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Your home’s building envelope—all aspects that encase your home like the roof and walls—is designed to prevent water intrusion, but there are reasons why it may fail to do so. Read more here about Ways to Identify Building Envelope Failure. According to the Center For Disease Control (CDC), building design and functionality are integral factors to limiting water intrusion. Water entering a building often leads to high moisture levels inside, and that will generally enable mold to grow, begin the process of dry rotting, wood deterioration, and contribute to other structural issues.
Another issue that often comes up with water intrusion cases is that it is often hard to detect. When the existence of moisture may not be apparent to any of the occupants inside a home, more damage can occur. For instance, when water comes within only the wall cavity, and you can’t see the actual leakage that broke through the building’s envelope and mold grows behind the drywall. In these situations, an expert in finding moisture should investigate the entire building to see where the leakage originates from, and the extent of the damage caused.
If proper measures are not taken to prevent leaks and water intrusion occurs, mold can spread throughout a building or home, possibly triggering allergies, and causing a variety of illnesses. An online publication issued by the CDC reported exposure to mold is one of the leading causes of many respiratory problems, and studies link mold to numerous sinus infections.
If you suspect mold either by scent or reaction to its presence, it is always a good idea to have a mold inspection. Moisture problems can even lead to indoor air-quality problems. Remember, most water intrusion damage is caused by poor design strategy and faulty installation.
Using a reputable builder to construct your new home, one with the proper credentials, experience, and client references, can help to ensure the home design is adequate to prevent moisture intrusion as well as the construction of the home built to proper standards. A new construction home inspection can help ensure the home was built well.
Over time, however, the best designs and quality work can wear away—seals around windows or roofing material can break down. Routine maintenance is important to help extend the life of these parts of a home, and a home inspection prior to purchasing an older home can help identify areas in need of maintenance. If you have been living in your home for a few years and are not buying or selling, an annual maintenance inspection can help you identify key areas of your home in need of maintenance in order to prevent water intrusion.
