It is well known that most damage to new homes is caused by water infiltration. Damage from water infiltration can create many costly problems including drywall damage, mold growth, delamination of window extension jambs, hardwood floor warping, etc. The solution for these problems starts during the construction phase with many common construction waterproofing practices.

When the carpenters install the treated sill plate, there should be a sill sealer between the treated plate and the concrete. This is to protect that seam from air and water infiltration. There is no reason that a home should be built without one, especially since they are a matter of a few dollars a roll.

When the walls are constructed, the carpenters should install house wrap prior to standing the walls up. Window openings should be cut out of the house wrap after it is installed. The openings should be cut in an “X” pattern, and the excess wrap should be stapled to the inside of the window rough opening. In addition, a window flashing should be used to further seal the window and door openings. The most common areas for water and air infiltration is through window and door openings due to improper installation.

Another common source for water issues is improper venting. This sort of water damage issue is condensation rather than infiltration. Be sure that you have checked to make sure your house is being vented properly. For more information on house ventilation, please visit www.airvent.com.

The last major area of concern is the roof. The most common water infiltration problem occurs with an issue known as “ice dams”. The valleys of your house are susceptible to this problem during the middle of winter. As snow gathers on your roof over the winter, the heat escaping through the roof of your house melts the bottom layer of snow. This melted layer collects in the vallleys and causes problems for roofs that were installed without “Ice and Water Shield”.