Determining origin and cause is a fundamental skill for any forensic engineer. However, there are times when even an experienced forensic engineer can get it wrong. This article will help new and experienced engineers hone in on some commonly missed diagnosis. This series will look at forensic data for hurricane, tornado, fire, wind, hail, and moisture. We will start with moisture origin and cause issues.
The perfect combination of hairline openings on the roof covering and weather events, such as hurricanes and tornados, can and will lead to unwanted damages as depicted above.
Inexperienced forensic engineers often miss ceiling stains such as the one depicted in the picture above. These stains can be a sign of neglect on behalf of the home owner. There are plenty of variables to consider as the source of such stains.
Dark stains are a sign of the manifestation of biological growth. The existence of dark-colored biological growth as shown above is a potential indication that a leak has occurred for an extended period of time.
Cracks and separations of underlayment on a roof covering frequently go undetected. The underlayment serves as the protective water-resistant layer of the roof assembly. When the underlayment fails, this can give way to water intrusion.
Ceiling stains are a primary indication of potential roof damages. It is common misinterpretation that ceiling stains are directly correlated to a one time weather event, such as hurricanes, tropical storms, and regular rain fall. Precise examinations of the roof, by an experienced forensic engineer, can reveal possible alternative issues to the roof covering.
Dark stains are a sign of the manifestation of biological growth. The existence of dark-colored biological growth as shown above is a potential indication that a leak has occurred for an extended period of time. Regions like Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Alabama, which are frequently traumatized by hurricanes, may have higher biological growth rates due to repeated weather events.
It can be difficult, even for experienced engineers, to identify the source of moisture intrusions into a residence. The image above depicts cracked and separated roof-wall flashing. The cracks and separations are the direct results of years of UV ray exposure and the degradation of the roofing material.
Several factors determine the life span of roof coverings, such as material construction, material quality, and material installation. Only the best engineers investigate these difficult claims accurately. Without expert field professionals, these conditions can go undetected or neglected for years.
A corroded nail, as seen above, is a frequently missed diagnosis. (Experienced engineers who may be experiencing a high volume of claims due to multiple storm events, may miss something like this.) QED’s field engineers can attest through years of experience that moisture can ingress into the interior of the residence through exposed and corroded nails. Exposed and corroded nails are an example of deferred maintenance.
QED engineers hold themselves to the highest standard of excellence. Although some firms focus on price and volume, QED’s focus is strictly on quality. This intentional focus on quality over quantity has led to QED’s excellent track record, and recognition as industry experts in cause and origin claims.
QEDGS is a regional forensic engineering firm and was founded in 2014. The founder of QEDGS (Waseem Ansari P.E.) has performed thousands of forensic investigations. The QEDGS staff devotes the majority of their continuing education credits to forensics. Waseem consistently looks for ways to provide superior services to his customers through technology and timely accurate reporting. The QEDGS office is headquartered in Houston, TX. Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on future articles.