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What's Hiding Behind Your Brick?

By
Home Inspector with H.I.S. Home Inspections (Summit, Stark Counties)

This is a brick 1/2 wall in the front of a house that has severely separated from the house wall behind it.

The cause? Improperly sloped and flashed/caulked at top of wall where the brick meets the siding. Years of water going behind the brick, freezing and thawing has caused it to push away. Now, there is also hiden water damage to the wood structure wall behind it that forms the actual structure that holds up the roof.

The cure? Very expensive! This brick will now have to be removed so that the structure behind it can be repaired, and either new brick or siding can be re-applied.

The damage here was easy to spot from any angle, because it was neglected for so long. Most of the time, the damage and separation are much more subtle, but nevertheless still causes unseen damage.

If you have this sort of brick 1/2 wall, it should be checked regularly for cracked or broken loose caulking, and repaired before the hidden damage occurs.

 

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This posting, and the words written within it are the intellectual property of H.I.S. Home Inspections LLC. All opinions, advice, information or comments contained here are for the express purpose of social interaction among the membership of Active Rain. No other use of this material is authorized, without express wriiten consent of the author(s). Reproduction without written consent is prohibited.

Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Kevin, I find that these brick walls are often improperly flashed.  I like the look of that window to the left in the bottom picture too:)

May 28, 2008 06:43 AM
Kevin Corsa
H.I.S. Home Inspections (Summit, Stark Counties) - Canton, OH
H.I.S. Home Inspections, Stark & Summit County, OH Home Inspector

Good Eye Charles! THIS is why You are a home inspector! LOL

May 28, 2008 06:56 AM
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

Kevin, I see that you have changed your disclaimer and header. Looks good. I agree with Charles on the window. Has my buddy Bubba been moonlighting up there again? Just wait till I tell his wife where he is, she'll jerk a knot in his chain for sure. LOL

May 28, 2008 07:11 AM
Carl Winters
Canyon Lake, TX

Kevin - This is exactly what happens through neglect. As we all know , water penetration causes great damage and very expensive to repair.

By the way, your new page look is great.

May 28, 2008 04:36 PM
Kevin Corsa
H.I.S. Home Inspections (Summit, Stark Counties) - Canton, OH
H.I.S. Home Inspections, Stark & Summit County, OH Home Inspector

Thanks for your comments guys. I am finally halfway satisfied with the blog header...for now. That Bubba guy sure does get around.

May 28, 2008 09:54 PM
David Holden
DRH Home Inspection Akron, Ohio Summit County Home Inspector - Akron, OH
DRH Home Inspection Akron, Ohio Summit

Kevin,  Good photos, they make all the difference, don't they.  Great blog header by the way, I better get on the ball here to keep up with you.  We still need to get together for lunch sometime.  I called and left a VM again a couple of weeks ago, how about you try calling me when you get a minute.

May 29, 2008 12:35 AM
Kevin Corsa
H.I.S. Home Inspections (Summit, Stark Counties) - Canton, OH
H.I.S. Home Inspections, Stark & Summit County, OH Home Inspector

Thanks for the compliments Dave. Maybe early next week for lunch. Try calling the bus number instead of the cell, or I'll try to call you.  The pics are nice, I'm just now learnig how to control them a little better.

The window on the side of the house is missing all of its brick mold trim, as was nearly every window on this bank owned beauty.

May 29, 2008 01:08 AM
Gene Allen
Fathom Realty - Cary, NC
Realty Consultant for Cary Real Estate

Now we know why you guys are around to help find these neat little things that could go missing.

May 29, 2008 12:10 PM
Michael Reel
Integrity Home Inspections LLC - Parkersburg, WV

Brick ties and Flashing??? We don't need no $%^&()*^ brick ties or falshing....... Guess what, Wrong again. Good catch Kevin, Keep it up.

Blessings

Jun 01, 2008 09:01 AM