Page 22 - Fall 2020 issue

WHEN WATER INTRUSION CAUSES Structural Damage By: Tate Watson Wood and water do not mix for a happy ending. Along the Gulf coastline, we have an extremely harsh envi- ronment with high temperatures and humidity, coupled with salt air, strong winds and rain throughout the year. The con- stant wetting and drying of our structures—on top of bad original construction—can all wreak havoc on critical seal- ants and waterproofing, especially around porch posts and beams, as well as windows and doors. Near the beach, most homes have several open porches or balconies to take advantage of the beautiful Gulf views and sounds of the water, with most sealed from the weather for a nice clean look and no water leaking below. For a long, trou- ble-free life, these waterproofed porches must be installed with the latest and best installation products and practices. Sadly, it doesn’t often happen this way. Improper installation of waterproofing on open porch decks and around posts and beams can cause very serious damage in a short period of time. We’ve seen major wood rot show up on structural beams in as little as one year after original construction. However, smaller leaks can take 10 or more years to show significant damage. Older structures may have failing products after enough weather exposure and time. 22 850BuildingGroup.com