New House

[Charley L. Bottger]

Originally Posted by jmckenna1

I was hired to find a leak that several roofing companies could not find.

It originated where a flat roof over a breezeway joined a brick wall
on the second story. When the gutters backed up, the water would
build up on the flat roof and run down behind the bricks and show up
on the bottom floor (not the second story unit). The leak occurred at
various locations and at different times all over the apartment complex.

Some days it would leak at one place and on other days it would leak
in another place.

The mystery was that it always showed up on the bottom floor and
no one could figure out why it happened in some many places, but never
in a predictable pattern.

The back up in the gutter system was the trigger and that happened
in changing degrees, depending on how the tree droppings went
into the gutters.

When people would go up on the flat roof (after the rain was over),
they could never see the "water build up" issue because the water had
already drained off.

I'm not going to tell you how I fixed it.

John they fix cats and dogs it is better to repair things

[relliott]

Linus if you have any real plumbing experiance , you know that a water leak can travel in the wall and not show itself till several floors below, and not always directly below.

If you do not understand that, you have no understanding of plumbing.

What is so hard to figure.

My question was a sincere question and I am sorry if everytime someone just does not get it ,they attack the question.

[Ron C. Bibler]

Originally Posted by badair

Bob,

Any documentation or photos of these occurrences as you described?

Fungus infection and damage can develop a root-like structure ( called a rhizomorph) that can conduct water. A leak is no longer required if the rhizomorph enters a home. These type of moisture drafting root-like structures can draft water to walls 20 – 30 feet. Or more.

Do a Google search on ( rhizomorph in homes. )

Best

Ron

[David A. Andersen]

Originally Posted by lkage

David, how specific do you get, relative to the leak origination, for the contractor?

Larry, I provide enough information for them to find it, mark it with painters tape etc.

If I know the source, I report it. If not, I will recommend potential sources for them to look. I do not extend my investigation further than that. I let them know what I can do to further locate the problem, but they get to hire me for that. Now if it is my clients home, they need to know everything and I go so far as to remove the siding etc....


Also, I find stuff there the client is not paying for an IR scan. I report the moisture/defect, but they get to pay for further information as well.

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by dandersen

Larry, I provide enough information for them to find it, mark it with painters tape etc.

If I know the source, I report it. If not, I will recommend potential sources for them to look. I do not extend my investigation further than that. I let them know what I can do to further locate the problem, but they get to hire me for that. Now if it is my clients home, they need to know everything and I go so far as to remove the siding etc....


Also, I find stuff there the client is not paying for an IR scan. I report the moisture/defect, but they get to pay for further information as well.

10-4, thank...about what I do as well.

[Barry Adair]

Originally Posted by Ron C. Bibler

Fungus infection and damage can develop a root-like structure ( called a rhizomorph) that can conduct water. A leak is no longer required if the rhizomorph enters a home. These type of moisture drafting root-like structures can draft water to walls 20 – 30 feet. Or more.

Do a Google search on ( rhizomorph in homes. )

Best

Ron

Ron,

I believe I have a better then basic understanding of moisture intrusion/migration and microbial growth, but thanks for the info.

My question to Bob was about the

Quote:
Originally Posted by relliott
Wet yes , but as we all know ,water can travel left , right and even bypass floors to get the next one or travel from the roof to the basement with no signs of moisture in between.

statement.

The physical properties of water would make this dang near impossible, imo, but I'm just a dumb Texan maybe John Mc can enlighten me!

[relliott]

Ok Barry the last statement makes more sense.
What I meant is that it can travel several floors with no visable sign till a far point from entry and it could fool the Flir as to where the source is from.
If you still do not understand what I mean. I will draw a diagram later.

(it can travel in the wall cavity) (follow a conduit etc

[Barry Adair]

Originally Posted by relliott

I will draw a diagram later.

Looking forward to it, I like diagrams

[relliott]

ok I will add later

[John McKenna]

Originally Posted by badair

Ron,

I believe I have a better then basic understanding of moisture intrusion/migration and microbial growth, but thanks for the info.

My question to Bob was about the

Quote:
Originally Posted by relliott
Wet yes , but as we all know ,water can travel left , right and even bypass floors to get the next one or travel from the roof to the basement with no signs of moisture in between.

statement.

The physical properties of water would make this dang near impossible, imo, but I'm just a dumb Texan maybe John Mc can enlighten me!

Leak on 3rd floor did not show up unitl the bottom floor.

I have seen water travel down wall chases or behind brick
veneer and show up 2 and the 3 stories below.

See post #15 for one example.

[Barry Adair]

John,

The origin of that leak is stated to be from the 3rd floor where in the imgage does it bypass floors below?

[relliott]

Good example, but sometimes that may not show up to a thermal cam either I am sure.

Agree or dis-agree?

[relliott]

Barry not bypassing but not visable is what I am implying.

[Barry Adair]

Originally Posted by relliott

Good example, but sometimes that may not show up to a thermal cam either I am sure.

Agree or dis-agree?

Agree!
Easily missed if all temps are relatively equal or if in direct sunlight during the imaging.

[Barry Adair]

Originally Posted by relliott

Barry not bypassing but not visable is what I am implying.

Now we're on the same page only 10-20 posts but I knew we'd get there.