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Home Inspections & Interior Moisture
Should you have a moisture inspection performed on your home? In a word: yes. Any home can suffer from water damage and rotted wood. Even undiscovered leaks can cause damage to support wood that can cost thousands of dollars to repair. A moisture inspection can identify potential problems before they become costly fixes, so it's a good idea to conduct moisture testing. Minnesota's climate can produce serious storms that can drive water into places that you might not suspect. Moisture damage is particularly prevalent in stucco homes. This is because stucco is designed to keep moisture out, so even a small amount of water that penetrates the stucco may take months to dry out.
How Water Gets In
Moisture can enter your home through improperly sealed or flashed doors and windows, roof ends without kickout flashings (which divert water from the house), and stucco extending below grade, which due to improper draining can cause a basement block wall leak as well as other damage.
How a Moisture Inspection Works and What to Expect
There are two methods to conducting a moisture inspection: the probe method and thermography. With either method, an inspector will first visually examine the exterior of your house for visible signs of damage or moisture and details that may result in water intrusion problems.
The Probe Method
The inspector can test for moisture using a penetrating probe meter. To do this, small holes-about 3/16 of an inch-must be drilled into your home's exterior. The holes are filled with caulking that matches the color of your home after the test. In some, non stucco, homes, the inspector may use a moisture scanner, which identifies potential problem areas before drilling, and then follow up with a probe meter.
Damage-Free Moisture Detection
Thermography is a non-invasive technology that uses infrared cameras to "see" into the walls of your home for damage-free moisture detection. An inspector will photograph your home using an infrared camera, which picks up what we recognize as heat. Moisture in building materials retains heat at a different rate than dry materials, so water-related wall, roof, floor, ceiling, or carpet damage will emit a different amount of infrared light than dry materials.
With either method, the inspector may recommend that you open or further examine any areas with excessive moisture readings. An excessive reading is a reading over 20 percent; normal moisture levels are between 8 and 14 percent.
Areas of Service
Private Eye Home Inspections serves the Minneapolis - St Paul metro area of Minnesota.
What about interior moisture?
Can you hide water damage on walls? Yes and no. A fresh coat of paint may hide the problem on the surface but won't remove the underlying problems of mold, water damage, and rotted wood, and a thermographic scan will quickly discover temperature variations from retained moisture,. Keep in mind that water damaged building materials can be unhealthy-providing a breeding place for mold and mildew. A moisture inspection can show you where the damage is, and provide you with a written report that will help your repair contractor understand what needs repair. In most cases, if mold is confined to the surface of your walls (and not inside the walls), a quick sanitize-prime-repaint is all that's required. Kill the mold with a bleach rinse or a dedicated mold killer; prime the area with "stain-blocker" like B.I.N. or Kilz, and then repaint. If the mold is more extensive, we can recommend a course of action.
Call Private Eye at 651 639 0184 for Certified Moisture Testing. Our inspectors are Certified by both the Exterior Design Institute and the Moisture Warranty Corporation
Our Moisture Inspection Services:
Home inspection: interior moisture and exterior moisture testing
We give you the information needed to repair your home!
Buying a Home
Buying a new home? The majority of home buyers hire private home inspectors like us to evaluate the home they are considering purchasing. The buyer's inspection includes checking the exterior, roof, chimneys, and attic; driveways and sidewalks; heating, plumbing, and electrical systems, and more. This inspection does not include moisture testing; if your home is stucco or if you suspect damage, we recommend adding the moisture testing service.
Seller's Inspection and Warranty
This inspection includes all the services listed above and includes a FREE 120-day American Home limited warranty. Give buyers confidence and streamline the selling process.
Truth-in-Housing Inspection
Truth in sale of housing evaluations are now required in several Twin Cities communities, including Minneapolis, St. Paul, Maplewood, Bloomington, St. Louis Park, and Hopkins. These evaluations are required in those cities any time a home, duplex, condo, or townhouse is on the market for sale.
Indoor Air Testing
Our state-of-the-art AirAdviceŽ monitors will test your air over a 72-hour period for radon, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, particulates and other pollutants and allergens. If contaminant levels are excessive, we'll help you choose corrective measures.
We are Private Eye, Inc., built on the strength of several top home inspectors. Protect yourself today by calling Private Eye Home Inspections at 651-639-0184.
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Home Inspections - Residential Structure Inspection
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