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Exteriors, Landscaping, & Siding - Inspection, Repairs, Product Failures ExteriorAPedia © This website explains to find, diagnose, repair & prevent building exterior defects in most building systems. Age of buildings - determining how old Condensation causes & remedies Chimney hazards, inspections, repairs Deck & Porch construction details for safety & durability Exterior siding defects: EIFS, synthetic stucco, hardboard siding, vinyl siding, paint failures, warranty claims Roofing defects, shingle failures, warranty claims Lightning protection system advice Oil tanks, leaks, abandonment procedures, regulations, contamination cleanup services Septic system failures, sewage backups, cleanups, repairs Stair and railing safety hazards, repairs, litigation Termites, rot, inspection, detection, prevention

How to find, diagnose, and repair building exterior defects in most building systems. See links at page left or scroll down. chimneys, vinyl siding, hardboard siding, synthetic stucco, lightning protection, paint failures, oil storage tanks, roof leaks, slate roofing, asphalt shingle roofing, and septic systems. This includes explanation of causes of building exterior defects, how to spot them, how to repair them, and how to prevent them.

Topics include attic condensation, chimneys, environmental hazards, vinyl siding defects, masonite or other hardboard siding, exterior paint failures, lightning protection, above ground and buried oil tanks, septic systems, termites, and structural rot. proper use of vapor barriers, We explain how to identify, diagnose, repair or prevent building defects and environmental hazards associated with building exteriors, site conditions and the building envelope. Links on this page direct the reader either directly into an in-depth article on the topic or to our collection of such articles.

© Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

• AGE of a BUILDING - how to determine How to Determine the Age of a Building from Visual or Documentary Clues
• Abatibi Siding Class Action Lawsuit Claims hardboard siding failure description & contact information for attorneys
• Attic Condensation and Ice Dam Leaks - Detection and Correcting Venting and Condensation Problems in Buildings
• Boise Cascade Siding Class Action Lawsuit Claims hardboard siding failure description & contact information for attorneys
• Cement Asbestos Siding Shingles how to identify and repair, sources of replacement fiber cement shingles
• Chimneys fire hazards, heating flues, woodstoves, coal stoves, & fireplaces: chimney inspection, defects, safety concerns, repair methods
• EIFS Synthetic Stucco building wall cladding installation defects, leaks, damage, class actions - links list
• Environmental hazards: allergens, EMF, lead paint, lead in water, leaks, moisture, venting, mold-contamination, MVOCs, radon, toxic gases
• Hardboard siding Boise Cascade, Georgia Pacific, Masonite, etc: siding failures, inspections, class actions
• Paint Failure Diagnosis

- on Building exteriors, alligatoring cracking peeling paint, diagnosis, repair, types of paint failure, causes, paint failure references, diagnostic checklist, paint failure prevention

• Lightning Protection & Lightning Strike Risk Assessment, Protection System Information & Services what are the chances of my home being struck by lightning? how to prevent lightning strike damage at homes, lightning arrestor system inspections.
• Log Home Inspection & Repair Guide - how to inspect, diagnose, and repair problems on log houses; how to identify and determine the age of different types of log homes: traditional log homes, manufactured log homes, slab-sided log homes, and alternative log homes using concrete logs and fiberglass logs.
• Masonite Siding Claims - hardboard siding failure, class action, settlement, claims advice
• Mobile Home Inspection Guide - a mobile home, manufactured home, and trailer inspection guide
• Oil Storage Tank Information Website

: Buried or Above Ground Oil Tank Inspection, Testing, Cleanup, Abandonment of Oil Tanks Oil Tanks Above Ground, UL Standards, guidance for home owners, buyers, and inspectors

• Plant Disease and Insect Clinic NC Coop. Extension
• Roofing & Flashing

  Failures, Defects, Inspection, Repair for owners and buyers

• Septic System Information Website

- Extensive, Detailed Consumer and Industry Information on Septic System Inspection, Testing, Maintenance, Repairs, Alternative Designs for on-site waste disposal

• Sewage and Septic backup contamination in Buildings: inspection, testing, remediation, & references to expert sources
• Stairs and Railings: A Checklist for Stair, Railing, Landing Safety Inspections
• Termites/Rot: Rot, fungus, Termites, Carpenter Ants, Powder Post Beetles, & other Wood Destroying Organisms
  •   Insects & Foam Insulation
  •   Mold in Foam Insulation

Synthetic Stucco, EIFS Siding Products, Failures, Litigation, Services

EIFS is an abbreviation for "Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems" or "barrier", a synthetic stucco material which is usually applied over a system of solid foam insulation board and synthetic fabrics to form a stucco building exterior surface. There have been substantial building failures and costly damage at many EIFS covered buildings, primarily because the EIFS-covered building exterior may leak into the building walls but the foam insulation used beneath this stucco method may not allow moisture to escape from building cavities.

