Water Intrusion

At nearly the same level of importance as direct wind damage is the issue of water intrusion. Direct wind damage to the structural elements of homes built to high wind standards has been reduced. However, it has become clear that just improving the structural integrity of a home is not enough. Wind driven water intrusion can cause catastrophic damage to the walls, ceilings and interiors of homes that leads to major disruption of households. Furthermore, water intrusion can be of particular importance to a homeowner because some insurance policies do not cover water intrusion unless it originates from damage to the roof, walls, windows or doors of the home.

When wind speeds exceed 60 mph, rain water is driven against the exterior of a house with great force. Whenever water builds up on the exterior wall surface and there is lower pressure on the inside of the house, the water can penetrate in large quantities (quarts and gallons) through cracks, holes and gaps in the siding and around windows and doors. When this happens for hours at a time, the resulting damage and mold can be as devastating as wind damage. The use of Air Conditioners and De-humidifiers can significantly reduce the growth of mold but often after a hurricane the electricity is off. Even a relatively small generator can power a de-humidifier to dry the interior of the house—so long as the building envelope is patched or repaired to prevent further water from entering. Water intrusion has recently become recognized as the major issue it really is.

Failure of an off-ridge vent allowed water into the attic and soaked the ceiling and walls.