The professional siding company told us it would "button up" our leaking window and wet wall problem. It hasn’t. We have mold and mildew on our walls, near the bottom, and the rain we’ve had caused our carpet to get wet. We don’t have a basement, and live on a raised floor slab, so I’m pretty sure it isn’t from groundwater, which is why we sided. What can we do?
A. I’ve looked at many homes since the onslaught of heavy rains in the past few months, and I’ve seen a common theme: the lack of waterproofing techniques employed by "professionals." That term refers to people who get paid for their services. Many think "professional" implies that they know what they’re doing. Their spokesman, usually the owner, probably does know how to do the job right, but I have found over the years that there are those who are most concerned with the appearance of the work, hoping to get paid quickly and move on. They gamble that any problems will be minimal and you won’t call them back. They also gamble that their employees have done at least an adequate job, or that the weather for the next 20 years looks good.
Unless your house was carefully waterproofed with caulking and sealing around windows and door openings, at wall base connections, corners, wire and conduit openings, and any other kind of joint, it is not really waterproofed properly. Instead, the exterior material is relied on to do the job. Start at the top of your home. Analyze the roof, rain gutters and any penetrating elements, such as skylights, vent stacks and chimneys. Look for openings. Determine whether they’re venting openings, which must be preserved, and whether they drain properly. Never seal a venting or drainage point. You may, however, need to check for backup waterproofing. For instance, a brick wall requires a backup membrane and weep holes at the base of the wall behind the brick. If you see holes in the brick joint every 16 inches or so, leave them alone. Sealing them will cause water to accumulate rather than drain.
Please send questions to: HERALD Homes, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
