without it, remediation crews are guessing at what to dry, and insurance carriers are estimating on incomplete data. Our Minnetonka active event inspection captures the full saturation picture at the moment of peak detectable moisture — when the readings tell the most accurate story of what happened.
Pre-purchase water damage inspections in Minnetonka are scheduled on the buyer's timeline and the written report is available for the transaction file.
After a water damage remediation project is completed in a Minnetonka property — whether by COS Water Damage Restoration or another company — a verification inspection confirms that structural drying was completed to standard moisture content levels and that no hidden moisture was left behind. This inspection is requested by property owners who want independent confirmation of completion, by landlords who need documentation before returning a property to tenancy, and by sellers who need to demonstrate to a buyer that prior water damage was fully resolved. Our Minnetonka post-remediation inspection produces a written verification report formatted for real estate and insurance use.
Mold risk assessment in Minnetonka is distinct from air quality testing. We assess structural conditions and visible evidence — not air samples.
Below-grade spaces in Minnetonka properties — crawlspaces, basement areas, and below-slab conditions — are among the most common locations for chronic moisture problems to go undetected. Our Minnetonka below-grade inspection covers crawlspace wood framing moisture content readings at joists and beams, vapor barrier condition and coverage, condensation evidence on structural surfaces, and visual assessment for wood rot, fungal growth, and pest damage associated with chronic moisture. Written findings document the below-grade condition for remediation scoping or real estate disclosure.
When an insurance carrier requests additional documentation for a water damage claim — or when a claim has been disputed based on damage scope — our Minnetonka insurance documentation inspection provides the instrument-backed evidence that supports the remediation scope. Thermal images with annotations, moisture meter readings at labeled sensor points, water category determination, and written assessment of the connection between the reported event and the documented damage create a claim file that can withstand adjuster scrutiny.


Same-day scheduling available for active water events. Pre-purchase inspections booked on your transaction timeline.
Our Minnetonka inspector arrives with FLIR thermal camera, calibrated pin-type and non-penetrating moisture meters, and inspection documentation tools. The inspection begins with a thermal pass of all suspected affected areas, followed by direct meter readings at all thermally identified locations. Each reading is recorded at a labeled sensor point location on the floor plan.
You understand what was found before you receive the written report.
The written inspection report — thermal images with annotations, sensor point readings mapped to a floor plan, water category determination, and recommended scope — is delivered within 24-48 hours of the on-site session, formatted for insurance, remediation, or real estate use as appropriate to your situation. We're available to answer adjuster or real estate agent questions about the findings.



"The thermal imaging session was what sold me on how a proper Minnetonka water damage inspection should work. Our inspector traced water migration I never could have guessed at — the event in the utility room had spread moisture into the adjacent storage room wall framing more than twelve feet away. The written report documented all of it and our remediation contractor used it directly to scope the drying project."
"I had noticed a musty smell in a room of my Minnetonka home for months before calling COS Water Damage Restoration. Their inspection found active moisture in the subfloor assembly under an area rug — a slow pipe drip that had been going on long enough to saturate the subfloor significantly without any visible surface evidence. The written report documented the moisture readings, the thermal images showing the extent of the affected area, and the recommended scope. I would never have found this without the thermal camera."
"The post-remediation verification inspection is what I most value. After our last Minnetonka property water event, the remediation contractor signed off on completion. We had COS Water Damage Restoration do a verification inspection and found one wall section with framing still above 15% moisture content. That section would have been a mold problem within weeks. The verification inspection caught it before it became our problem."
COS Water Damage Restoration's certified inspection team serves Minnetonka and surrounding communities throughout MN. Call +1-844-499-0972 to schedule your Minnetonka inspection.
Visible water damage is easy to find. The moisture behind your walls and under your floors is what causes the mold problem three months later. Call +1-844-499-0972 and our Minnetonka inspection team brings the instruments to find all of it.
📞 Call +1-844-499-0972 — Schedule Minnetonka InspectionIICRC Certified · FLIR Thermal Imaging · Written Reports · Minnetonka, MN