As a homeowner, you face the potential of having one or more building material problems arise in your home. While some deterioration is expected as the result of age, some materials have been determined to be faulty or defective as a result of their design, installation or both. Three of the most likely problems to face Jacksonville area homebuyers are highlighted here:
Synthetic Stucco, Louisiana-Pacific Siding, and Polybutylene Pipe.
EXTERIOR INSULATION FINISH SYSTEMS (EIFS) / SYNTHETIC STUCCO
Some synthetic stucco homes look fine from the outside, but there can be problems hiding beneath the surface. The problems arise primarily from small cracks and caulk joints around windows and doors that can let water leak in behind the EIFS. Left unattended, these leaks can cause the wood underneath to rot, literally causing your home to rot from the inside out.
Getting your house tested is part of the solution, but the key is making sure the testing is done right. An inexperienced tester may know to test around the windows because they know water is likely to come in there, but they may not know to test in other locations where the water can travel and settle afterwards.
First, a surface scanning device called a Tramex is used to check for moisture. Then, more intrusive testing is done with a Delmhorst moisture meter if the initial readings merit. Roof flashings are inspected, sealants are checked around doors and windows, and grade level back wrapping is inspected for termites and moisture. Any moisture level above 19% is considered high; above 30% is considered saturated.
If you have any concerns about your home, you should call AmeriPro right away, because ignoring potential problems will only multiply their severity and the cost of repairs. For more information regarding synthetic stucco, click here.
LOUISIANA-PACIFIC INNER-SEAL SIDING
Louisiana-Pacific has been held responsible for manufacturing faulty siding that was found to prematurely deteriorate under normal weather conditions. To determine if there is a problem with your siding, look first for possible maintenance problems, such as cracked or missing caulking; cracking, peeling or fading paint (especially along the bottom drip edges); damaged siding or trim; and damaged or blocked flashings, gutters and downspouts. Pay particular attention to the condition of the caulking and paint on the bottom drip edges. Those are points where moisture is most likely to penetrate. Also check for mold, mildew and fungus. Although such growth does not necessarily signal that there is a problem with the siding, they are symptomatic of moisture or humidity from which all wood needs to be protected.
If you do not think you have L-P siding or if your lap siding was made by L-P and it look fine, you still may want to have it professionally inspected. A thorough and regular inspection of your home's exteriors is good preventive maintenance, regardless of the kind of siding you have. AmeriPro's home inspectors check siding as part of a routine home inspection to see if anything seems out of the ordinary. If you want to schedule a special siding inspection, please contact us.
POLYBUTYLENE PIPE
Polybutylene (PB) pipe is a non-rigid plastic pipe used in residential plumbing applications. PB pipe should not be confused with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe, which is a rigid white or off-white plastic pipe.
PB pipe was first used about twenty years ago and has been put into roughly six million structures in the U.S., including roughly 5% of single-family homes. The product has been sold under the trade names Qest, Thermoguard and Flex-Temp. About 10-12 years ago, problems began to be reported regarding leaky PB pipe fittings as well as leaks from other causes. AmeriPro's inspectors are specifically trained in what to look for to determine if you have PB pipe and, if so, what problems may arise as a result.
Make your next inspection an AmeriPro inspection and see why we are the preferred inspection company for northeast Florida. Call us at 904 268-9989, contact us by e-mail, or use our online forms to ask a question or order an inspection.
Learn more about home inspection, select appropriate subject below:
Some synthetic stucco homes look fine from the outside, but there can be problems hiding beneath the surface. The problems arise primarily from small cracks and caulk joints around windows and doors that can let water leak in behind the EIFS. Left unattended, these leaks can cause the wood underneath to rot, literally causing your home to rot from the inside out. 
First, a surface scanning device called a Tramex is used to check for moisture. Then, more intrusive testing is done with a Delmhorst moisture meter if the initial readings merit. Roof flashings are inspected, sealants are checked around doors and windows, and grade level back wrapping is inspected for termites and moisture. Any moisture level above 19% is considered high; above 30% is considered saturated. 
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