Como Park

Como Park is a classic Saint Paul neighborhood of modest, well-built early-1900s homes around the lake and the park that give it its name. The housing is approachable and full of character, and it carries the maintenance items typical of homes a century into their lives.

Como's homes are mostly bungalows and small two-stories from the 1910s through the 1930s, with a scattering of postwar infill. These older homes call for a look at original wiring and panels, aging mechanicals, and the settlement and moisture history their basements have accumulated over a hundred Minnesota winters. Proximity to Como Lake and the surrounding low ground makes drainage worth attention on some lots. How the grade and downspouts move water away from the foundation is worth checking, and basement moisture clues can point to a grading problem rather than a structural one. Roofs and attics on these older homes need the right insulation and ventilation to avoid ice dams. Remaining roof life and the attic are worth checking, and a plain-English report makes the findings easy to act on.