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 Mobile ViewINTERIORS of buildings ACOUSTICAL SEALANT CHOICES AGE of a BUILDING - how to determine AIR BYPASS LEAKS AIR LEAK DETECTION TOOLS AIR LEAK MINIMIZATION AIR LEAK SEALING PROCEDURE AIR SEALING STRATEGIES ANIMAL ALLERGENS ANIMAL ENTRY POINTS in buildings ANIMAL ODORS IN buildings APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS ARCHITECTURE & BUILDING COMPONENT ID ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION ASBESTOS-FREE INSULATION MATERIALS ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN buildings ASBESTOS ROOFING / SIDING DUST ASBESTOS REMOVAL, Wetting Guidelines ATTIC LEAKS, CONDENSATION & ATTIC MOLD Air Bypass Leaks, Thermal Tracking Blocked Soffit Intake Vents CATHEDRAL CEILING INSULATION CATHEDRAL CEILING VENTILATION Comparing Two Houses Heat Tapes: Use on Roofs for Ice HEAT TAPES & CABLES on Roofs for Ice Dams HOT ROOF DESIGNS: Un-Vented Roof Solutions HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET ICE DAM PREVENTION ICE DAM CURE: Comparing Two Houses Inspect Attics for Moisture or Mold Inspect Attics for Blocked Soffit Intake Vents Inspect Basements for Moisture or Mold Cold Pour Joint Leaks Form Tie Leaks Wall Crack Leaks Floor-Wall Joint Leaks Inspect Building Exterior - Roof Venting Inspect the Ridge Vent System from the Attic Inspect the Soffit Vent System from the Attic ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS Roof Venting: Intake - Outlet Area Ratios Roof Venting: Proper Locations Roof Venting: Both Ridge & Eaves Venting Needed Roof Venting: Eaves Intake if no Overhang Roof Venting: Soffit Intake Vent-Continuous Roof Venting: Un-Vented Hot Roof Solutions ROOF VENTING ENERGY SAVING DETAILS ROOF VENTING NEEDED? SKYLIGHT VENTILATION DETAILS Soffit Ventilation ATTIC VENTILATION BASEMENT CEILING VAPOR BARRIER BASEMENT HEAT LOSS BASEMENT LEAKS, INSPECT FOR BASEMENT WATERPROOFING BATH & KITCHEN DESIGN GUIDE BATHROOM VENTILATION BEST CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES GUIDE Best Interior Finish Practices BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION BLOWER FAN CONTINUOUS OPERATION BLOWER FAN OPERATION & TESTING BLOWN-IN INSULATION BOOKSTORE - INTERIORS BRICK LINED WALLS BRICK VENEER WALL INSULATION BRICK VENEER WALL Loose, Bulged BRICK WALL DRAINAGE WEEP HOLES BUCKLED FOUNDATIONS due to INSULATION? BUILDING NOISE DIAGNOSIS & CURE CARPET DUST IDENTIFICATION CARPET MOLD CONTAMINATION CARPET PADDING ASBESTOS, MOLD, ODORS CARPET FUNGICIDAL SPRAY CARPET STAIN DIAGNOSIS CARPET & other STAIN TESTS CARPET TEST GUIDE CARPETING & INDOOR AIR QUALITY CARPETING, SELECTION & INSTALLATION CABINETS & COUNTERTOPS CATHEDRAL CEILING INSULATION CATHEDRAL CEILING VENTILATION CEILING FINISHES INTERIOR CEILINGS, DROP or SUSPENDED PANEL CEILINGS, PLASTER TYPES CEILINGS, PLASTER, LOOSE HAZARDS CEILING TILES - Asbestos-Containing CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS COMBUSTION AIR for TIGHT buildings COOLING LOAD REDUCTION by ROOF VENTS CRAWL SPACES CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS CONDENSATION on WINDOWS & SKYLIGHTS DECK & PORCH CONSTRUCTION DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE DOORS, INTERIOR DRYER VENTING ELECTRICAL INSPECTION, DIAGNOSIS, REPAIR ENERGY SAVINGS in buildings ENGINEERED WOOD Flooring ENGINEERED WOOD Products ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS - INSPECT, TEST, REMEDY FIBERGLASS INSULATION FIREPLACES & HEARTHS FLAT ROOF MOISTURE & CONDENSATION FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FLOODS IN buildings-mold FLOOR TYPES & DEFECTS FLOOR, CERAMIC TILE FLOOR, CONCRETE SLAB CHOICES FLOOR, CONCRETE SLAB POURED FINISH FLOOR DAMAGE DIAGNOSIS FLOOR, ENGINEERED WOOD & LAMINATES FLOOR FRAMING & SUBFLOOR for TILE FLOOR, KITCHEN & BATH OPTIONS FLOOR, LAMINATE PLASTIC FLOOR RADIANT HEAT Mistakes to Avoid FLOOR, RESILIENT VINYL or CORK FLOOR, STONE, GRANITE, MARBLE, AGGLOMER FLOOR & SUBFLOOR MOLD, HIDDEN FLOOR TILE ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION FLOOR TILE HISTORY & INGREDIENTS FLOOR WOOD AGE TYPES HISTORY FLOOR WOOD, DAMAGE DIAGNOSIS FLOOR, WOOD ENGINEERED, LAMINATE, INSTALL FLOOR, WOOD FINISHES FLOOR, WOOD INSTALLATION GUIDE FLOOR, WOOD MOISTURE FLOOR, WOOD RADIANT HEAT FLOOR, WOOD SOLID STRIP, PLANK FLOOR, WOOD TYPES FLOORING MATERIALS, Age, Types FORMALDEHYDE HAZARDS FOUNDATION BULGE or LEAN MEASUREMENTS FOOTING & FOUNDATION DRAINS FOUNDATION CRACKS & DAMAGE GUIDE FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING FRENCH DRAINS FREEZE-PROOF A BUILDING FROST HEAVES, FOUNDATION, SLAB GREEN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION CODES GUIDES GREENHOUSE DESIGN for SOLAR HEATING GREENHOUSE / SUNSPACE GLARE HEAT LOSS RATE CALCULATIONS HEAT LOSS in buildings HEAT LOSS DETECTION TOOLS HEAT LOSS INDICATORS HEAT LOSS PREVENTION PRIORITIES HEAT LOSS R U & K VALUE CALCULATION HEAT TAPES & CABLES on Roofs for Ice Dams HEATING COST SAVINGS METHODS HOT ROOF DESIGNS: Un-Vented Roof Solutions HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS HOUSE DOCTOR, how-to be HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET ICE DAM PREVENTION INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE INDOOR HOUSE DUST & DEBRIS INSULATION CHOICES Insulation Air & Heat Leaks INSULATION FACT SHEET- DOE INSULATION for GREENHOUSE or SOLARIUM INSULATION IDENTIFICATION GUIDE INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT INSULATION LOCATION - WHERE TO PUT IT INSULATION LOCATION for BRICK VENEER WALLS INSULATION LOCATION for CAPES, CRAWLSPACES INSULATION LOCATION for CATHEDRAL CEILINGS INSULATION LOCATION for GREENHOUSE or SOLARIUM INSULATION MOLD INSULATION R-Values & Properties INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT INSULATION LOCATION - WHERE TO PUT IT INSULATION LOCATION for BRICK VENEER WALLS INSULATION LOCATION for CAPES, CRAWLSPACES INSULATION LOCATION for CATHEDRAL CEILINGS INSULATION LOCATION for GREENHOUSE or SOLARIUM INSULATION MOLD INSULATION R-Values & Properties KITCHEN VENTILATION LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION LEED Building Designation & IAQ LOG HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY LOG HOME GUIDE MOBILE HOME INSPECTIONS MOISTURE CONTROL in buildings MOLD INFORMATION CENTER MOLD ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT MOLD MOLD APPEARANCE - WHAT MOLD LOOKS LIKE MOLD CLEANUP GUIDE- HOW TO GET RID OF MOLD MOLD DETECTION & INSPECTION GUIDE MOLD EXPERT, WHEN TO HIRE MOLD KILLING GUIDE MOLD LEVEL IN AIR, VALIDITY MOLD PREVENTION GUIDE MOLD SPRAYS, SEALANTS, PAINTS MOLD TEST KITS MOLD TESTING SERVICES Nanomaterials Hazards NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE PAINT FALURE, DIAGNOSIS, CURE, PREVENTION PASCAL CALCULATIONS PLASTER & BEAVERBOARD & DRYWALL PLASTER BULGES & PILLOWS PLASTER LATH, METAL PLASTER, LOOSE FALL HAZARDS PLASTER TYPE IDENTIFICATION PLASTER VENEER Best Practices RADIANT BARRIERS RADIANT HEAT RADIANT HEAT Floor Mistakes to Avoid RADIANT HEAT TEMPERATURES RADIANT SLAB FLOORING CHOICES RADIANT SLAB TUBING & FLUID CHOICES ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS ATTIC VENTILATION CASEWORK, CABINETS, SHELVING INSTALLATION CATHEDRAL CEILING INSULATION CATHEDRAL CEILING VENTILATION HOT ROOF DESIGNS: Un-Vented Roof Solutions Inspect Attics for Moisture or Mold Inspect Attics for Blocked Soffit Intake Vent Inspect Basements for Moisture or Mold Inspect Building Exterior - Roof Venting Inspect the Ridge Vent System from the Attic Inspect the Soffit Vent System from the Attic Insects & Foam Insulation HOUSE DOCTOR, how-to be Insulation Air & Heat Leaks Roof Venting: Intake - Outlet Area Ratios Roof Venting: Proper Locations Roof Venting: Both Ridge & Eaves Venting Needed Roof Venting: Eaves Intake if no Overhang Roof Venting: Soffit Intake Vent-Continuous Roof Venting: Un-Vented Hot Roof Solutions ROOF VENTING ENERGY SAVING DETAILS ROOF VENTING NEEDED? SKYLIGHT VENTILATION DETAILS Soffit Ventilation