Rain...Rain...Go Away...but just not yet!

We are so spoiled here in the land of endless sunshine, that we forget about the rest of the US and the rainfall they experience. We get so little rain here annually that a roof could have a leak, and we would not know it for months, or even years. Concrete tile roofs are not waterproof. They are heat resistant, designed to provide an air barrier against the hot summer sun here in the Mojave Desert. Rain can, and does enter the attic spaces, usually in small amounts, but on occasion, as with a damaged roof, in larger amounts. In fact, roof leaks dry up most of the time in the arid desert air inside the attic before we ever see the evidence of them inside the home, such as a moisture stain on a ceiling.

Having a few days of constant rain provides repair work for roofers, as people finally realize that there is an opening, or leak in their roof envelope, which should be repaired. As a structural inspector (homes), we can see roof leaks much easier with the constant rain. We also take our infrared cameras into the attic spaces to scan for moisture intrusion. Scanning the home's ceilings, walls, and floors allows us to visualize leaks before they can be seen with the naked eye. 

So next time you worry about a few days of rain, realize that the rain clouds have a silver lining as a roof leak will appear if there are hidden openings in the roof materials, and once the rain stops, as it always does here in the desert, you will be able to have it professionally repaired.

Was it Elvis that sang "Rain, Rain, Go Away, Come Again Some Other Day...?"

Mold in your home

Mold is the new four letter word for the next decade. It is the number one concern of home owners and home buyers. It can not only cost you thousands of dollars to remediate, left undetected, it can represent a serious risk to your health. Mold likes to live in warm, moist, dark environments, just like the inside of your lungs. It will grow in your lungs just like it grows on your walls, except FASTER!

Mold spores can develop where conditions are right, including mold seen on a surface. Even dead mold can unleash mold spores into the air. Visualize a dandelion blowing seedlings in the wind. That is one method of spreading mold, through the air. Another is through absorption contact with your skin. If you breath in mold spores, you probably won't know it until it's too late. Once in your lungs, some molds are so dangerous to humans that the only way to get it out of your lungs is to surgically excise it, removing lung tissue in the process.

If you think you have mold in your home, you need to have it checked immediately by a mold inspector. They will take air and surface samples of the mold, including mold found naturally outside the home. They compare types at a lab, identifying molds which should not be present in a home. The types and concentrations of the mold spores identified at the lab determines how the mold should be remediated (removed). There are thousands of types of mold that can be present, however, there are about 200 types that are typically found inside a home. All of these 200 mold types can be dangerous to your health. The very young and elderly are especially vulnerable, and in the right conditions, can be life threatening.

Don't play with this one, and don't try to correct a mold problem yourself. Remember, mold doesn't just "appear." It has a source, which always includes a moisture source, whether an active plumbing leak, exterior "environmental" sources (leaky roof during rainy season), or elevated relative humidity above 60%. If the source of the moisture is not corrected, the mold will return. If it is not professionally or correctly remediated, it can return. Most mold invasions seen in the desert come from active plumbing leaks. Gray water drain leaks can produce the dreaded "Black Mold," due to the higher bacteria levels found in this type of drain water. Especially dangerous is toilet drain leaks. The number one source for mold statistically is the water connection behind the refrigerator. You may want to take a peek to assure your water connection behind the refrigerator is not leaking.

Whatever you do, don't try to correct a mold invasion yourself. Bleach does not KILL mold, it only changes it's color so it is more difficult to see. In addition, mold is actually eating-digesting the surfaces it is growing on, such as drywall, carpet, wood and wallpaper. If you try the bleach cleaning technique, it only reaches the surface. Mold under the surface will continue to proliferate.

Leave it to the professionals, as there is nothing more important than the health of you and your family.

Infrared and home inspections

Infrared tehnology has come a long way since it's development almost 50 years ago. Initially developed for use in the Military, it now covers a wide range of fields, including; Police/Law Enforcement, Security/Investigations, Scientific, Medical, Technical/Trades, Ghost Hunting, Energy Audits, and now, Infrared Camera Home Inspections.


As the technology improved, the costs dropped, and now low cost InfraRed Cameras are within reach of most home inspectors. Although home inspections are VISUAL ONLY, knowing what's inside a wall, such as active plumbing leaks, gives peace of mind to the home buyers.