What to do with a Leaking Home

If you own a home, you know that the joys of home ownership are well-balanced by the duties of home ownership.  Even the most well-built homes can have minor problems which require maintenance or repairs.  Unfortunately, however, homeowners sometimes find that their home is plagued by more serious issues, including construction defects and water intrusion.

Few forces are more harmful to a home than that of exposure to water over a period of time.  Water can be destructive to the wooden framing and sheathing that makes up the envelope of a home and can even damage your foundation.  It can also result in mold growth, which can cause health problems for your family.

A homeowner often first becomes aware of water intrusion by the presence of stains on the drywall of the home.  Be aware that these signs often indicate a larger problem, as it typically requires a significant amount of water to make its way through the exterior materials and insulation to reach the interior of the home.  A water stain should be investigated immediately to determine the source and the extent of the problem.

In some cases, it may be necessary to enlist the services of a forensic engineer or consultant.  It is important to keep in mind that not every home inspector will know what to look for or will have experience in construction defect investigation.  Determining the presence of and extent of defective work is a specialized field.  In cases I have handled that involved significant defects, I have always engaged a forensic engineer or consultant that I have worked with before to determine the full extent of the problem.

If you have a home or unit that is experiencing water intrusion or has other defective work, speak with a construction attorney to determine how to protect yourself.  The field of construction law has become more complex in recent years, and you can harm your case if you do not act with caution.  We have handled construction matters for single residences, condominium buildings, and townhome developments and are glad to talk with you about your construction matter.