Condensation or Leak

Specific Inspection Topics Structural Inspections
1

Hi Everyone,

Is this condensation or a leak?

New home 11th month home warenty inspection.
Roof recnetly patched in a valley one rafter over.
Drywall is very damp to wet below.
Weather: Rain sometimes heavy last 24 hrs.
Much mold growth in attic
No other area has these water beads.

Thanks for your oppinions and please give me a break this is my 1st post.

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2

I would lean towards condensation. Is there a heat source nearby? A bathroom exhaust vent? What’s in the room below this area? Could be a leak though…is that an outside wall next to the wet area? What does the drip edge flashing look like in that area? What type of roofing? Asphalt shingles? What do they look like in that area?

3

This is next to an exterior wall over a bedroom with no nearby heat source nearby? Also inspected the eaves on the other side of the wall and saw no problems all all though even though there was no drip edge flashing. the eave hung out about 18" and was dry underneath.

4

Other notes:
Ashphalt shinges and a garage below the bedroom into which the leak made it at one time.

5

Hi to all,

My guess is an active leak, and patch repairs are not going to help that sheathing it needs replacement.

Regards

Gerry

6

I would lean towards the condensation theory.

7

It could just be the picture, but it almost looks like sap. Did you feel it to be sure?

8

because it’s beaded up so much and not just soaked and drippy, my vote is condensation.

although, i’m curious to find out why it would be so concentrated in one area

unless there’s an exhaust vent nearby.

the fact that a patch/repair was done nearby throws my opinion back to a leak.

could be a combo of both.

9

I too am voting “condensation,” but the hanging drips do look like sap. Did you check for bathroom exhaust fans and, more importantly, ventilation in the area?

10

Hi All,

Boy you guys are a lot of help?! :smiley:

You I did touch it, as I thought sap as well, but the drops were as wet as water could be. No vents were near here either.

Here is another clue there were here looked like fly and some potato bugs but I am not sure what kind. It was strange to see them congregating in this area.

Suggestions for verbage perhaps anyone?

Thanks to all.

11

Could the air be getting up past the attic door is it gasketed and insulated .
How about pot lights air from the home looks to me to be getting into the attic.
Needs better ventilation both sofit and roof.
Needs to stop home air getting into attic.
Proper ventilation and this should not happen this bad
Roy Cooke
Well for your (Thanks for your oppinions and please give me a break this is my 1st post.) You have found out jus a little how great every one is at NACHI .
Come on aboard love to help you .

12

The reason I am thinking this may be just condensation is that below it is a wet wall and ceiling.

If no one else has anyone EVER seen known condensation ***that looks like this ***then I think I will rule this out.

Keep then coming please, and thanks all.

Bryan Mahar
AVision Inspection Services

13

OH! yes I and I expct many others have seen it like this .

http://www.ronhungarter.com/nw_scary_attic.html

http://www.ronhungarter.com/siding.html

http://www.ronhungarter.com/mold-attic.html

Roy Cooke](“"Scary Stories from the Attic, Part III, by Ron Hungarter.....mold, ventilation, roofing, new roofing tools, do-it-yourself, tools, help, roofers, shingling, roofing tapes, diy, reroofing, layout tape, hand tools, shingled, manufactured housing, modular construction, modular, fiberglass, asphalt, contractors, help habitat, homeowner, DIY, chalk, chalk powder, construction, chalker, magichalk, permachalk, blt, shingles, tape, roofers, roofs, manufacturer, chalkers, shingled, help, equipment, log homes, THOR, free, measurements, builder, builders, chalking, contractor, contractors, lines, reveal, reveals, courses, tip, tips, tool, dormer, dormers, easiest, exposes, exposure, fastest, gable, gables, helpful, hints, hip, homeowner, installer, installing, Kingston, marks, marking, measuring, measurement, newest, safest, striking, string, save, shingling, diy's, new"”)

14

What type of attic vapor barrier?
How was the attic ventilation?

15

No attic vapor barrier only blown in insulation directly onto the sheetrock supported by rafters.

As for the Ventelation It did not look like enough. I am working on determinaing if indead this is a factor at this time.

16

Without being there could be a combination of both leak and condensation. Now if the roof was recently repaired perhaps the moisture from the leak will go away. That sure looks like condensation to me and better attic ventilation couldn’t hurt.

17

Are there any “misplaced” outside vents that could be putting moisture into the attic through the eaves?

18

Looks like a leak to me. I probably would have said: “Roof sheathing is water damaged at XXX. An active leak is thought to exist. Observation of the roof during a period of prolonged rain is recommended. We also recommend an evaluation and repair by a licensed roofing contractor.”

19

I never see vapor barriers in new construction with blown insulation. My view is that the vapor barrier would trap the moisture next to the ceiling and it would condense and cause ceiling stains. I wouldn’t want a vapor barrier in the attic of my house. If the attic has good ventilation, there shouldn’t be any condensation.

20

The situation sounds like a leak but the picture looks like condensation.

If it’s the master BR and they shower with the door to the bathroom open and no have no ventilation, a recessed lighting fixture might route water vapor to this area where it could condense on the sheathing, especially if there were a big difference in temperature between room and attic.

If this isn’t the case, that much water must come from a leak.