Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
ASK THE INSPECTOR: Poor-quality workmanship or materials leads to leaks
QUESTION: Last fall, we replaced the soffits, fascia and eavestroughs on our 40-year-old home. Now, with the melting, I see water dripping in three different spots. In one place, the water is dripping out of the spot where two troughs are joining at a corner.
When these troublesome areas freeze at night we can see several 12- to 14-cm icicles. I understand the water has to go somewhere, but I assumed it would exit through the downspouts. I see my neighbour, who also replaced his eavestroughs, is not having this same trouble.
Am I justified in my concern?
Thanks, Alison
ANSWER: The straight answer to your question is a definite yes. Newly installed eavestroughs and downspouts should not leak water, except from the areas designed to channel it out of the system. There may be a simple explanation and repair for the cause, but the underlying issue is quality of workmanship.
The root cause of the problem with your almost new roof drainage system is undoubtedly poor-quality materials or workmanship by the installers. This may range from improperly secured troughs to poor-quality sealant used at the seams. I will elaborate on several possible defects that may be present and repairs that should be undertaken before they get worse.
I would expect the contractor that installed the leaky troughs may have given you some sort of warranty and I would contact them to alert them to your problems. Many contractors of this type subcontract out various aspects of a job such as yours and they genuinely want to know when the installers are doing substandard work. A good contractor should offer to send someone to immediately inspect the job and offer to fix the issue shortly after.
One possibility for the leakage you are experiencing could be due to poor or improper fastening of the troughs to the fascia. This may be seen if the contractors use fasteners that are too short, which may only secure the troughs to the new metal fascia covering the old wood behind.
Also, short screws can become loose from the weight of snow and ice inside the troughs in the winter. This is also a possibility with any length of fastener if the old wooden fascia was partially rotten and simply covered up with the new metal without replacement.
Loose eavestroughs can also occur if the screws are tightened too much and the heads snap off from the shaft. This may go undetected by an inexperienced installer, because the head of the screw can still remain inside the clip supporting the trough when broken.
If the leakage and icicles you are seeing appear to be coming from behind the troughs themselves, improper securing is the likely cause. If the dripping is only seen at the corners, or any joints or junctions in the troughs, there may be another culprit.
Because most new eavestroughs are made from thin, pre-finished aluminum sheets, they can be difficult to properly seam together without the use of sealant at the overlapping joints. The choice and application of the sealant is the likely cause of your issue.
There are numerous types and brands of sealants or adhesives used for various applications throughout a home or building. For securing eavestroughs and waterproofing the joints, the sealant must be very moisture-resistant to prevent leaks.
A common type of waterproof sealant, readily available in caulking tubes for easy application, is silicone. This material is low in cost, very easy to apply at many temperatures due to its fluidity, and available at numerous vendors. It is often used for exterior applications, such as on aluminum eavestroughs, but it is not well-suited for this purpose.
The problem with many types of silicone caulking is they are subject to deterioration from ultraviolet radiation and other weather-related factors. After a few seasons they may lose their adhesion to the substrate or become brittle or damaged. If this was the product used at the joints on your troughs, it's the reason they are leaking.
To ensure the joints and corners of your eavestroughs are well-sealed to prevent leaking for several years, proper exterior-grade sealant must be used. There are varying qualities, colours and types of caulking that may be suitable for this purpose, with the better ones normally significantly more costly than standard silicone. Despite the extra cost, very little of this material may be required for a complete job, so overall expense would be minimal to a busy contractor.
I would tactfully inquire about the type of sealant used by the installer, when you contact the contractor to schedule the repair. If he suggests they always use standard silicone caulking and it works fine, you may want to look elsewhere to fix the leaks. If bad caulking application is the cause of your issue, repairs should be quite simple and only require removal of the old caulking and reapplication of proper material at the joints.
As with most problems or issues with new construction or renovations, they can usually be traced back to either poor workmanship or materials. If you determine the eavestroughs and downspouts were properly secured to your home, the only defect may be in having chosen the wrong sealant for the overlapping joints. In that case, removal of the leaky caulking and replacement with proper exterior-rated sealant should fix the problem, whether done by the original contractor or someone else.
Ari Marantz is the owner of Trained Eye Home Inspection Ltd. and president of the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors - Manitoba (www.cahpi.mb.ca). Questions can be emailed to the address below. Ari can be reached at 204-291-5358 or check out his website at www.trainedeye.ca.
trainedeye@iname.com
Renovation & Design
SOLUTIONS: Clothes are clean -- but something smells
QUESTION: I have a problem with my washing machine. It smells bad and I don't know how to get rid of the smell or how it got there in the first place. Help!
Another question: Is there any way to keep the clasp of a necklace from sliding around to the front of my neck? I'd love it if there was a solution for that! Thanks. Rachel, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Firstly, this is a common challenge with washing machines, often the doors to the machines are tightly sealed and moisture has no chance of escaping between uses. Thus, mould forms under the seal and within the mechanics of the machine. It is true you should keep the door open when the machine is not in use so moisture can escape. You can run one cup of vinegar and a 1/2-cup of baking soda through the machine once a week to kill odour. Also, stop (if you are) using liquid fabric softeners, these tend to build up in the machine and produce mould. As well, lift the seal and clean underneath with a paste of three per cent hydrogen peroxide and borax or toothpaste and an old toothbrush, you will be amazed at the build up. Another favourite product for getting rid of the smell of musty machines is washing soda; you can find this in the laundry department of grocery stores. It is called, So Clean by Arm and Hammer. This product is amazing at whitening and brightening fabrics, as a matter of fact, I like to add 1/4 cup to each load of laundry when I wash whites (it contains no bleaches or phosphates). Both borax and washing soda are great for zapping odour. Also take out your detergent drawer and clean any mildew with three per cent hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and water.