In a nutshell, leaks into the structure of an EIFS-covered building can cause major mold, rot, and structural damage because water leaks into the structure from installation defects (very common), holes, or damaged siding. The product manufacturers say that if their materials are installed according to their specifications there will not be problems with this synthetic stucco method. We have rarely found a building at which the demanding and detailed product specifications have been followed during installation, and in my OPINION, the specifications may be just too demanding for many installers. EIFS siding material has been the subject of failures and litigation.

The photographs above are of an EIFS building exterior showing the attractive EIFS finish in the left photo and a typical wall leak at an improperly installed window sill in the right-hand photo. Further invasive inspection found rot and damage in building walls at multiple locations where penetrations or absent flashing or caulking had led to leaks.

At another EIFS building we investigated and one which was in litigation, the EIFS installation contractor defended a defective EIFS installation (no caulking, no sealants, no flashing) by arguing that the prime contractor was responsible for those details and that his contract excluded those details. He was "just hired to apply the stucco system". In view of the fact that "application" of the particular manufacturer's stucco system called for numerous sealing details, not one of which was followed, this was a ridiculous argument. Damages were substantial.

EIFS, Synthetic Stucco, Dryvit, Sto wall type system failure investigations, EIFS leaks, building rot from siding leaks, EIFS defects-caused mold damage, EIFS siding inspection and repair methods are discussed at the links to articles, attorneys, associations, and product manufacturers listed at this website.
[If you are an EIFS manufacturer, installer, or EIFS inspector, contact us to add listings - there is no fee.]

• Master List of EIFS Resources Synthetic Stucco articles: attorneys, claims assistance, EIFS inspection procedures, EIFS installation details etc. are provided by articles linked to from this list of synthetic stucco articles, product manufacturers, associations
• Class Action Settlement for Senergy and Thoro brands of EIFS was completed the Superior Court of the State of North Carolina, Hanover County

[Thanks to Michael Leavitt, an professional home inspector, for help with the EIFS resource links.]

Hardboard, Composite, List of "Masonite"-type Siding Failures & Claims Information, Hardboard Siding Failure Diagnosis, Repair, Proper Installation

Hardboard, Composite, "Masonite"-type Siding: failure and leak inspection, siding repair, siding litigation, hardboard siding class action lawsuits and settlements are listed here Abatibi-Price Hardboard Siding Failures ABTCO hardboard Siding Failures & Claims: see www.abtcoclaims.com. Boise Cascade Hardboard Siding Failures: examples and documentation. Mail claim to: Boise Cascade Corporation, Timber & Wood Products Division, Attn: Tana Rasmussen, P.O. Box 62, Boise, ID 83707, 208/384-6162; A Boise Cascade hardboard siding claim needs to include six photos, one of each side of the building & two close-ups that show the problems. Forestex Hardboard Siding Failures & Claims: Contact Stimson Corporation, 520 S.W. Yamhill, Suite 325, Portland, Oregon, 97204-1319. Georgia Pacific Hardboard Sising Failures & Claims: last date for filing claims under the settlement was August 18, 1998. Louisiana Pacific Siding Failures: A class action settlement ended on December 31, 2002. Claims: contact Louisiana Pacific Corporation's product warranty department 877-677-6722 for LP siding installed before January 1996 or call 800-450-6106 for LP installed after January 1996,including Smart System® Products by Louisiana Pacific Masonite® hardboard siding failures: On January 15, 1998, the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Alabama, granted final approval to a Settlement in the lawsuit known as Naef v. Masonite, CV-94-4033. The Settlement provided a program for eligible claimants to recover the costs associated with damage caused by the installation and incorporation of Masonite Hardboard Siding. The deadline to file a claim has passed. For more information call 800-330-2722. Also see www.masoniteclaims.com Masonite OmniWood Siding claims: On January 6, 1999, the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Alabama, granted final approval to a settlement in the lawsuit known as Cosby v. Masonite, CV-98-2446. The Settlement provided a program for eligible claimants to recover the costs associated with damage caused by the installation and incorporation of Masonite Omniwood Siding. The deadline to file a claim has passed. For more information call 800-256-6990. Omniwood® is a registered trademark of Masonite Corporation. Also see www.masoniteclaims.com Shakertown Panel Siding Failures: some writers report Shakertown panel siding failures on product manufactured before 1992. Shakertown manufactures premium Western Red Cedar shingles for residential and commercial siding applications, available throughout the United States and Canada. See shakertown.com Weyerhaeuser Hardboard Siding claims: see www.weyerclaims.com Wolverine DuraPress® siding: this product is now sold as Weatherboard® by Certainteed - see certainteed.com Siding Links to other websites and articles: EIFS, Georgia Pacific Siding, Louisiana Pacific Siding, Masonite and other Hardboard Siding failures, Siding Book Note: Some construction writers are of the opinion that Fiber cement building siding, originated by James Hardie Products (Hardiplank®) is a more durable alternative to hardboard siding. Other fiber cement siding product lines include Maxi-Panel, Maxi-Plank, Cemplank, & FortaFiber.

