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Mobile ViewASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN BUILDINGS ASBESTOS LIST of PRODUCTS ASBESTOS PHOTO GUIDE to Materials ASBESTOS REMOVAL, Wetting Guidelines ATTIC LEAKS, CONDENSATION & MOLD BASEMENT CEILING VAPOR BARRIER BASEMENT LEAKS, INSPECT FOR BASEMENT WATERPROOFING BRICK FOUNDATIONS & WALLS BRICK STRUCTURAL WALL Loose Bulged Brick Thermal Expansion Cracking BRICK VENEER WALL Loose, Bulged BRICK WALL DRAINAGE WEEP HOLES BUCKLED FOUNDATIONS due to INSULATION? CATHEDRAL CEILING INSULATION CATHEDRAL CEILING VENTILATION CEILINGS, DROP or SUSPENDED PANEL CEILINGS, PLASTER TYPES CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS COMBUSTION AIR for TIGHT BUILDINGS CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS CONDENSATION on WINDOWS & SKYLIGHTS DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE DIRT FLOOR MOLD CONTAMINATION Disinfectants Disinfecting Buildings with Bleach DRYWALL HAZARDS, CHINESE DRYWALL INSTALLATION Best Practices DRYWALL MOLD DRYWALL MOLD RESISTANT EARTHQUAKE DAMAGED FOUNDATIONS EFFLORESCENCE, Salts & White / Brown Deposits ELDERLY & VETERANS HOME SAFETY ELECTRICAL INSPECTION, DIAGNOSIS, REPAIR ENERGY SAVINGS in BUILDINGS ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS - INSPECT, TEST, REMEDY EXTERIORS of BUILDINGS FIBERGLASS INSULATION FIBERGLASS HAZARDS FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD FLAT ROOF MOISTURE & CONDENSATION FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FIRST PRIORITIES BUILDING ENTRY PROCEDURE AFTER FLOODING CRAWL SPACE SAFETY ADVICE DRINKING WATER - EMERGENCY PURIFICATION DRINKING WATER - EMERGENCY SOURCES ELECTRICAL SAFETY for Flood Damage Inspectors FLOOD RESPONSE CHECKLIST FLOOD DAMAGE RFERENCES FLOOD VENTS & FLOOD PORTS FLOOD-CAUSED MOLD, PREVENTION FLOODED HEATING EQUIPMENT REPAIR FLOODED WATER HEATER REPAIR FLOODED SEPTIC SYSTEMS, REPAIR FOUNDATION CRACKS & DAMAGE GUIDE FOUNDATION DAMAGED, by FLOODING FRAMING DAMAGE, INSPECTION, REPAIR MOBILE HOMES, DOUBLEWIDES, TRAILERS Mold in Fiberglass Insulation Mold on Books, Book Conservation Mold on Fiberboard Insulating Sheathing MOLD PREVENTION AFTER FLOODING MOLD PRODUCTS, INEFFECTIVE MOLD RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION SEPTIC SYSTEMS & FLOODS SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION SEWAGE BACKUP, WHAT TO DO SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP SEWAGE BACKUP PREVENTION SEWAGE CONTAMINATION in BUILDINGS SEWAGE NITROGEN CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE PATHOGENS in SEPTIC SLUDGE SEWAGE PUMPS SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION SEWER GAS ODORS SEWAGE & SEPTIC CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE CONTAMINATION in BUILDINGS SEWAGE PATHOGENS in SEPTIC SLUDGE WHEN TO STOP LOOKING FOR MOLD Wind Damage to Roofs FLOOD DAMAGED FOUNDATIONS FLOOD VENTS & FLOOD PORTS FLOODS IN BUILDINGS-mold FLOOR, CERAMIC TILE FLOOR DAMAGE DIAGNOSIS FLOOR & SUBFLOOR MOLD, HIDDEN FLOOR TILE ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION FLOOR TILE HISTORY & INGREDIENTS FLOOR TYPES & DEFECTS FOOTING & FOUNDATION DRAINS FOOTINGS EXPOSED, Repair Methods FOUNDATION BULGE or LEAN MEASUREMENTS FOUNDATION CONSTRUCTION TYPES FOUNDATION CONTRACTORS, ENGINEERS FOOTINGS EXPOSED, Repair Methods FOUNDATION CRACKS & DAMAGE GUIDE FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING FRAMING DAMAGE, INSPECTION, REPAIR FRAMING DETAILS for BETTER INSULATION FRAMING DETAILS for DOUBLE WALL HOUSES FRAMING METAL STUD PERFORMANCE FREEZE-PROOF A BUILDING FROST HEAVES, FOUNDATION, SLAB 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 INSULATION CHOICES INSULATION IDENTIFICATION GUIDE INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT LOG HOME GUIDE MOBILE HOME INSPECTIONS MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS MOLD in FOAM INSULATION, RESISTANCE MOLD INFORMATION CENTER NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE PAINT FALURE, DIAGNOSIS, CURE, PREVENTION PLASTER BULGES & PILLOWS PLASTER, LOOSE FALL HAZARDS PASCAL CALCULATIONS RADIANT BARRIERS RADIANT HEAT ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS ROT, FUNGUS, TERMITES ROT, TIMBER FRAME SAFETY HAZARDS & INSPECTIONS SEARS KIT HOUSES SINKHOLES, WARNING SIGNS SINKING BUILDINGS SLAB CRACK EVALUATION SLAB CRACK REPAIR SOUND CONTROL in BUILDINGS Splits in Structural Wood Beams STAIN & BIODETERIORATION AGENT CATALOG STAINS on BUILDINGS - QUICK GUIDE STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING EXTERIORS STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING INTERIORS STAINS on INDOOR SURFACES: PHOTO GUIDE STONE CLEANING METHODS STONE FOUNDATIONS STONE VENEER WALLS STUCCO WAll FAILURES DUE TO WEATHER STRUCTURAL INSPECTIONS & DEFECTS SUMP PUMPS SEPTIC SYSTEM PUMPS Sump Pump Discharge