Construction Defects: Stone Veneer, Stucco, Brick and Siding

Is Your Siding Leaking?

We've all seen the gorgeous look of stone or brick on the outside of both residential and commercial buildings. Not only do they look great, but these types of material can provide weatherproofing as well.

However, these beautiful facings can hide big problems. If the detailing is overlooked or improperly installed, water can infiltrate the wall assembly. Detailing can include flashings, backer rod and sealer joints. These typically are seen in terminations where the facade and dissimilar materials meet. For example, if veneer is improperly terminated or sealed to a window frame, moisture can enter around the frame itself, leak into the wall cavity and mold and excessive deterioration can occur long before it becomes visible.

Infrared thermography not only detects and verifies moisture infiltration, but it can also "see" and tracking moisture migration paths. Using infrared thermography can detect stone veneer, stucco, brick or other siding construction defects and it can be a valuable tool to reduce remediation costs by identifying the source of the issue.

Interested in learning more? Call me at 803-328-2889 and let’s talk!

IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit our website or follow us on Twitter:  We are proud to offer the very best infrared thermography services in North Carolina and South Carolina!

*Ideas for this blog entry derived from:
Infrared Applications in the Fields of Forensic & Construction Defect Engineering, Fronapfel, E.L. & Amhaus, E.G., InfraMation 2003, ITC 092 A 2003-08-15

Is Water Leaking Into Your Building?

One of the most troubling aspects of construction defects is that they are not often detected until well after the fact...it can take years for the damage to show up in a way that is visible. For example, one condominium building didn't experience problems for several years until leaks started to show up throughout the building. One of the condos replaced interior drywall several times before the source of problem was finally identified!

What was the problem? The contractor had not installed proper flashings. This could have been quickly and inexpensively identified using a certified thermographer to conduct thermal scans of the building.

Plaza decks and balconies can also be sources for water entry when flashings aren't properly installed (or aren't installed at all). Water can leak into occupied spaces or into structural components. Improperly installed or blocked perimeter or internal drainage systems can be the source of moisture intrusion, leading to massive mold overgrowth and structural rot. Since all of these areas aren't visible, how do you know where the problem is?

One way is to demolish the stucco to figure out where the damage is, and how far it goes back. Of course, this just shows water, mold, and rotting wood damage - but not the source. Do you really want to go to that expense? Or roll the dice and hope you figure out the source before you've ripped into too much of the building? A better idea is to choose a certified thermographer to scan your building and find any issues - before they become expensive problems.

Interested in learning more? Call me at 803-328-2889 and let’s talk!

IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit our website or follow us on Twitter:  We are proud to offer the very best infrared thermography services in North Carolina and South Carolina!

*Ideas for this blog entry derived from:
Infrared Applications in the Fields of Forensic & Construction Defect Engineering, Fronapfel, E.L. & Amhaus, E.G., InfraMation 2003, ITC 092 A 2003-08-15

Construction Defects: Infrared Services - The First Step in Finding and Fixing Water Leaks

This is what I get for bemoaning an early spring - all the sudden it's gotten chilly again! We have frost warnings on the books for this week - how about you?

This week I'm continuing the series about construction defects and the use of infrared cameras to detect the source of any issues. For a brief review, please feel free to visit my main webpage - so far I've discussed, roof ventilation, ice damming, roof ice melt systems and in-floor radiant heat systems (which would feel very good right about now!)

Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) and stucco can also manifest problems, especially if they are improperly installed. EIFS in particular has received a bad rap due to a rash of bad installations in North Carolina in the mid-90s. Problems included lack of flashing, water infiltration (with corresponding mildew and rot issues) and structure damage because of water infiltration behind or around windows.

The most common EIFS issue is typically water intrusion into the the facade of the building because of missing or inadequate metal flashings and sealants.

As you know from past blogs, infrared thermography is often used to detect the source of moisture infiltration - and the same is true of water leakage due to improperly installed EIFS or stucco. Thermal imaging can provide an immediate "picture" of moisture migration paths. It's certainly much cheaper than making large test cuts to see what's going on behind the walls! Finding the source of the problem means it can be fixed quickly and effectively.

Interested in learning more? Call me at 803-328-2889 and let’s talk!

IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit our website or follow us on Twitter:  We are proud to offer the very best infrared thermography services in North Carolina and South Carolina!

*Ideas for this blog entry derived from:
Infrared Applications in the Fields of Forensic & Construction Defect Engineering, Fronapfel, E.L. & Amhaus, E.G., InfraMation 2003, ITC 092 A 2003-08-15