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Stemming The Tide

By
Home Inspector with JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC HOI 394

Wood decay caused by poor deck planningSince hurricane Irene blew up the east coast, the effects of the storm are still being felt by many, many people, in particular water and flooding. As a home inspector in Connecticut I regularly see the detrimental consequences of water on a home. Wood decay and water damage being the most dominant problems. The thing of it is, many times the problems were bound to happen due to bad construction.

decay at the door frameOn two recent and consecutive inspections I found the same issues with the decks on both homes. The first and most obvious problem, at least to my eyes, was the location of the deck in relation to the door. In both instances the deck had been built at the same level as the door. Convenient for egress…of water.

Almost without exception when I find a deck on the same plane as the door, water damage is evident, both these decks were no exception.

Diagram of door flashingThe other big error was a lack of flashing. Wood on wood doesn’t repel water all that well. In fact it often helps the decay process Both of these decks lacked flashing at the ledger board and door frames.

The water damage and decay was quite severe in one house and moderate in the other. Both will require extensive repairs that could have been avoided by better planning and installing the required flashings.

 

James Quarello
Connecticut Home Inspector
2010 - 2011 SNEC-ASHI President
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

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Posted by

James Quarello
Connecticut Home Inspector
Former SNEC-ASHI President
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

 ASHI Certified Inspector

To find out more about our other high tech services we offer in Connecticut click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services.

Serving the Connecticut Counties of Fairfield, Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven, Southern Litchfield and Western New London.

Comments (15)

Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi James,

Everyone needs to pay attention to this post.

Good one,

Best, Clint McKie

Sep 02, 2011 01:02 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

James I'm just replacing a door that was not installed properly. The new one is.

Sep 02, 2011 01:21 AM
Fred Hernden, CMI
Superior Home Inspections - Greater Albuquerque Area - Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque area Master Inspector

More often than not I find doors and windows with improper flashing. It is either the design or installation flaws or both. Maybe lazy contrators, the unsuspecting homeowner is the one that pays in the long run.

Sep 02, 2011 01:38 AM
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

Good morning, James. Good informational post. Not too many contractors properly flash door and sills. Congrats on the feature... 

Sep 02, 2011 02:03 AM
Peg Barcelo
Fluff My House! Home Staging Inc. 250.486.6369 - Summerland, BC
The FlufftasticStager from Summerland, BC

JQ, when we had our new doors put in the installer didn't have any flashing anywhere until I asked about it, just goes to show how you need to be vigilant all the time...

Sep 02, 2011 02:12 AM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Jim,

Great post. Well decks are decks are they not ;)

On the setting of the doors to decks and walks etc.. I see that way too often. You don't need a tropical storm or hurricane to have issues with the lack of offset.

Sep 02, 2011 02:32 AM
Timothy Mattingly
Louisville Homes Team Louisville KY louisvillehomesreport.com - Louisville, KY
Louisville Homes for Sale

James- I see that a lot here as well.  It does not take much effort on the front side to keep this from happening, but once it does it can be a real pain to repair. 

Sep 02, 2011 02:32 AM
Robert Butler
Aspect Inspection - Montreal West Island, QC
Montreal Home Inspector | Aspect Inspection

This is exactly where amateur deck installers drop the ball. Mistakes at the door and framing attachments practically define non professional work.

Sep 02, 2011 04:27 AM
Jeremy Wrenn
Winslow Homes - Youngsville, NC
VP of Finance, Winslow Homes

James, good post.  We usually find most decks are built at the same level as the interior floor, over the siding on the house, they lack flashing, and they are rotting.

Very rare for a deck to be built with a drop, or even with an overhang over the back door to keep it from rotting!

Sep 02, 2011 07:20 AM
Reuben Saltzman
Structure Tech Home Inspections - Minneapolis, MN
Delivering the Unbiased Truth.

Good post, and good timing; I just found the exact same thing at two patio doors at the same house today.  No flashing, severely rotted... and high moisture levels in the living room subfloor about two feet in.

Sep 02, 2011 02:49 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

That all looks like a lot of work.  I don't know.  It seems too much to me.

By the way, I had a photo on a blog a year ago or so with nearly EXACTLY that same photo of a door's framing!  Uncle Bob to be sure.  That fellow gets around!

Sep 03, 2011 12:03 AM
James Quarello
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT
Connecticut Home Inspector

Clint, Thanks.

Ed, Bad installations happen a lot.

Fred, So very true, the homeowner is the one who pays.

Michael, For sure as we both know and thanks.

Peg, You obviously knew that flashing was missing, unfortunately people trust that the guy doing the work will do it right.

Don. It's funny how some bad habits are universal.

Timothy, Yep, do it right from the start so no bigger problems should show up down the road.

Robert, As well as improper ledger attachment, under supporting the structure....

Jeremy, Well I know at least on contractor who does it right :)

Reuben, Two feet! Wow, sounds pretty bad.

Jay, Uncle Bob is a traveler for sure.

Sep 03, 2011 01:31 AM
Mel Ahrens, MBA, Kelly Right Real Estate
Kelly Right Real Estate - Hood River, OR
Customized Choices for your Real Estate Needs

Very interesting... I had no idea. It's too bad that more contractors don't remember this.

Gretchen

Sep 03, 2011 03:01 PM
E H
None - Amos, QC

James, Very timely info. I've just constructed a door in our sunroom and have designs on a smaller landing then steps. My drawings will soon have a new revision number providing for a lowered deck elevation and door flashing. Thanks.

 

Evan

Sep 04, 2011 03:07 AM
James Quarello
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT
Connecticut Home Inspector

Gretchen, It is too bad.

Evan, Glad the info was before instead of after construction. Good luck with your project.

Sep 06, 2011 07:53 AM