The article I chose discusses moisture intrusion. This article goes over moisture related problems, potential sources of moisture intrusion, and different climate zones and how they each affect the degree or severity of moisture related issues in different types of homes.
Window wells are a susceptible location for moisture intrusion. Open wells are prone to collect debris, rain and snow. By providing covers over these locations, the homeowner greatly reduces the possibility of moisture intrusion by blocking out rain and debris and snow.
One essential space where moisture must be controlled is the bathroom. Common signs of excess moisture in a bathroom include stains on the walls, mold and rust on any metal parts in the room. Moisture in a bathroom is best controlled by a ventilation fan. These fans come in several different sizes and are controlled in a variety of ways. The inspector is tasked with making sure that a bathroom fan vent is terminated properly. Bathroom exhaust vents must terminate at the exterior of the house. Vents that terminate inside the attic, open the attic space to excessive moisture which can then lead to mold and other subsequent problems.
High amounts of moisture can cause building defects and/or human health hazards. Air movement accounts for the majority of water vapor moment through improperly sealed cavities in the house envelope. Causes of moisture defects can be linked to penetrations in the roof and siding. Plumbing problems may stem from pipe joints to usage of various appliances, water heaters, and HVAC units.
Without proper ventilation (especially in the bathroom) will cause excess condensation, leading to mold issues. Other areas that can be affected by moisture are the attic and foundation. Knowing what climate the house is located in and the various means that moisture can move throughout the house is important to understand for a thorough inspection.
Often times, in periods of heavy rain fall, window wells are a common source of water intrusion to a basement. This is often times the least properly back filled area of a foundation as the protrusion of the well makes it difficult for heavy equipment to properly tamp it down. Unfortunately, a lot of builders will shortcut and will not resource to smaller equipment that can achieve a proper back fill. This allows erosion to happen very quickly in severe rain events and provides an easy entry for water.
The importance of proper venting is substantial. I have seen builder cases in which severe mold problems occurred on the bottom side of the roof decking as a result of in adequate venting causing the decking to condensate on a regular basis.
Looking at the details for proper crawlspace vapor barrier application, I see a common defect in the field in almost every home I visit where a vapor barrier is used. Rarely do contractors seal either the perimeter of the barrier or the lapped joints, nor are the perimeters along the wall capped with treated lumber. Ill be looking at this more closely in the future.
The attached photo shows snow/ice build up at the lower edge of a roof overhang. In this case the homeowner has installed a 24" deep metal standing seam ice shield around the perimeter of the house. The roof underlayment and shingles overlap the standing seam edging. This application prevents ice damming on the lower edge from backing melting water up under the shingles.
Diverting water away from the house and foundation helps to prevent moisture build up in structural components. This is a picture of a downspout that connects to a drainpipe which in turn is connected to a lawn pop-up assembly. In this case, the drainage is approximately 6 from the house. There are 5 of these configurations around the house.
As seen here the gutters are completely backed up, this is a defect. These gutters need to be cleaned as soon as possible because this causes flooding of the gutters that will lead to water deterioration of the ground around the foundation which can lead to serious structural damage.
This image shows a few nail holes in the vinyl siding on the exterior of a home. these holes will allow water to penetrate to the sheathing and will eventually cause damage and mold. would recommend replacing this siding by qualified contractor.
In the picture depicted from the image gallery I learned that when inspecting a fireplace you must do a sweep of not just the outside of the masonry but also take a look inside to glance up the flue to review any damage on the inside.
Image of a wall assembly from exterior to interior is vinyl or aluminum siding. The location of vapor retarder/barrier during cooling. Impermeable rigid insulation. The location of vapor retarder/barrier during heating. R-19 cavity insulation without vapor retarder backing. And gypsum board with permeable paint.
Pictured here is a block basement foundation wall where it meets the concrete floor. Efflorescence is visible on both the wall and the floor. Moisture intrusion can be seen actively entering where the wall and floor meet. I would recommend further evaluation and repair by a licensed contractor.
Moisture Meters for Inspectors
Moisture meters are tools designed to measure the moisture content of different building materials, such as wood, drywall, insulation and siding. Inspectors can use moisture meters to find moisture that would not normally be easily detected. They can be used in determining whether a material is moist enough to allow for the growth of mold. Inspectors can use a moisture meter to determine if a house has leaks before homes are purchased. Moisture meters are a noninvasive tool that is very helpful for gathering moisture readings in otherwise inaccessible areas.
There is evidence of the irrigation system spraying the home. We recommend aiming your sprinkler heads so they don’t hit your house. This home had decorative rocks around the foundation which is a good idea. You should try to divert as much moisture away from your homes foundation. It would be a good idea also to extend the downspout further away from the flower bed.
Ants are a very common problem for homeowners. They can take simple steps to help minimize or be rid of ants. Keep all sugary foods in sealed containers, take garbage out daily, rinse out soda cups before discarding, clean up spills. Ants love moisture so its a good idea to take care of all roof leaks, plumbing leaks. Seal all cracks and crevices around the home. Keep all vegetation from touching or overhanging your home.
I studied the picture, clogged drain in window well and the illustration shows that the drain discharges down and into the footing perimeter drain. The problem with this setup as shown is that the primary drainage has the purpose to transfer water away from the home. The unfortunate aspect is that the drain is supposed to collect water that has been filtered through the soil and then gathered inside of the pipe and then to transfer the water away from the foundation. All of these factors lead to a clogged perimeter drainage system which allows moisture to build up around the entire perimeter causing excessive hydrostatic pressure during wetted times. Nothing, that acts as a filter will stay clear with no access for maintenance and drainage tile installed 8’ below grade is not accessible to maintain. End result, this system WILL fail, just a matter of time.
Protect your property from water damage talks about many ways water can enter a home. There should be more information for homeowners about repairs. Too often they do things like put some putty on a roof leak and call it good. Here in Florida even the best sealants will be slowly destroyed by the sun. If a homeowner says they re-shingled a roof, repaired plumbing,installed a water heater etc., I know I will almost always find issues.
The downspout in this picture discharges to an area on the property that is negatively sloped back toward the foundation. Poor site drainage paired with roof water discharging in this area will allow water to pool by the foundation and enter the crawlspace. Recommend further evaluation by a qualified gutter contractor and landscaper.
