Famous Last Words - "But I Caulked It!"

Within a couple of months of moving into a house, a couple started having water leaking from the light fixture on the edge of the sitting room off the kitchen. 

The builder came out and there was no issue in the roof near or over the area or light fixture.  They were puzzled.

Mighty Mo was called to the scene and saw residual moisture.

But the builder was right, there was no evidence above that the roof, or gutter, had an issue.

What nobody knew was that the water was also making its way into the floor below.

This was going to be fun!

HERE IS THE DIFFICULTY WITH WATER LEAKS.  THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK CAN BE FAR AWAY FROM WHERE IT FINALLY MANIFESTS.

So, if a leak isn't where you are looking, it must originate where you aren't looking!

That demands a tour!

Looking around inside I noticed a cathedral ceiling on the upper level.

With no evidence of moisture or staining.

But, it's a new house.  There might not be staining yet.  And the underside of the roof sheathing cannot be seen at that point, obviously.

Mighty Mo then detected residual moisture inside the ceiling, corner and going down the wall in that cathedral ceiling, far, far away!

That had to be the spot.

I think water flows downhill and given the configuration of the house it woulda, coulda AND shoulda have made its way from here two floors below and into that eating area.

What was outside right around that area?

A SATELLITE DISH!

Calling the dish company, they sent someone out to investigate and they did determine that the installation was not well done and could have caused a leak.

When they called the original installer, his response when they told him the dish was leaking into the house was, was, wait for it ...

"BUT I CAULKED IT!"

My recommendation:  those might just be the most famous last words in history!!  But I caulked it!

 

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com