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Missouri

Home inspection in Missouri.

Closer Look Inspectors offers home inspections and mold inspections in Missouri, from Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Columbia and Joplin to the south-Missouri towns near the Arkansas line. Missouri homes are inspected by local partners in our network.

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Climate and moisture in Missouri

Missouri summers are hot and humid. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals put average yearly precipitation at Springfield 44.7 inches, Poplar Bluff 50.8 inches. Warm, damp air is what lets mold take hold in attics, crawlspaces and bathrooms.

The land under Missouri homes

Salem Plateau: Central Ozark carbonate (dolomite and limestone) bedrock; Missouri DNR counts 16,000+ known sinkholes, 7,500+ caves and 4,400+ springs statewide, concentrated in carbonate Ozark terrain (concentration by region NOT stated on DNR page). Big Spring in Carter County is among the springs. Plateau-specific Missouri wording not verified - use state-level DNR figures.

Springfield Plateau: Arkansas Geological Survey/Encyclopedia of Arkansas describe the Springfield Plateau as Boone Formation limestone with abundant solution and collapse sinkholes (Arkansas side). Missouri-side plateau description not separately verified. A 2006 Nixa (Greene/Christian area) collapse under a garage is cited by DNR; DNR also notes few Missouri collapses damage buildings.

Sinkholes and foundations: Missouri DNR: sinkholes can damage home and building foundations and act as direct conduits for surface water into groundwater; best prevention is to identify and avoid them before development, but the exact location of a future collapse often cannot be predicted; a filled sinkhole's bedrock void continues to drain water.

In pictures

Missouri homes.

Illustrative photos of the kinds of homes and conditions found in this area.

1970s ranch home with a walkout basement on a hilly lot, summer
1970s ranch home with a walkout basement on a hilly lot, summer
1970s ranch home with a walkout basement on a hilly lot, autumn
1970s ranch home with a walkout basement on a hilly lot, autumn
Brick bungalow on a small-town street, summer
Brick bungalow on a small-town street, summer
Brick bungalow on a small-town street, autumn
Brick bungalow on a small-town street, autumn
Farmhouse with a red barn on rolling pasture, summer
Farmhouse with a red barn on rolling pasture, summer
Farmhouse with a red barn on rolling pasture, autumn
Farmhouse with a red barn on rolling pasture, autumn
Hub

Start with Hardy.

01Block well pump house beside a rural home on a wooded hillside — Hardy, AR area

Hardy, AR area

The Spring River country of north Arkansas and south Missouri

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Service area

Missouri towns we serve.

Questions

Common questions.

Does Missouri license home inspectors?
No. Missouri has no statewide home inspector license or board, and bills to create one have been introduced in the legislature without becoming law. Buyers should ask any inspector about experience, training, insurance and professional association membership. Some cities or counties may have local business requirements.
Why is mold common in southern Missouri homes?
Southern Missouri has humid summers and about 45 to 50 inches of precipitation a year, based on NOAA normals for Springfield and West Plains. EPA advises keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally 30 to 50 percent. Basements, crawlspaces and bathrooms are where moisture tends to collect.
Is radon a concern in south and central Missouri?
EPA lists Jackson County (Kansas City) in Zone 1, with predicted average indoor levels above 4 pCi/L. Greene, Taney, Howell, Jasper, Boone and St. Louis counties are in Zone 2 (2 to 4 pCi/L), and Butler County is Zone 3. EPA says the zone map does not predict any single home and recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or more.
Why do crawlspaces and basements matter in Missouri houses?
EPA notes that crawl spaces with high humidity are common sites of hidden mold growth, especially over bare soil. Missouri summers are humid, so foundation moisture is a frequent buyer concern. EPA also advises grading the ground away from the foundation so it does not stay wet.
Are sinkholes and flood zones a concern for Missouri homebuyers?
Missouri DNR reports more than 16,000 known sinkholes, and says sinkholes can damage home foundations and are hard to predict. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood, and FEMA reports almost one-third of flood insurance claims come from outside high-risk zones. Buyers in the Ozarks should check both the sinkhole history and the property's FEMA flood zone.
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