SNAFU Major

The Rain

From the first day of demolition through their final departure date nine months later, MyHome simply failed to adequately protect our home from water. Aside from the visible damage caused by over 116 inches of precipitation, freeze/thaw cycles of four seasons left structural and mold hazards that will require hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair.

Jan. 11, 2009 - Ice and snow builds up on exposed seams between first floor stucco and new second floor wall.

{Click any photo to enlarge}

 AT A GLANCE

 Rain/Snow exposure from July 17, 2008 - Apr. 17, 2009

Click light switch for gallery of water- damaged walls.

* Source:  Concordia College Weather Station / www.wunderground.com

 DETAILS - 2 0 0 8

13 days | 1.7 in. rain

July 17 (groundbreaking) - July 29 (demolition completed)

• Tarps missing from areas of exposed first floor ceilings.

• Seam between porch roof and first floor wall exposed.

July 22 - An array of tarps providing only partial protection.

12 days | 3.0 in. rain

July 30  - Aug. 10 (major framing completed, except chimney)

• Openings for windows and French doors exposed.

• No protection over new OSB rough siding.

• No flashing between porch roof and second floor wall.

• No protection over rough seams between first floor stucco wall and second floor OSB siding. 

Aug. 6 - Main green tarp able to cover roof. 

Window openings exposed, as well as porch roof.

5 days | 1.6 in. rain

  Aug. 11 - Aug. 15 (framing for chimney extension completed)

• Roof tarp no longer able to cover front of house due to eight-foot chimney extension.

• Openings for windows and French doors exposed.

• No protection over new OSB rough siding.

• No flashing between porch roof and second floor wall.

• No protection over rough seams between stucco first floor walls and second floor OSB. 

Aug. 12 - Green tarp no longer able to cover front dormer after chimney extension installed. 

Aug. 16 - Dining room light fixture after rains of Aug. 15. 

Aug. 16 - Water damage to dining room ceiling after Aug. 15 rains.

33 days | 9.4 in. rain

  Aug. 16 - Sept. 17 (Feltex and roofing paper in place)

• Feltex exposed except for occasional use of blue roofing tarp.

• Openings for windows and French doors exposed.

• No protection over new OSB rough siding.

• No flashing between porch roof and second floor wall.

• No flashing between original and new chimney work.

• No protection over rough seams between stucco first floor walls and second floor OSB. 

Aug. 18 - All window and door cavities exposed, as well as new OSB rough siding.

Sept. 6 and 9 - Large amounts of rain enter second floor addition through Feltex-covered roof and openings for windows and French doors.  Wood begins to warp.  Rock wool insulation under floor boards soaked. (Photographs dated June 8, 2009)

Sept. 15 - Shingles finally delivered (right foreground), two months after project breaks ground.  

Blue tarp added after heavy leaks on September 6 and 9.

3 days | 0 in. rain

  Sept. 18 - Sept. 20 (9 of 11 windows/doors  in place)

• Roofing paper on porch and front eves exposed.

• French door openings exposed.

• No protection over new OSB rough siding.

• No vapor barrier between windows and framing walls.

• No flashing between porch roof and second floor wall.

• No flashing between original and new chimney work.

• No protection over rough seams between stucco first floor walls and second floor OSB. 

31 days | 3.0 in. rain

  Sept. 21 - Oct. 22 (Shingles and copper flashing in place)

• French door openings exposed.

• No protection over new OSB rough siding.

• No vapor barrier between windows and framing walls.

• Seams exposed between OSB siding and copper flashing on chimney and porch roof.

• No protection over rough seams between stucco first floor walls and second floor OSB. 

Oct. 19 - Shingles and copper flashing installed (as of Sept. 21).

Rainwater penetrating walls behind exposed flashing.

40 days | 19.0 in. rain/snow

Oct. 23 - Dec. 1 (French doors  installed)

• No protection over new OSB rough siding.

• No vapor barrier between windows or French doors and framing walls.

• Seams exposed between OSB siding and copper flashing on chimney and porch roof.

• No protection over rough seams between stucco first floor walls and second floor OSB.

Oct. 28 - Rainwater entering living room via window frame.

Oct. 28 - South wall: Crumbling stucco at unprotected seam between first and second floors.

