At a recent Oak Harbor home inspection, I discovered deterioration, rot and water damage at the interface between the deck and exterior siding. This interface really should be flashed with a metal flashing detail to prevent water intrusion which can lead to WDO (wood destroying insect) activity and water damage. When deterioration is presenting at this interface, there’s always the possibility of underlying structural damage not visible without invasive inspection. A qualified contractor should further evaluate, invasively, to determine the extent of deterioration and make necessary repairs.
Tag Archives: water damage
VIDEO: Standing Water in Crawl Space
Standing water was discovered at a recent home inspection on Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands. If you see standing water or water intrusion in your crawl space, it’s important to deal with it sooner than later as standing water can lead to structural settling and WDO (wood destroying insect) activity/damage in the home, together with moisture related issues within. The longer water intrusion persists, the more expensive the fix typically becomes.
VIDEO: Huge Open Seams in Siding!
Failed caulking details and huge vulnerable seams between siding abutments at the exterior of a home in Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands were discovered at a recent home inspection. It’s very important to protect open seams at the building’s exterior from water intrusion which can, and will, lead to water/insect damage in short time. Caulking abutments is advised, or installing a metal flashing detail behind open seams does the trick too.
Water Intrusion in Crawl Spaces
Water intrusion under homes is an issue that is somewhat common in the Pacific Northwest, but very important to repair. Water intrusion and standing water conditions in crawl spaces are most often the result of (1) water intrusion from the exterior (e.g., failed/insufficient perimeter footing drains, gutter downspouts discharging directly adjacent the home, lack of gutters at eaves, improper grading not sloped away from the home, water intrusion directly through the foundation wall itself) or (2) a plumbing leak in the crawl space. Less likely- and really quite rare- is a local spring underneath the home itself which, if you have one, it just needs to be directed out of the crawl space through ditching, drain rock and perforated piping. Continue reading
VIDEO: Saturation under and around toilet
At a recent home inspection on Orcas Island, I discovered water stains around a toilet that the Seller informed us were “historic.” Probing with a moisture meter, it was clear that the subfloor was clearly saturated with the possibility of underlying damage not visible without pulling the toilet and invasively inspecting. Moisture meters and infrared thermography help home inspectors determine elevated moisture conditions not visible to the naked eye.
Roof leak and water damage
When you see water stains on the ceiling, together with plastic Tupperware, you know there’s likely an active roof leak! Of course, I use very expensive equipment to confirm (e.g., moisture meter and infrared thermography camera), but this one was obvious. With water intrusion, there’s always the possibility of underlying damage not visible without invasive inspection; it wouldn’t hurt to open the ceiling and look for possible mold growth. This was discovered at a recent home inspection on Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands.
Signs of water intrusion
So, you see a black spot on your sheetrock ceiling, what to do? Well, you may very well have a water intrusion issue. Pictured here is apparent mold growth on a sheetrock ceiling which, when probed with my moisture meter, revealed underlying saturation within the ceiling cavity above. The likely contributing factor was a roof leak for which I recommended further evaluation, remediation and repair by a qualified contractor. There is the possibility of underlying damage and mold growth not visible until the sheetrock is removed. This was discovered at an Orcas Island home inspection in the San Juan Islands.
Water intrusion in attics
One of the reasons it’s important to inspect attics is to look for signs of water intrusion. Here you can clearly see water intrusion from a roof leak in the attic. Nothing was (yet) presenting at the interior finishes within the home, but it’s a matter of time before the roof leak worsens and leads to roof structural damage and leaks to the interior. I always advise my inspection clients to have someone take a peek into their attic and crawl space on an annual basis looking for signs of water intrusion; if you find it sooner than later, the repairs are much less expensive. Water is the enemy to homes in the Pacific Northwest! This was discovered at a recent home inspection in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island.
Video: Water Intrusion and Damaged OSB Sheathing in Crawl Space!
Water intrusion and damage were noted at OSB structural wall sheathing in the crawl space at a recent home inspection on Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands. I like to say “Water is the enemy” to my clients, because much of what I report as a home inspector in the Pacific Northwest has to do with water damage. Water can lead to structural damage, settling, mold, and insect activity/damage (e.g., carpenter ants, anobiid beetles, termites, moisture ants, rot fungus, etc.). So, if you see water intrusion, deal with it sooner than later because repairs become much more expensive with time.
VIDEO: Standing Water and NON-FUNCTIONAL Sump Pump in Crawl Space!
A non-functional sump pump and standing water conditions were discovered in a crawl space at a recent home inspection on Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands. It’s important to monitor crawl space sump pumps to ensure they’re functioning properly as standing water conditions can lead to structural settlement and insect activity/damage. Inquire with contractors about a remote monitoring system to alert you remotely to a non-functional sump pump; this will keep you from having to go into a dirty crawl space!