Infrared Building Inspections, Moisture Inspections
Flat Roof Waterproofing Membrane Leaks Pitched Roof Leak Inspections
Our membrane inspector has many years of practical experience with all types of waterproofing membranes and roof leak investigation. Over the years as a director of a large waterproofing company John was involved with everything from substrate design, membrane application, applicator training, maintenance work, analysing the cause of membrane failures and leaky roof investigation. One of the main reasons I became a Thermographer was to be able to use the infrared technology to help find and track leaks in buildings, roofs and decks quickly and efficiently, allowing you the customer to get them repaired before more serious damage occurs. Infrared is the best tool I've found for detecting that illusive flat roof leak. With infrared we can show where the water is and track back to where it's getting in. A roofer, plumber or waterproofer can attempt to fix the apparent location of a leak but it could be coming from the opposite side of the roof. The actual leak you see inside is where the path ends. This is why a lot of leaks continue after repairs are done as the contractors are repairing the wrong areas and often replacing materials that didn't need replacing. If you get a roof leak inspection conducted and unless that person has roof leak and membrane expertise plus of course the right equipment they will often come to the wrong conclusion. Often resulting in a complete rebuild being recommended which can be unnecessary, expensive and there have been numerous cases where the same problems are still occurring even after large repairs because they still haven't fixed the cause of the problem. With pitched roofs we can aim the camera at the ceiling and in the roof space if need be to track the leak. With waterproofing membrane leaks, the thermal properties of the trapped water allows the water to retain the heat energy from the days sun well after the sun has gone down. The roofing materials will cool much faster than any moisture present in the area and generate a corresponding thermal pattern. The opposite happens in the morning. With a clear temperature difference we can clearly see the moisture under the roofing membrane with our infrared camera. These thermal patterns can be identified throughout the roof surface. Knowing where all the membrane leaks are improves the chances that all the leaks are fixed. John can also advise on what type of membrane you have, whether or not he feels it was applied correctly, it's condition and suggest what maintenance may be required. The next time you call your contractor you can show them photos of where the leaks are and for peace of mind we can check the area again once repairs are completed to ensure the repairs are successful and set up a regular maintenance program if required.
back to top
Cladding Moisture Inspections
Thermal image scanning has greatly improved our ability to perform cladding moisture inspections. If there is moisture in the cladding it's often visible with our Infrared thermal imaging cameras. Thermal image scanning also helps us see the extent of the affected areas of moisture damage. By using Infrared Cameras for cladding inspections we are now better able to identify areas that need repair quickly and easily compared to other types of inspections. Plaster homes are particularly problematic but any cladding can leak particularly when they have difficult flashing details such as this gable end leak shown in the above photos. Owners that take preventative steps now will most likely avoid the damage and depreciation that is very likely to occur if appropriate precautions are not taken. A cladding leak left unchecked and untreated is very likely to cause moisture damage which can cost thousands of dollars to fix, and could substantially devalue the property. These problems can be avoided by simply having regular thermal imaging scans, finding out what needs to be done and fixing it promptly. Detect-A-Leak keep up to date with current cladding news by attending BRANZ seminars and are members of the Cladding Institute of New Zealand (CINZ). Avoid the stigma of having your home labeled as a leaky building.Get a cladding inspection now. See more types of cladding.
back to top
Internal Moisture Detection
If there's moisture in a wall ceiling or floor, a correctly operated Infrared camera will see it as an anomaly and show it as a hot or cold spot. Infrared cameras can see leaks that may otherwise go undetected if no visible signs are present. The longer the problem goes undetected the more damage it can do. Common leaks found inside buildings are from bathrooms, plumbing pipes, rising damp, exterior roofs and cladding. When anomalies are found we then confirm it as a true or false positive and pinpoint the extent of the affected area. If required we will document the positive findings using the infrared camera software. This should enable a better evaluation of the extent of the problem and often eliminates unnecessary demolition, lowering repair costs and saving you time and money. So call us now for your internal moisture inspection.
