Soffit seepage?

[John W. Springstead]

Had a past client ( 2 years ago ) call in regard to something showing up on his soffit. Went over to investigate, reached out an open window and touched substance. Slightly like creosote, dark, sticky. Since I was in charge of the construction, I know there is no ventilation since we used spray foam insulation against the bottom of roof sheathing. We did use 2 rows of ice and water sheild from eve up. Then, a heavy duty building paper ( not felt ) up to the ridge. There is no attic access ( vaulted ceilings )
I'm thinking I may have to remove some of the soffit in order to view. There is a stone fireplace chimney directly above this area that doesn't show on the pics ( providing I'm able to download them )
Any thoughts/ideas will be appreciated!

[John Nosworthy]

John,
Can you rule out honey bees ? I witnessed similar sticky stains as honey leaking out from between clapboards on an old church. The stud bays were full of honey comb, top to bottom.
john

[John W. Springstead]

Thanks for the thought John, I forgot to mention, I did touch the material oozing out, it was sticky, and touched it to my tounge ( yuk! ) and it did taste oily. I'm pretty sure its a bi-product of the ice and water shield, but can't figure how it's getting through the sheathing and t&g soffit material,
or why.

[Jay Moge]

could it be pine sap from green wood?

[John Nosworthy]

Since it doesn't appear that the roof leaks, it does seem that something must be getting "cooked" to a high enough temperature to "release" something, be it pine sap or asphalt oils form modified bitumen. You said you built and insulated this detail, did you foam up the roof overhang completely solid ?? Is this the warm or shady side of the house? does the opposite end/side have the same detail and behave the same ?
just wondering,
john

[John W. Springstead]

Yes I was in charge of the project and believe they only sprayed several inches of foam on bottom of sheathing, very little in the soffit area. The problem area is on the sunrise side of the home, no other areas are effected. I might add, this portion is a about a 6/12 pitch, the rest of the home is 12/12 I'm thinking heat build up, but how is it getting "through" the sheathing onto the top of the soffit?

[David A. Andersen]

If the chimney has leaks and the damper is open, condensation containing creasote ???

Try to light it with a match.

[Russel Ray]

Here's something to consider.
This occured to me because I just came from a tenant's house. She was complaining about the "syrupy gunk" on the ceiling and walls of her shower.
I went over to look and, after some investigation in the garage, found that she had used oil-based paint to repaint the bathroom. I love tenants who paint, but in this case her boyfriend chose the wrong paint. The oil in the oil-based paint is heavier than water, so when the paint becomes wet from her long, relaxing showers, and since oil and water don't mix, and since oil is heavier than water, the heavier oil is separating from the paint and coagulating on the surface. I suppose the water is taking it's place in the paint? The paint was alligatoring, even though she said they had only painted it last Labor Day.

[William J. Decker]

1) One NEVER isulates the roof decking. Insulation, even on a cathedral ceiling is supposed to be on the ceiling, not the roof side.

2) One ALWAYS ventilates the underside of the roof.

3) I have seen this many times in such situations where there is no ventilation under the roof decking. Unfortunately, in all thos cases the roof decking (OSB) was rotted.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by rray

Here's something to consider.
This occured to me because I just came from a tenant's house. She was complaining about the "syrupy gunk" on the ceiling and walls of her shower.
I went over to look and, after some investigation in the garage, found that she had used oil-based paint to repaint the bathroom. I love tenants who paint, but in this case her boyfriend chose the wrong paint. The oil in the oil-based paint is heavier than water, so when the paint becomes wet from her long, relaxing showers, and since oil and water don't mix, and since oil is heavier than water, the heavier oil is separating from the paint and coagulating on the surface. I suppose the water is taking it's place in the paint? The paint was alligatoring, even though she said they had only painted it last Labor Day.

Oil in paint is now heavier than water? Perhaps the area was not prep'd correctly. http://www.cilpaint.com/en/advice_faq.html

[rwand1]

Any chance of vermin entry? Perhaps a nest of squirels or chipmunks? Condensation causing feces to wash through soffit? Lack of soffit vents appear to be absent as well.

Raymond Wand
Alton, ON

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Seeing these photos, I will have to agree with Raymond that the inadequacy of proper soffit vents has cause moisture to accummulate in the area caused by heat loss at the soffitit area and impoper ventilation of the attic space.

Moisture could have also caused rusting of all the nails that were used to nail the bead board I observed.

Hope this helps.

Marcel

[John W. Springstead]

Thanks guys for the comments, I think come springtime weather, I have the effected soffit removed for a good "look see" . I'll let everyone know what I found for future reference.

[Russel Ray]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

Oil in paint is now heavier than water? Perhaps the area was not prep'd correctly. http://www.cilpaint.com/en/advice_faq.html

In this case, yes, because it's not 100% oil. It's a mixture of gunk, but its base is oil. There's also heavy oil and light oil, though. They sell at different prices and are used to create different products. I believe lightweight crude is the most popular because it is the most versatile as far as what can be made from it.

[Doug Edwards]

John,
I wouldn't be taste testing anymore of the stuff until I found out for sure it is not squirrel crap (or rat) as someone mentioned.