Mold

Time and time again, we have homeowners calling us complaining of a roof leak. They can see the watermarks all over their ceiling but cannot find an obvious source of the leak. They can’t remember if the watermark got larger when it last rained or if it first emerged after a big snow storm. When a homeowner calls us with the problem, the first thing we perform is a water test. We spray the section of the roof which corresponds to the watermark location in hopes of recreating any leaks. This simple test is the easiest and honestly, most efficient ways to identify leaks. Sometimes, the water test comes back with nothing. No water came through anywhere. This rules out the most obvious causes of a leak; faulty shingle or sealant somewhere.

The next step; crawl into the attic. Attics tend not to be the most pleasant spaces which is why most homeowners probably spend little to no time in their attic but when you have a leak, it should be one of the first places you investigate. When we access the attic, we inspect the roof trusses, sheathing or rafters for moisture or mold. You might smell mold or a strong musty-odor or your insulation may seem flattened and packed-down. These are the most clear signs of a condensation problem.

What is Attic Condensation?

What is attic condensation? In short, it is when the temperature between your attic and your house is extremely different. In the humid, summer months, hot air builds up in the attic and flows downward into the living spaces below. In the winter, the process reverses. As heated, interior air moves throughout a home, it collects water vapor that is created when homeowners bathe, cook, wash dishes, do laundry, and run humidifiers. The warm, moist air then travels into the attic where the air is cooler and drier. As the warm air contacts the cooler surfaces of attic structures like rafters, trusses and roof sheathing, the moisture it was carrying collects on the surface as water droplets or frost. Eventually, this condensation drips onto the insulation below and leaks through the attic floor, which is when you begin to see water marks. It can also cause mold to grow on roof sheathing, trusses, rafters and ceiling floor.

What Causes Attic Condensation?

Homeowners often ask why condensation seems to suddenly appear. They’ve been in the house for so many years without a problem. Well, it is extremely difficult to answer that question. Sometimes, condensation could have been happening for years but the process is slow and it is just now becoming noticeable. Sometimes, weather can be a worsening factor; like when we have long stretches of extreme weather like snow or humid temperatures. Sometimes, it may be from your own activity in your home; an increase of cooking, showering or laundry. There are so many factors it is nearly impossible to identify the exact reason.

What is certain, however, is that condensation issues must be addressed immediately which means properly ventilating your attic. It is best to consult a profession like Modern when trying to determine if you have a condensation issue and steps to take in solving it. The quicker you act to address a leak, the less damage, time and money you will see and spend. Feel free to contact us with any specific questions!

Your home’s gutters are there for one reason — to protect your home from serious water damage. They work by channeling rain and snow away from your home’s roof and foundation. But, if your home’s gutters are not inspected and maintained properly, you can’t be sure they are really protecting your home as well as they should. Now is an excellent time to ensure that your gutters did not sustain any damage over the winter.

There are a few common problems with gutters — and if left unattended, any one of these conditions can cause basement flooding, foundation cracking and settlement, soil erosion, dry-rot, paint damage, mold, siding damage and more.

Clean Your Clogged Gutters

Typical problems with gutters include leaking, sagging, overflowing, pooling runoff, and clogging; however, clogging is the most common problem of all. If they are not cleaned regularly, gutters and downspouts can get so clogged with debris that they are basically useless. The excess weight of leaves, twigs, and standing water can also make gutters sag and pull away from the fascia. It’s recommended that you clean your gutters at least once per year, and twice per year if there are a lot of trees near your home. After a big storm, it is a good idea to check your gutters to ensure that they did not accumulate storm debris. If your gutters are chronically clogged, you should consider outfitting them with gutter covers.

Find Out Why Your Gutters Overflow

Gutters that overflow can present serious problems to your home’s walls and foundation because the rain is not being channeled away from your home. If your gutters overflow during a heavy rain, either the gutters and/or downspouts are clogged, the gutters are sagging and thereby preventing water from reaching the downspouts, or the gutters and downspouts are not large enough to handle the volume of rain runoff. In most cases, gutters overflow because leaves and debris are clogging them, essentially creating dams that prevent water from flowing to the outlets above the downspouts. In fact, these clogs often occur right at the outlets. Find out what is causing your gutters to overflow and take steps to correct it as soon as possible.

Check Your Gutter Joints for Leaks

If your gutters are leaking, the prime suspects are the joints between sections. Standing water in gutters eventually will rust galvanized steel seams or seep through the seams in aluminum gutters. Leaking gutter joints can be sealed by caulking the joint from the inside with gutter sealant. Very small holes can be filled with gutter sealant. Larger holes will require a patch. If you can’t find a gutter patching kit at the hardware store, you can make a patch from metal flashing. If the gutters are too rusty, and have too many holes to patch, you may need to invest in new a new gutter system.

Fix Sagging Rain Gutters

When full of water, rain gutters can become extremely heavy. As a result, gutters made of flexible materials such as aluminum, vinyl, and galvanized steel can begin to bend and sag and their hangers will loosen. As this happens, they cease to do a good job of draining rainwater efficiently, allowing water to pool along their lengths. This, of course, just exacerbates the problem, making them heavier and causing them to sag even more.

To determine if your rain gutters sag, check for signs of standing water or water marks along the inner sides of the gutters. With a level, check the slope—gutters should drop about 1/4 inch for every 10 feet of run toward the downspouts. To fix sagging gutters, you may need to replace the hangers or, at the very least, re-seat them.

Re-Direct Roof Rainwater Runoff

Downspouts that dump rainwater right at the base of your exterior walls can create serious problems. As water pools and soaks into the soil, it can eventually work its way into the foundation. For this reason, it is important to direct rainwater away from the house.

The best way to do this is to use downspout diverters or gutter extensions attached to the bottom of the downspout.

Even the most expensive and elaborate gutter system won’t perform well unless it is properly maintained. But, it’s important to note that getting up on a ladder to clean gutters is dangerous work. Each year in the U.S., approximately 200,000 people are treated for ladder-related injuries. You can avoid accidents by hiring a reputable, professional contractor to assess, maintain and repair your gutter system.

The Real Reason Your Roof May Be Leaking…

Inspect Your Gutters for Signs of Storm Damage

Clean Your Clogged Gutters

Find Out Why Your Gutters Overflow

Check Your Gutter Joints for Leaks

Fix Sagging Rain Gutters

Re-Direct Roof Rainwater Runoff