If the odour remains; there may be a more serious problem such as a clogged hose or faulty or worn-out machine parts. This requires snaking the machine and using hot water and an unclogging chemical to free any clogs.
In terms of stopping the necklace from moving around your neck: Attach a heavier pendant, charms or beads to the clasp to add weight to the back of the necklace, attach the necklace onto your clothing or purchase a necklace extender.
QUESTION: I have a free-standing electric water cooler in my kitchen and I am starting to find the water doesn't taste good anymore. I wonder if I should run some baking soda water or something similar through it to freshen it up. I don't know how big the water reservoir is or how I would go about this. It is plugged in all the time but it is probably 10 years old and we all love cold water. Any suggestions? Sue, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Prepare a solution of 50/50 water and white vinegar in a bucket. Unplug the unit and remove the empty bottle. Use a sponge, water and vinegar to clean the inner surface of the unit. Leave for 20 minutes and then run the excess water through the machine into a bucket. Repeat four times. Pick up the drip tray, wash with vinegar and water and replace. Clean as many areas of the unit as possible with vinegar and water. Some people prefer bleach and water over vinegar, this is also an option.
QUESTION: My daughter bought a new pair of white jeans, there was a dark mark so she used bleach in the wash water just for that area. The area turned yellow, so I put them in water with Oxy Clean. Now they are mauve in the other areas and the yellow is lighter! Is there anything that can be done to bring these new jeans back to white? They have not been placed in the dryer. Louise, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Your best bet is to use Rit dye remover, according to the directions on the box, to remove all of the dye. Next use white Rit dye, to re-dye the jeans.
Fresh Secrets
*Stinky shoes got you down? Fill a sock with fresh coffee grounds. Fasten the opening with a rubber band and place the coffee sock inside shoes when not in use.
*Rub faucet and stainless-steel sinks with wax paper to prevent and remove watermarks.
I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming. Missed a column? Can't remember a solution? Need a speaker for an upcoming event? Check out my website Reena.ca.
Renovation & Design
SOLUTIONS: Stored food lasts longer when double-bag sealed
QUESTION: I bought graham wafers, stored them in a plastic jar and kept them in the deep freeze. When I went to use them to make a slice, the wafers smelled rancid. Is it due to the plastic container? Do I throw them away or is there something that I can do (as it's a big jar)? Thanks. Enjoy your column. Marlene (Winnipeg)
ANSWER: Frozen graham wafers should last at least one year in an air-tight container. Depending on the container you used, air and moister were likely factors in the rancidity of the food. In the future; if you double bag food in sealable bags, it will last longer. In the meantime, place wafers on a pan and heat in the oven for a few minutes, then observe smell. It is possible the wafers were freezer burnt and not rancid.
QUESTION: I do a lot of entertaining using tablecloths and napkins. Do you have any suggestions on how to get cloth napkins clean? Is there a pre-soak solution? Although they are fancy stitched and attractive, they are becoming quite stained. Thank you. Barb (Winnipeg)
ANSWER: On average, North Americans use 7,000 paper napkins per year. Cloth napkins add a special touch to any meal. Unfortunately, as time goes on they are used less frequently. As soon as your company makes an exit, gather all napkins and soak them overnight in cold water and a squeeze of lemon juice. In the morning, wash and dry napkins as usual. Treatment for removing existent stains depends on the fabric and colour of the napkins.
Feedback from Manitoba readers
Re: Seatbelt cleaning
In a recent column, you suggested cleaning seatbelts using a degreaser or shampoo and water or heavy duty laundry detergent and water. When I asked a car detailer (a person that cleans up cars prior to resale) he told me he cannot clean the seatbelts with any chemicals due to the possibility the chemical weakens the seatbelt material. (Roger)
Re: Organizing medication
I just wanted to respond to the person asking for help organizing her 82-year-old mother's medicine. There is only one answer to this, which you missed. I did this for my 88-year-old mother a few years ago and it is excellent. The pharmacy made bubble packs that are in Sunday to Saturday packages. They're easy to read with morning, mid-day, supper and evening markings for taking medication at the right time. The pharmacy also included non-prescription meds/vitamins that she takes in this. There are no "expired" medicines to throw away. Med alert supplied by the pharmacy makes up a package that is kept on the fridge with all her medications and contact information for paramedics, should they ever be called. You gave a very complicated procedure, which really did not help this person. Sincerely (Charlotte)
Re: Organizing medication
One should return expired medicines to the pharmacy for proper disposal, rather than toss out or flush down the toilet. It is much safer and eco-friendly. Love your column. Will be trying the stainless sink cleaning tips from that same issue. Thanks (Eric)
Baker's secrets:
-- Instead of a toothpick, test the doneness of a homemade cake with a raw spaghetti noodle.
-- For perfect and professional cake slices, heat the knife or run it under hot water and dry before cutting.
-- Before transferring a freshly baked cake to a platter, dust the platter with icing sugar to prevent the cake from sticking.
-- Wrap a slice of apple along with baked cake, to hold in freshness.
I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming. Missed a column? Can't remember a solution? Need a speaker for an upcoming event? Check out my website, Reena.ca.
