The 5 Most Common Excessive Moisture Problems

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Usually, for every problem, there is a reason. For most wood destroying organisms, a major factor that comes into play is moisture. When there are excessive moisture problems there are greater chances of getting rot, termites and other wood destroying organisms. For this reason, it is a good idea to get familiar to what are some of the causes for this, so that if necessary you know exactly what needs to be resolved.

1. Sprinkler System Not Set Up Properly
   1. Although commonly overlooked a poorly set up sprinkler system can cause you and your structure many problems. What is worst, sometimes it takes years before you can really notice what is going on. If one or more of the sprinklers are pointing towards your home or car, it will start creating problems in the paint and even create some rot. At times your stucco will start breaking apart and costly repairs will need to be completed.
2. Missing Gutters
   1. This is a very common problem in older houses, as the building standards back then were different. A big part of being proactive and avoiding any excessive moisture problems is properly routing water, especially from the gutters during a storm. If they are not installed, when the rainwater comes off your roof it will either hit your foundation surroundings or drip back into your eaves. None of this is good as with time this moisture will penetrate and cause cracks on the concrete, stains on your stucco and possibly even some rot on your eaves.
3. Plumbing Leak
   1. It can be one of the most damaging excessive moisture problems that you could have. This is a problem that we all know could occur, but that sometimes we either do not find it on time or it just gets out of our hands too quickly. If it’s a major leak it can cost up to thousands of dollars to repair, damaging from your cabinets to your electronics to your floors.
4. Roof Leak
   1. This is another common issue among older properties, which have as well older roofing material. With time, storms, wind, and other factors your shingles and even tiles start to crack, brake and displace. This creates an opening in your watertight seal, which then allows moisture to get in. Some are easy to spot, but other smaller leaks can be there for months maybe it’s covered by the attic or maybe by drywall. This can cause problems like rot and as well attract termites and other pests.
5. Faulty Grade
   1. This occurs when the ground level around the house is higher than the foundation. What occurs in this scenario is that during big storms, or when a large quantity of water is being used around the structure is that it will drain towards it. This moisture then gets absorbed by the foundation and the bottom plate of your walls. With years this moisture will provide a path for problems to get in.

Get as familiar as possible with this excessive moisture problems, if you can catch them early you will save thousands of dollars. These are the ones that we most commonly see when we are performing inspections. If you are handy and can repair the causes, go ahead but do take caution as some repairs are better left to the professionals. GC Termite Control offers a full-service repair crew that can assist you with any problems that you have. Give us a call at (619) 421 – 2101 or send us a message through our contact page and a licensed inspector will look for free and provide you with a recommendation and a repair estimate.