Vapor Barriers on and in buildings; needed behind vinyl siding

Vinyl Siding Failures, Diagnosis, Repair, Proper Installation

Vinyl siding used as building exterior wall cladding has its own installation requirements, inspection methods (which should look for failure-related installation errors such as improper detailing of J-channel around windows, as well as its own reporting and repair requirements. Vinyl Siding - Article: review & comments about moisture & vapor barriers Vapor Barriers - Discusses the Need For and Role of Vapor Barriers Beneath Vinyl Siding

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Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

EXTERIORS of BUILDINGS
AGE of a BUILDING - how to determine
ALGAE, FUNGUS, LICHENS, MOSS
ATTIC CONDENSATION
BOOKSTORE - EXTERIORS
CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR
DECK & PORCH CONSTRUCTION
  Deck Piers & Posts
  Deck & Porch Connections to Building
  Deck Flashing at Building
  Deck & Porch Structural Fasteners
  Deck & Porch Steps or Stairs
  Deck & Porch Railings
DECK COLLAPSE Case Study
EARTHQUAKE DAMAGED FOUNDATIONS
ENVIRO HAZARDS
FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP
  FIRST PRIORITIES
  BUILDING ENTRY PROCEDURE
  DRINKING WATER - EMERGENCY PURIFICATION
  DRINKING WATER - EMERGENCY SOURCES
  ELECTRICAL SAFETY for Flood Damage Inspectors
  FLOOD DAMAGE TO FOUNDATIONS
  FLOOD RESPONSE CHECKLIST
  GENERAL MOLD PREVENTION
  FLOOD VENTS
  SEPTIC SYSTEMS & FLOODS
  SEWAGE CONTAMINATION IN BUILDINGS
HEAT TAPES & CABLES on Roofs for Ice Dams
HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS
LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE
LEAD TEST KIT for HOME USE
LOG HOME GUIDE
LIGHTNING PROTECTION
MOLD DETECTION & INSPECTION GUIDE
ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE
PAINT & STAIN GUIDE, EXTERIOR
PAINT FALURE, DIAGNOSIS, CURE, PREVENTION
PORCHES & Sunrooms
ROOFING DIAGNOSIS INSPECTION & REPAIR
  Wind Damage to Roofs
SEPTIC SYSTEMS
SHEATHING, Gypsum board
SHEATHING Homasote & Other Board
SHEATHING, OSB
SHEATHING, Plywood
SIDING, ASBESTOS CEMENT SHINGLES
SIDING EIFS STUCCO
SIDING HARDBOARD
  Abatibi Siding Claims
  Boise Cascade Siding Claims
  Masonite Siding Claims
SIDING VINYL
  VINYL Siding or PLASTIC Window ODORS in Buildings
VINYL CHLORIDE HEALTH INFO
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on Building Exteriors
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on Indoor Surfaces
STAIRS & RAILINGS
TERMITES, ROT
  Insects & Foam Insulation
  Mold in Foam Insulation
VAPOR BARRIERS
VENTILATION in BUILDINGS
VENTILATION in BUILDINGS
WATER ENTRY in BUILDINGS
  ATTIC LEAKS Moisture or Mold
  BASEMENT LEAKS Moisture or Mold
  CRAWL SPACE Dryout Procedures
  DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE
  EFFLORESCENCE, Salts & White / Brown Deposits
  FLOOD Damage Assessment & Repairs
  FLOOD DAMAGED FOUNDATIONS
  FLOOD VENTS
  FLOODS IN BUILDINGS-priorities
  LOG HOME Leak Diagnosis & Cure
  LOG HOME Condensation &Moisture
  MOLD PREVENTION GUIDE
  SEWAGE CONTAMINATION
  SUMP PUMPS GUIDE
WINTERIZE A BUILDING
MOLD DETECTION & INSPECTION GUIDE
MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS
ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE
ROOFING INSPECTION & REPAIR
  ALGAE STAINS ON ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES
  ALGAE, FUNGUS, LICHENS, MOSS on SHINGLES

• Certainteed Weatherboard fiber cement siding and trim products - see certainteed.com/ or see certainteed.com/resources/sidingandtrimspecsheet.pdf

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

• Our recommended books about building design, inspection, and repair, and about indoor environment testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore.
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More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

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InspectAPedia® Home & Site Map - Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Advice: In-depth research & advice on diagnosing, testing, correcting, & preventing building defects & indoor environmental hazards. Unbiased information, no conflicts of interest.

The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems

Use this simple, economical mold test kit by following our instructions on how to collect and mail mold samples to our lab

Environmental Inspection, Testing, & Diagnosis On-Site IAQ, Gas, Air Testing, Mold Investigation, Sick Building Diagnosis, Lab Services, & Remediation Plan Preparation - indoor air quality testing, problem source determination, supporting lab work, written remediation plan addressing removal of environmental and other hazards and prevention of their recurrence.

Building Inspection, Problem Diagnosis, Forensic Investigation & Testing, Repair Consulting

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