Published in NWSidebar
An article published on November 3 in NWSidebar features Litigation Attorney Andre Egle, who discusses Washington’s construction dilemma stemming from the state’s humid Pacific Ocean air and rain. Egle provides advice for homeowners’ associations navigating insurance coverage for property damage from water intrusion.
“Washington’s rainy winters routinely cause deterioration of residential structures unless waterproofing precautions are considered as part of construction,” said Egle. “Without this precaution, rainwater inevitably gets inside the building envelope and causes the development of mold or rot that will gradually bring the building to the stage of collapse, defined as ‘substantial impairment of the structural integrity of a building or part of [it] that renders such building . . . unfit for its function or unsafe.’”
Some state examples of defective work that can lead to water intrusion in homes include improperly installed roofing systems, inadequately sealed windows, and incorrect application of weather-resistant barrier paper.
“The next step entails hiring an expert, preferably a structural engineer, to inspect the potentially damaged area visually, and then perform minimally invasive testing by removing a few pieces of siding,” said Egle. “That will either show the need for further invasive testing or dispel HOA’s suspicion of damage.”
Read the story in full, click here.