A Dane 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.
A credible water damage inspection in Dane does more than identify where the water is visible. It traces where the water went — through structural assemblies, behind finishes, and into below-grade spaces — and produces a written, defensible assessment you can act on or present to an insurance carrier, a buyer, or a remediation contractor.
FLIR infrared thermal cameras detect temperature differentials in structural surfaces — a wet wall cavity cools differently than a dry one during evaporation, making moisture migration visible as a thermal signature even behind intact drywall. Our Dane inspection team uses thermal imaging as the primary tool for tracing water migration paths through wall systems, subfloor assemblies, and ceiling cavities, identifying affected areas before a single pin is driven into a wall.
Thermal imaging shows probable moisture — calibrated moisture meters confirm it. Our Dane 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.
Every COS Water Damage Restoration Dane water damage inspection produces a written report: affected area descriptions, thermal images with annotations, moisture meter readings at labeled sensor points, water category determination (Cat 1/2/3), and a recommended scope of work with priority sequencing. Reports are formatted to be useful to your insurance carrier, a remediation contractor, or a real estate transaction where water damage disclosure is at issue.
Both use cases are available in Dane — contact us with your specific situation and our inspector will scope the right assessment.
Here are the specific inspection scenarios and assembly types our Dane team handles.
Active event inspection is the step that prevents under-scoped remediation and missed hidden damage.
Real estate transactions in Dane frequently involve properties with prior water events — disclosed and undisclosed. Our pre-purchase inspection uses thermal imaging and moisture meters to identify active moisture in structural assemblies, staining patterns consistent with prior water intrusion, and the condition of previous remediation. For Dane buyers, this inspection provides either confidence that a disclosed water event was properly handled, or documentation that it was not — giving the buyer negotiating leverage and a clear picture of what additional remediation cost, if any, is warranted.
Post-remediation verification is an independent assessment — not a rubber stamp.
Mold risk assessment in Dane is distinct from air quality testing. We assess structural conditions and visible evidence — not air samples.
Below-grade spaces in Dane properties — crawlspaces, basement areas, and below-slab conditions — are among the most common locations for chronic moisture problems to go undetected. Our Dane 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.
Our Dane inspection reports are formatted to the documentation standards that insurance carriers use to evaluate water damage claims in WI.


Same-day scheduling available for active water events. Pre-purchase inspections booked on your transaction timeline.
Our Dane 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.



"We were purchasing a Dane home where the seller had disclosed a prior basement water event and claimed it was fully remediated. COS Water Damage Restoration's pre-purchase inspection found moisture readings in the wall framing adjacent to the original event area that were significantly above dry standard — indicating incomplete drying. The written report we received gave us specific sensor point readings that we used to negotiate remediation credit from the seller before closing. Without that inspection, we would have closed into a mold problem."
"I had noticed a musty smell in a room of my Dane 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."
"We manage a portfolio of Dane rental properties and COS Water Damage Restoration's inspection service is what we use every time a water event is reported, prior to any remediation starting. The inspection report maps the damage completely — it's what we give our remediation contractor as the scope of work and what we give our insurer as the damage documentation. Having a consistent, instrument-backed inspection process has eliminated the disputes we used to have about whether remediation was complete or whether the damage scope matched what we claimed."
COS Water Damage Restoration's certified inspection team serves Dane and surrounding communities throughout WI. Call +1-844-499-0972 to schedule your Dane inspection.
Whether you need inspection for an active event, a purchase, or post-remediation verification — our Dane team produces a written, instrument-backed report. Call +1-844-499-0972 to schedule.
📞 Call +1-844-499-0972 — Schedule Dane InspectionIICRC Certified · FLIR Thermal Imaging · Written Reports · Dane, WI