February
brought record rainfall to Southern California. We experienced the
wettest winter in decades! With excess water, surprise leaks can develop
and possibly weaken your structure.
What to Watch For
Your
roof is the biggest deterrent to water intrusion. Make sure it gets
checked for soft spots, gouges, loose shingles and defective flashings.
If liquid gets inside, attic insulation can become saturated and
supporting beams can be compromised.
If your gutters or downspouts are in need of repair, or filled with
debris, proper flow can be hindered. Water may spill onto the outside
walls which could break down the exterior and allow entry. If windows
aren’t adequately sealed, moisture can enter and leave the wood open to
rot. Excess water may also negatively affect your foundation. Often,
crawl spaces and basements get flooded, and don’t drain properly which
can result in standing water.
The above circumstances make your building vulnerable to…
Mold
Mold
depends upon moisture to grow. Give it a dark space and mold will
flourish. Since any water can’t be allowed to remain, your first step
after a rain would be to repair the structure to prevent further water
infiltration.
After you’ve removed excess liquid, a mold & moisture inspector can
look for evidence of mold growth through a visual examination of the
area. He will also watch for damp areas, where mold could be growing,
that may not be visible to the naked eye. A moisture meter helps locate
areas where water has collected, and through thermal imaging (infrared),
he can locate cold spots (usually indicative of moisture).
Once
you discover the source of dampness, the area should be tested to
determine the density of spores and which species. The lab results will
then aid in determining an appropriate remediation plan.
We offer:
• General physical inspection of houses, townhomes /condos.
• Property Condition Assessments on all types of commercial properties.
• Limited Building Inspection of systems only (reduced fee).*
• Sewer line inspection for residential & commercial (with video).
• Mold & Moisture inspections on both commercial and residential.
* The
Limited Building Inspection does not follow ASHI or CREIA Standards.
This reduced-cost inspection is performed per the Standards of Practice
of the Limited Building Inspection.