Sump Pump Inspection Sump Pump Types Submersible Sump Pump Guide Pedestal Type Sump Pump Guide Battery Backup Sump Pump Choices Water Powered Sump Pump Guide Sump Pump Single vs Duplex SWEATING (CONDENSATION) on PIPES, TANKS TERMITES, ROT THERMAL TRACKING Indicates Heat Loss TRUSS UPLIFT, ROOF TRUSSES, Floor & Roof VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in BUILDINGS VENTILATION in buildings VINYL Siding or PLASTIC Window ODORS in buildings VINYL CHLORIDE HEALTH INFO WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR BUILDING WATER ENTRY in buildings ATTIC LEAKS Moisture or Mold BARRIERS, EXTERIOR WATER BASEMENT CEILING VAPOR BARRIER BASEMENT De-Watering Systems BASEMENT HEAT LOSS BASEMENT LEAKS, INSPECT FOR BASEMENT WATERPROOFING BASEMENT WATER ENTRY PREVENTION CATCH BASINS Chimney Leaks CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS CONDENSATION on WINDOWS & SKYLIGHTS CORROSION in ELECTRICAL PANELS CRAWL SPACE DRYOUT PROCEDURES DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE DRYER VENTING DRYWELLS, FRENCH DRAINS for FLAT SITES DRYWELL DESIGN & USES EFFLORESCENCE, Salts & White / Brown Deposits ELECTRIC PANEL MOISTURE EXTERIOR WATER SOURCE ELIMINATION FLOOD Damage Assessment & Repairs FLOOD DAMAGED FOUNDATIONS FLOOD VENTS & FLOOD PORTS FLOODS IN buildings-priorities FOUNDATION DRAINS, INTERIOR FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING GEOTEXTILES & DRAINAGE MATS GRADING & SITE WORK, EXTERIOR GUTTERS & DOWNSPOUTS HUMIDITY CONTROL & TARGETS INDOORS HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS LOG HOME Leak Diagnosis & Cure LOG HOME Condensation &Moisture MOISTURE in BUILDING WALLS, EFFECTS MOISTURE in CELLULOSE INSULATION MOISTURE CALCULATIONS MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS MOISTURE METER STUDY MOISTURE PROBLEMS: CAUSE & CURE MOLD in buildings MOLD PREVENTION AFTER FLOODING MOLD RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION PERIMETER DRAIN SYSTEMS ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS Soffit Intake Vents & Attic Condensation SEALERS, Basement Floor & Wall Moisture SEWAGE CONTAMINATION SITE & SURFACE DRAINAGE SUMP PUMPS GUIDE SWEATING (CONDENSATION) on PIPES, TANKS VENTILATION in BUILDINGS VENTILATION DESIGN PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS VENTILATION, WHOLE HOUSE STRATEGIES WATER ENTRY in BUILDINGS WET BASEMENT PREVENTION WINDOW / DOOR AIR LEAK SEALING HOW TO Window Flashing & Sealing Guide WINDOW LEAKS INTO BASEMENT More Information |
This series of articles explains the causes of building water entry, leaks, or actual flooding of buildings and describes how to fix building water entry problems. We describe the damage that is caused by flooding, water entry, or smaller leaks, and we explain how best to cure water entry problems in buildings using a series of measures to keep water out of the building basement or crawl space (or other areas), how to get rid of water or wet conditions in a building, and how to correct building damage, mold, rot, etc. caused by water entry. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.© 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. Building Leaks, Water Entry, Flooding, Moisture: Diagnosis, Evaluation, Cure, Prevention - Key ConceptsWe include a series of detailed "how to" articles for stopping and fixing building water damage. Our page top photo shows our client pointing to flood lines on a heating system expansion tank, indicating that this building was subject to severe deep flooding. We learned from neighbors that a nearby river had flooded this home and others in its neighborhood repeatedly over the 60 year life of the building. If your building has been flooded by hurricane, tropical storm, burst pipe, or other water problems, see FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP. Also see BASEMENT LEAKS, INSPECT FOR where we describe procedures for finding evidence of the frequency, extent, source, and causes of leaks, water entry, and actual building flooding - a critical step in evaluating a building as well as in planning the cure for building leaks, water entry, and mold. The most basic advice we can give on stopping or preventing basement or crawl space water entry is that it's best to find where and why water is leaking into the structure and to correct that source - usually it's outside the home. If there are reasons that you really cannot address the water problem at its source, a second best approach is to choose among various methods for keeping water out of the building at the last minute - from inside, combined with steps to dry out or remove excess indoor moisture or water, combined with avoiding generating excessive moisture by proper handling of moisture coming from indoor activities. Here we begin a article series on drying out a wet basement or crawl space and keeping it dry.