Oct. 28 - North wall:  No protection over rough seam between first floor stucco wall and second floor OSB siding.

Oct. 28 - East wall:  French doors installed (as of Oct. 23).

Exposed seams between first and second floors and around new stairwell window.

21 days | 9.0 in. rain/snow

Dec. 2 - Dec. 22 (Hardiplank siding in place on dormer and eves)

• No protection over new OSB siding on main walls (excluding dormer and eves) and chimney.

• Insufficient overlap of vapor barrier between Hardiplank siding and OSB. 

• No vapor barrier between windows or French doors and framing walls.

• Seams between copper flashing and OSB siding exposed at chimney and front of house (excluding dormer).

• No protection over rough seams between stucco first floor walls and second floor OSB. 

12 days | 28.2 in. rain/snow

Dec. 23 - Jan. 3 (Felt paper and blue tarps on East and South walls)

• No protection over new OSB siding on North and West walls (excluding dormer and eves) and chimney.

• Insufficient overlap of vapor barrier between Hardiplank siding and OSB. 

• No vapor barrier between windows or French doors and framing walls.

• Seams between copper flashing and OSB siding exposed at chimney and front of house (excluding dormer).

• No protection over rough seams between first floor stucco walls and second floor OSB siding.

 DETAILS - 2 0 0 9

14 days | 11.0 in. rain/snow

Jan. 4 - Jan. 17 (Rough stucco and tarps covering 3 walls)

• No protection over new OSB siding on North wall or chimney (except for loose felt paper applied to portions of chimney for 14 days).

• Insufficient overlap of vapor barrier between Hardiplank, new rough stucco, and OSB siding. 

• No vapor barrier between windows or French doors and framing walls.

• Seams between copper flashing and OSB siding of chimney exposed.

• Exposed seams between first and second floors on East, South and West walls.

• No protection over rough seam between first floor stucco wall and second floor OSB siding on North side, except for 8 foot strip of tar paper from Jan. 4 - Jan. 11. 

Jan. 7 - Large tarp covering unfinished rough stucco.

Tarp remains in place, even though no work from Jan. 4 to Feb. 3.

Jan. 7 - Tarps covering East, South and West walls (except dormer and middle section of chimney). 

8 foot strip of felt paper applied over part of exposed seam on North (left) wall.  Blown off by Jan. 11. 

Jan. 7 - New cracks and staining on first floor library walls (North and East).

16 days | 3.4 in. rain/snow

Jan. 18 - Feb. 2 (Stone siding in place on middle section of chimney)

• No protection over new OSB siding on North wall.

• Insufficient overlap of vapor barrier between Hardiplank, new rough stucco, and OSB. 

• No vapor barrier between windows or French doors and framing walls.

• Seams between copper flashing and OSB siding exposed at chimney.

• Exposed seams between first and second floors on East, South and West walls.

• No protection over rough seam between first floor stucco wall and second floor OSB siding on North side, except for 8 foot strip of tar paper from Jan. 4 - Jan. 11. 

Jan. 14 - Stonework nearly finished on middle section of chimney.  Cement applied in sub-freezing weather.

Felt paper applied to chimney extension begins tearing Jan. 22).

74 days | 27.7 in. rain/snow

Feb. 3 - Apr. 17 (No tarps on East, South and West walls)

• No protection over new OSB siding on North wall and chimney (felt paper fallen off).

• Insufficient overlap of vapor barrier between Hardiplank, new rough stucco, and OSB. 

• No vapor barrier between windows or French doors and framing walls.

• Seams between copper flashing and OSB siding exposed at chimney.

• Exposed seams between first and second floors on East, South and West walls.

• No protection over rough seam between first floor stucco wall and second floor OSB siding on North side.

• No protection around unfinished stairwell window on East side.

Left:  Rain-soaked insulation and exposed electric wiring under porch roof (Oct. 23, 2008 - present)

Right:  Remnant of felt paper applied to chimney extension (originally installed c. Jan. 12).

(Photographs taken June 17, 2009.)  

April 18 - Day after MyHome's final visit to site.  Felt paper falling off chimney extension.  Rough stucco on East, South and West walls.  North wall OSB still exposed.