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Foundations, also called “footings”, transfer loads of a structure into the ground and anchor structures in place. A foundation should be capable of supporting all expected loads expected during the life of the structure it supports. The most common load supported is gravity, but additional loads include wind, seismic activity, buoyancy, retained earth, water flow, […]
Asphalt shingles are widely used for roofing because they are relatively cheap and easy to install. Asphalt shingles are classified as either fiberglass or organic. Most asphalt shingles are now made with fiberglass mats coated with asphalt. Organic-based shingles were manufactured with celluse (paper and wood) saturated with asphalt. They were typically more flexible than […]
There are several potential causes of a moisture at an interior wall. These include window leaks, gaps or cracks at the exterior, wind driven rain through soffits, leaking plumbing pipes, and vapor drive. These are discussed further below. Leaks at windows and doors can also cause moisture damage at walls below the leaking window or […]
Crawl spaces exist beneath some buildings with an elevated first floor structure but no basement. Extended periods of high humidity and moisture within a crawlspace is often related to inadequate crawlspace ventilation, and can cause structural damage to a framed floor structure. Long term exposure to high moisture can adversely affect wood, concrete, and steel […]
The U.S. Geological Survey states: “Sinkholes are a natural and common geologic feature in areas underlain by limestone and other rock types that are soluble in natural water. The term sinkhole is used for closed depressions in the land surface that are formed by surficial solution or by subsidence or collapse of surficial materials owing […]
Hydrostatic forces have the potential to cause significant damage to an in-ground pool or spa. In saturated soils, in-ground shells are susceptible to this type of failure after they are fully or partially emptied. This is because of the potential for hydrostatic forces to overcome the weight of the buried pool or spa and other […]
High Humidity The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends that interior relatively humidity (RH) be kept below 65% “to reduce the likelihood of conditions that can lead to microbial growth.” Also, RH above this can be perceived by occupants as being ‘sticky’ or too humid. It can also lead to odors […]
‘Chinese drywall’ generally refers to defective, or ‘problem’ drywall that was installed in numerous buildings throughout the United States from approximately 2001 to 2009. The affected drywall is suspected to contain contaminants which emit gases. These gases are suspected to be a concern to human health and cause corrosion of metals within the building. The […]
To properly diagnose a floor moisture problem, the type of floor structure (slab, wood-framed); flooring (carpet, wood, vinyl); and specific circumstances surrounding the problem should be considered. There are many different potential sources of moisture, and the potential effects of the various factors involved can be signficant. The tabs below present a few of the […]
For the purpose of this discussion, ‘structural concrete’ refers to concrete members that are reinforced with steel. Plain (unreinforced) concrete is strong in compression, but its tensile strength is typically only 10%-15% of its compressive strength. Steel, which is strong in tension, is placed within a concrete member at locations that are expected to experience […]