How Long Does It Take for a Building To Dry Out After a Flood or LeakOur photos below show the basement dry-out procedure for a New York home that had water entry from a foundation wall leak. Because a finished floor had been put down over wood sleepers, it would have been virtually impossible to dry out this space without pulling up the flooring. The contractor also removed the bottom foot of all drywall to permit inspection of wall cavities for leak signs. It was that step that allowed us to trace this basement soaking to a single foundation wall crack.
The length of time required for wet conditions in a building to dry out is quite variable, depending on multiple factors. The time for water to dry in a wall cavity can be substantial, depending on:
A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Basic Building Dry-Out Procedures
Carson Dunlop Associates' sketch (left) shows common measures to control roof and surface runoff to get water away from the building. In general this is the first step in stopping or preventing wet basements or crawl spaces. Detailed Investigation to Determine the Extent of Basement Water EntryEven when drywall is measured (using a moisture meter) as "dry", we have pulled off wall baseboard trim to find visible water and soaking conditions in such locations. Readers who need to know how to properly respond to flooded buildings should see our series of articles beginning at FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP and also FLOOD RESPONSE CHECKLIST.
Six Topics to Sort Out Building Leaks, Water Entry Cause, Cure, and PreventionA series of detailed articles addressing these categories are listed below. Contact Us to suggest changes and additions to this material.
Evidence of Prior Building Water Entry & Flooding
Links to Key Articles on Diagnosing & Curing Moisture and Water Problems in Buildings
Key building water entry diagnosis and cure articles:
Comment on Using Moisture Meters During a Home Inspection to Screen Buildings for Leaks or Mold
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Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.
WATER ENTRY in buildings
ATTIC LEAKS Moisture or Mold
BARRIERS, EXTERIOR WATER
BASEMENT CEILING VAPOR BARRIER
BASEMENT De-Watering Systems
BASEMENT HEAT LOSS
BASEMENT LEAKS, INSPECT FOR
BASEMENT WATERPROOFING
BASEMENT WATER ENTRY PREVENTION
CATCH BASINS
Chimney Leaks
CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS
CONDENSATION on WINDOWS & SKYLIGHTS
CORROSION in ELECTRICAL PANELS
CRAWL SPACE DRYOUT PROCEDURES
DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS
DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE
DRYER VENTING
DRYWELLS, FRENCH DRAINS for FLAT SITES
DRYWELL DESIGN & USES
EFFLORESCENCE, Salts & White / Brown Deposits
ELECTRIC PANEL MOISTURE
EXTERIOR WATER SOURCE ELIMINATION
FLOOD Damage Assessment & Repairs
FLOOD DAMAGED FOUNDATIONS
FLOOD VENTS & FLOOD PORTS
FLOODS IN buildings-priorities
FOUNDATION DRAINS, INTERIOR
FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING
GEOTEXTILES & DRAINAGE MATS
GRADING & SITE WORK, EXTERIOR
GUTTERS & DOWNSPOUTS
HUMIDITY CONTROL & TARGETS INDOORS
HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS
LOG HOME Leak Diagnosis & Cure
LOG HOME Condensation &Moisture
MOISTURE in BUILDING WALLS, EFFECTS
MOISTURE in CELLULOSE INSULATION
MOISTURE CALCULATIONS
MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS
MOISTURE METER STUDY
MOISTURE PROBLEMS: CAUSE & CURE
MOLD in buildings
MOLD PREVENTION AFTER FLOODING
MOLD RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION
PERIMETER DRAIN SYSTEMS
ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS
Soffit Intake Vents & Attic Condensation
SEALERS, Basement Floor & Wall Moisture
SEWAGE CONTAMINATION
SITE & SURFACE DRAINAGE
SUMP PUMPS GUIDE
SWEATING (CONDENSATION) on PIPES, TANKS
VENTILATION in BUILDINGS
VENTILATION DESIGN PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS
VENTILATION, WHOLE HOUSE STRATEGIES
WATER ENTRY in BUILDINGS
WET BASEMENT PREVENTION
WINDOW / DOOR AIR LEAK SEALING HOW TO
Window Flashing & Sealing Guide
WINDOW LEAKS INTO BASEMENT
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