back to top
Bathroom Leaks and shower Leaks
Want to know how to find or fix a bathroom or shower leak? Give me a call I have ten years plus experience with waterproofing membranes and leak investigation. In order to fix any leak it is important first to find the cause in order to eliminate the chance of the leak reappearing after repairs, due to the same mistakes being made. Sometimes complete bathroom replacements are being made unnecessarily. Often the waterproofing is the most likely suspect or lack of it, but in modern bathrooms I'm finding poor design is resulting in leaks and the membrane is not the cause. Showers that are too close to the bathroom door, splashed and dripping water can track under or over the floor or wall linings and out the door. Detachable head showers (watch the kids with these). Curtains are not recommended in shower over bath situations as they invariably cause issues as was the case in the two right-hand photos above. Shower frames when fitted on top of Tiles can allow moisture to track under the frame and outside the cubical area if not detailed correctly. With walk in showers the whole bathroom floor should be dropped and sloped away from the door area, the moisture should be completely contained in the cubical area but this rarely happens. An alternative option is to fit a raised concrete hob not timber to form a step into the cubical area and form a screed with good fall to the waste. The formed shower screed once cured needs to have the waterproofing membrane applied on top and turned down into the waste otherwise the screed will always be wet and this can cause mould, effluence issues (that white hard stuff) and even adhesive and grout failure in some instances. If you are refurbishing a bathroom and you want Tiles I would recommend doing the bathroom area only not the cubical and using a good quality kit set plastic or fibreglass shower lining and tray. Note shower frames should be sealed on the inside edge if you want to contain the moisture in the shower cubical. Most installers only seal the outside and it often causes leaks. The best way to check if the membrane has failed or if there's some other leak issue is to check the walls opposite the bathroom area as well. The conclusion to the above two left-hand photos was there wasn't a membrane on the floor or upturned on the wall outside the shower cubical, only inside the cubical and moisture was escaping from the shower area under the Tiles and shower screen and tracking through the wall into the wardrobe opposite. Removing the Tiles generally causes the membrane to delaminate in the middle as this is the weakest part often requiring replacement but there are ways to do this with minimal membrane damage.
back to top
Window Leaks
Do your walls feel damp? Is there mould on the walls or drapes around your windows? Depending on the age of the structure and the building practices at the time it was built your windows may not be flashed properly and could be letting moisture into your home. Windows especially if not protected by eaves often suffer from leaks caused by poorly sealed frames and flashings and can be difficult to fix without removal. It is very important not to seal along the bottom edge of Aluminium windows as this can trap moisture in and cause it to enter the building. Older Aluminium joinery often leaks even though it may have been sealed originally because the seal has broken down over time. Mould can form on the moisture, putting your health at risk. Leaks are common around older Timber framed windows if they are not regularly maintained the paint can fail and they can warp, rot and split resulting in dampness and drafts that will reduce the effectiveness of your insulation. With the infrared camera we can identify these areas. The thermal patterns of the affected areas show as anomalies in the IR camera which are then checked with our non invasive moisture meter. Once you know where the affected areas are you can repair it before major damage occurs and also improve the comfort level of the home.
Pre-purchase Inspections and New Home Audits
Are you buying or just built a new home and want to have the confidence that its not a leaky building? Which areas are insulated and is it installed properly? Do you know we very rarely find a house that doesn't have some moisture or insulation issues. The prime purpose of a pre-purchase/new home inspection is to provide a thorough non-invasive Infrared scan of the building to identify any significant moisture, air or heat leaks that may affect the clients decision to purchase the property. Pre-purchase/new home inspections are not intended to point out every small problem or defect. A pre-purchase infrared building inspection report should not be confused with an appraisal, a building code inspection, or any guarantee of any kind, but a tool to aid the purchaser, to be better prepared and knowledgeable and therefore have the ability to make an informed decision.
back to top
Preventative and Predictive Maintenance
Becoming more popular and a requirement from some insurance companies and banks that thermal scans at specified times are conducted to ensure buildings electrical systems and machinery don't suffer from avoidable and costly failures. Also when selling your house it can be a good selling point particularly if you have a plaster home to be able to show a documented history of previous Infrared inspections showing that your house is not a leaky building.
back to top
Before After Before After
It is essential that once repairs are completed they are successful and what better way to check this than with an independant infrared scan. Once repairs are completed we can come back and check the repaired areas to ensure there are no further issues. Sometimes as with water leaks it may be necessary to do a quick scan and moisture test during the repair process in order to ensure areas are dry enough for work to continue.