30 year-old house with aluminium siding. This spring we had ferocious rains over 10 days. In June I opened up two holes in the second floor of the end of the house to put in new windows. The pink insulation was dripping wet from about waist level of the second floor to the floor in both openings. So far no evidence water went any lower.
Insurance company sent an appraiser who promptly ordered another section cut this time from the inside to check moisture level. Same conditions but no water past the vapour barrier. They now want to rip off the entire siding (2 1/2 stories) to find out what happened. Since the water was clear, did not smell and there was only a tiny amount of mold visible, I question if this was a long-existing condition.
End of house faces east (the direction of the storm) and the roof extends 1 1/2 feet.
1. What could have caused it? No sign of breakdown in siding and no water anywhere else.
2. What is now the best way to repair outside walls? Is the original vapour barrier still ok. Insulaltion – what type? Tyvek? and siding?
Cheers
Replies
Greetings M,
This post, in response to your question, will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again.
Perhaps it will catch someones attention that can help you with advice.
Cheers
sleeps till noon but before it's dark...
What could cause it? Aluminum siding, poorly applied.
Thanks
We checked the siding and the there seems to be no failure. Are there are any tell-tle signs we should look for?
You have to think like wind-blown rain and figure where you can get through. Generally at the channels around windows, etc.
There is a world of information missing in this picture so far. I'd need more to answer your questions.
Tell the entire construction in layers from inside to outside what is the makeup of the wall?
What sort of insulation?
Where is the VB located? What kind of VB?
What kind of sheathing?
What is your climate?
What part of the house is the damage on re adjacent room types, and north,south, east, west?
I don't understand this statement, "Same conditions but no water past the vapour barrier." Same condition would mean that the insualtion is wet but no water confuses me?????
Depending whether you have painted or stained trim, it would be relatively easy and minimally invasive to test for moistur by drilling a hole in basebords here and there to insert a probe. The hole can be patched and painted in a painted base. With a stained, I might pop the base off and re-install instead.
You also mentioned a tiny ammt of mold as though this is of little concern. Don't pooh-pooh iot too quickly. mold grows so the time to act is now. it sounds like you are lucky enough to have an insurance co that is trying to do it right when so many would try to shuffle you, bump you, and let somebody else cut the cards.
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Thanks everyone for your replies.
I was away for a week and just got back today and I am printing your messages out. When my kids let me on the computer again, I will answer your questions.
Thanks Piffin for the comments. My aplogies for the delay in getting back but I have been away longer than I anticipated and without internet for a few weeksHere are my answers:
Tell the entire construction in layers from inside to outside what is the makeup of the wall? a) The wall from the outside goes like this: Aluminium siding over black paper, contruction board (which is a a rough fiber particle board, pink insulation, heavy vapour barrier and then interior dry wall.
What sort of insulation?b) Looks like the standard pink batWhere is the VB located? What kind of VB?c) Vapour barrier is inside the wood joists.What kind of sheathing?d) By sheathing I think you mean the black paper and particle board.What is your climate?e) Absolutely disgraceful. No one should be forced to lived here. -45 in winter to 34 in summer.What part of the house is the damage on re adjacent room types, and north,south, east, west?f) Damage is on east side of house but they think it may be on the south side as well.
I don't understand this statement, "Same conditions but no water past the vapour barrier." Same condition would mean that the insualtion is wet but no water confuses me?g) by same conditions I meant the insulation was dripping wet but the water had not penetrated the VB. So far we have had no water penetrating the interior.
And I am not by any means dismissing the threat of mold. Insurance company has put a different contractor onto the job to make sure everything is taken care of.
The concensus seems to be that somehow a one-off storm pushed through the siding and the sheathing couldn't take it. Or a combination of that and a failure of the soffits.I hope to have the sidings removed by next week and then the inspectors can go at it.
I will photograph as much as possible the work.