Water dripping from where overhang meets the outside wall.

[kevins_news2]

Time for another wonderful MSPaint drawing.

http://members.rogers.com/kevinck/house/house2.jpg

Our house is 1.5 years old. Just yesterday we came home to find water
dripping from the spot where the underside of the overhang touches the
wall above our front door. We're used to it dripping off the eaves
and freezing on our front steps, but this water is running down the
bricks next to the front door or dripping to hit the foot of the door.
So far we see no indication of water damage inside. There's also a
small window on that wall and on the outside the water drips are
hitting the external window sill. Inside there's no sign of leaks.

The ice dam and icicles that form at our eavestrough is due to this
part of the house being in the shade during everything but the early
morning, yet all meltwater from the roof gets funnled through this
spot. It's not an insulation issue and we're thinking about some heat
tracing for next year. But i'm worried about this new drippage.

I guess it's possible that water is just following along the underside
of the overhang and then falling when it hits the wall. But i'm
worried it's coming straight through the overhanging roof bit. The
underside of the overhang looks like aluminum siding with airholes in
it. If i pull out the screwdriver i could remove it and see if the
water is just running along this metal or soaking down through
whatever i find the metal attatched to. I plan on doing this to look
tomorrow.

What can one do about this?

If the water is just clinging as it goes around the eaves, and then
along the underside until it hits the door, i guess i could put a bead
of caulking near the eaves to act as a drip edge.

If the ice (which actually covers the overhang at least half way up
towards the 2nd floor wall) has pushed through the shingles and is
casuing water to leak straight down, then what do i do?

Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[Rodger]

Sounds like a roof leak from the main roof or the porch cover. May be a bad
job of flashing where porch roof attaches to wall, or, less likely, even a
main roof leak that runs inside the brick, then resurfaces above your door.

 

[Speedy Jim]

Time for another wonderful MSPaint drawing.

http://members.rogers.com/kevinck/house/house2.jpg

Our house is 1.5 years old. Just yesterday we came home to find water
dripping from the spot where the underside of the overhang touches the
wall above our front door. We're used to it dripping off the eaves
and freezing on our front steps, but this water is running down the
bricks next to the front door or dripping to hit the foot of the door.
So far we see no indication of water damage inside.

<SNIP>

Ice dam.
If you can, run a garden hose up there, connected to a Hot water tap.
Melt a small channel thru the ice to provide runoff.
Definitely get heat cables up there for next year.

Jim

 

[kevins_news2]

<SNIP>

Ice dam.
If you can, run a garden hose up there, connected to a Hot water tap.
Melt a small channel thru the ice to provide runoff.
Definitely get heat cables up there for next year.

Jim

I forgot that there was a small vent on that porch overhang. it's the
same type of vent as is attatched to the tubes that vent all our
bathroom fans. Except there is no fan connected to this vent. I
assume it's purpose is just to allow some airflow to the porch
overhang space? Anyway, the ice has built itself up so that it is
inside this vent thing. Therefore melt water is flowing into the
vent, and therefore i assume into the overhang area. I guess it soaks
through and drips out the bottom.

So do we now have expensive water damage that we have to repair? or
can i just clear all ice away from the vent and then over the next few
weeks the inside of the overhang will dry out and can be safely left
alone?

 

[Speedy Jim]

I forgot that there was a small vent on that porch overhang. it's the
same type of vent as is attatched to the tubes that vent all our
bathroom fans. Except there is no fan connected to this vent. I
assume it's purpose is just to allow some airflow to the porch
overhang space? Anyway, the ice has built itself up so that it is
inside this vent thing. Therefore melt water is flowing into the
vent, and therefore i assume into the overhang area. I guess it soaks
through and drips out the bottom.

So do we now have expensive water damage that we have to repair? or
can i just clear all ice away from the vent and then over the next few
weeks the inside of the overhang will dry out and can be safely left
alone?

That depends on a lot of factors. If mold starts growing,
it *could* continue if conditions in there are right, like
high humidity. I wouldn't obsess over it right away, but
repeated soakings do set the stage for decay.

Jim

 

[m Ransley]

What is your builders warranty? This falls under poor design, or
improper build.
It could be as simple as improper ventilaton. But a problem if left
unchecked could require total replacement of all wood structure due to
Rot and mold . And this could affect you indoors all year long - mold
penetration into liveable airspace. An atty would help. First stop could
be www.FreeAdvise .com
A legal site.
And a good look see into that area