ROT, FUNGUS, TERMITES ROT, TIMBER FRAME SAFETY HAZARDS & INSPECTIONS SEARS KIT HOUSES SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS SOUND CONTROL in buildings STAIN & BIODETERIORATION AGENT CATALOG STAINS on buildings - QUICK GUIDE STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING EXTERIORS STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING INTERIORS STAIN DIAGNOSIS on ROOFS STAIN DIAGNOSIS on STONE STAINS & FINISHES, INTERIOR STAINS on INDOOR SURFACES: PHOTO GUIDE STAIRS, RAILINGS, LANDINGS, RAMPS STONE CLEANING METHODS STUCCO WAll FAILURES DUE TO WEATHER STUCCO WALL METHODS & INSTALLATION STUCCO OVER FOAM INSULATION STUCCO PAINT FAILURES STRUCTURAL INSPECTIONS & DEFECTS SUMP PUMPS GUIDE SWEATING (CONDENSATION) on PIPES, TANKS THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS THERMAL MASS in buildings THERMAL TRACKING & HEAT LOSS TRIM, INTERIOR INSTALLATION TRUSS UPLIFT, ROOF TRUSSES, Floor & Roof VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in buildings VENTILATION in buildings Air Bypass Leaks, Thermal Tracking AIR CHANGE RATE ACH HEAT SAVINGS ATTIC CONDENSATION CAUSE & CURE BALANCED VENTILATION, HEAT COST SAVINGS BATH & KITCHEN DESIGN GUIDE BATHROOM VENTILATION Blocked Soffit Intake Vents BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION BLOWN-IN INSULATION BRICK or BLOCK WALL CAVITY INSULATION BRICK VENEER WALL INSULATION CATHEDRAL CEILING INSULATION CATHEDRAL CEILING VENTILATION CLOTHES DRYER VENTING COOLING LOAD REDUCTION by ROOF VENTS CRAWL SPACE VENTING & Dryout Procedures HEAT LOSS: How to Calculate Heat Loss in a Building HOT ROOF DESIGNS: Un-Vented Roof Solutions HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET ICE DAM PREVENTION Inspect Attics for Moisture or Mold Inspect Attics for Blocked Soffit Intake Vents Inspect Basements for Moisture or Mold Inspect Building Exterior - Roof Venting Inspect the Ridge Vent System from the Attic Inspect the Soffit Vent System from the Attic Insects & Foam Insulation HOUSE DOCTOR, how-to be Insulation Air & Heat Leaks KITCHEN VENTILATION MOISTURE CONTROL in buildings MOISTURE CALCULATIONS MOISTURE METER STUDY MOISTURE PROBLEMS: CAUSE & CURE ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS ROOF VENTING ENERGY SAVING DETAILS ROOF VENTING NEEDED? SKYLIGHT VENTILATION DETAILS Soffit Ventilation VENTILATION, BALANCED HEAT COST SAVINGS VENTILATION DESIGN PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS VENTILATION, WHOLE HOUSE STRATEGIES WALL SIDING TRIM & FINISHES WALL FINISHES INTERIOR WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR BUILDING WATER ENTRY in buildings WIND WASHING INSULATION At EAVES WINDOWS & DOORS WINTERIZE A BUILDING WOOD Burning Heaters Fireplaces Stoves WOOD FLOOR DAMAGE More Information |
This article describes inspection methods and clues to detect roof venting deficiencies, insulation defects, and attic condensation problems, in buildings. It describes proper roof ventilation placement, amounts, and other details. InspectAPedia offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at InspectAPedia.com/Contact.htm.This chapter "How to Inspect in the Attic or Roof Cavity for Signs of an Under-roof Condensation Problem, is part of our artricle series on "Attic Condensation". Also see CATHEDRAL CEILING INSULATION. These recommendations are based on 30 years of building inspections, on the observation of the locations of moisture, mold, ice dams, condensation stains, and other clues in buildings, and on the correlation of these clues with the roof venting conditions at those properties. I have also measured changes in airflow, temperature, and moisture before and after installing roof venting. © Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. Inspecting in the Attic or Roof Cavity for Signs of an Under-roof Condensation ProblemAfter examining the eaves or lower roof edges, look up at the ridge for a continuous opening on either side of the ridge board, providing an exit vent path. On some buildings