Mold spores are everywhere. They start growing any place there is water and warmth. These photographs
show some of the common sources of water intrusion in buildings and the
consequences of not fixing water intrusion problems.
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Unmaintained Building Exterior |
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Because the exterior of this apartment building was in disrepair, moisture from a heavy rain storm entered the walls through cracks in the paint. Within a two-week period, the moisture in the wall and the warmth inside the apartment fostered mold growth. |
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Consequence of Unmaintained Exterior |
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Moisture entering the walls during a heavy rainstorm and warmth inside the apartment fostered this mold growth, which reached a height of four feet up the walls. |
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Leaking Outside Faucet |
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This outside faucet had been leaking for some time. The water from the leak seeped into the wall and under the single family home into the crawl space. |
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Consequences of Leaking Outside Faucet |
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Over time the water leaking from the outside faucet resulted in excess humidity within the walls of this single family home. The humidity in the air condensed on the inside of the cool exterior walls creating ideal conditions for mold growth -- moisture, warmth, and a growing medium (e.g., drywall). |
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Poor Runoff Design |
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Located on a hillside, this single family home is vulnerable to rain storm runoff that gets trapped inside the foundation because there is no system, such as a French drain, to divert the runoff. The water is then wicked up by the cement foundation and stucco walls resulting in excess moisture in the walls and floors throughout the home. |
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Consequences of Poor Runoff Design |
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Over time, the constant presence of moisture in the foundation and stucco of this single family home led to this mold growth, which extended six feet up the wall. |
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Leaking Roof |
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Nestled under a large oak tree, the roof of this single family home decayed and began leaking. The leak was not immediately repaired and water got into the ceiling and walls. |
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Consequences of Leaking Roof |
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The water intrusion from the leaking roof spread over a wide area of the home. This photo shows an area of mold growth on the ceiling. Moisture damage and mold growth continued down the walls and into the floor materials and carpet. |
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Poor Roof Joint Design |
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The roof of an addition was joined to an existing wall without proper flashing or rain gutters. Water from the roof entered the wall. |
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Consequences of Poor Roof Joint Design |
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The water from the poorly designed and constructed roof joint entered the wall of this single family home and caused extensive mold growth. |
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