I've found that a ridge vent was installed but the installer just nailed it over the existing roof sheathing, forgetting to cut the necessary opening. "Spot vents" on lower roof slopes, or power vent fans are not as good a substitute for the year-round passive venting provided by a ridge vent. You often will see many drip spots on the attic flooring or insulation (Left photo below). This is caused by moisture condensing on the roofing nails and dropping to the surface below. This is sure evidence of a condensation problem. The pattern of drip marks may be remarkably just like the pattern of roof shingle nails which protrude through the roof sheathing. Winter condensation on the nails, even forming frost in freezing weather, rusts the nails and stains the roof sheathing around them. Frost later melts off of these nails and drips onto the floor below. The pattern may occur more on the cooler or north slope of the roof.
If attic stains are from roof leaks, (right photo above) they will usually be much larger and will appear on the sides of rafters, on larger areas of the roof sheathing, and on larger areas of the attic floor. If you see evidence of extensive roof leaks or condensation leaks, I'd also check the insulation and the attic side of the ceiling drywall for a hidden mold problem. If you see condensation drip stains in the attic (left photo above), you'll be confirming what you suspected from outside -- inadequate ventilation.
How to Inspect the Attic for Moisture - Stains Around Roofing Nails
Rust or stains around roofing nails that protrude through the attic sheathing (they're supposed to stick through) are a clear indication of high attic moisture. Our photograph at above left shows roofing nails protruding through plywood roof sheathing visible in an attic where there is no under-roof condensation or moisture problem. Our photograph at above right shows roofing nails which have rusted and stained the roof plywood in an attic where indoor moisture has risen through the building to condense on the under-side of the roof.
How to Spot Attic Mold Due to High Attic Moisture or Roof Leaks
These photos show mold on attic surfaces due to high moisture in that area. While many inspectors notice dark mold or mold-suspect material on roof framing or roof sheathing, it is at least as important, and often more important to spot the light-colored molds that may also be present - often these are the more hazardous, particularly if building conditions cause air movement downwards out of the attic into the living space or into an attic-located HVAC duct system. The brown/black attic mold on plywood in the left-hand photo is easy to spot and is often an allergen or problematic attic fungus like Cladosporium sp., Pithomyces chartarum, Ulocladium sp., or Aureobasidium pullulans but the light colored mold on the tongue-and-groove pine roof sheathing in the right photo was found to be Penicillium sp. which is more likely to be airborne and transmitted in the building. If you find significant levels or large areas of mold in your attic the mold should be cleaned - that is, removed. Do not rely on magic bullets like sprays alone. The spray approach does not remove the problem mold and it may spread it into otherwise uncontaminated materials like insulation. Don't tear off the roof over a moldy attic: Unless the mold-causing conditions have also rotted framing or delaminated plywood roof sheathing, structural removal/replacement, such as a roof tear-off are unnecessary and inappropriate. But don't forget that if you see attic mold the insulation or ceiling drywall below may also be moldy. See How to Find, Test For, & Remove Mold in Attics for details about where and how to look for attic mold and what to do about it. Questions & Answers regarding this articleQuestions & answers about detecting the cause of attic moisture, condensation, frost, leaks, or mold Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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