Moisture Related Hazards
Hazards associated with damp environments or excessive water exposure:
- Algae: Microorganisms growing in damp areas, discolor shingles.
- Condensation: Water condensing on walls and ceilings due to humidity, controlled with ventilation.
- Fungal Wood Rot (Dry Rot): Caused by long-term exposure of wood to moisture and poor air circulation.
- Decay: Breakdown of wood due to fungi in damp conditions.
- Fungi: Microscopic plants causing mold, stain, or wood decay.
- Ponding: Water pooling on roofs due to poor drainage.
- Sludge: Waste buildup in sump pumps, gutters, or septic systems.
- Spalling: Chipping and flaking of bricks, masonry, or concrete caused by poor drainage and freeze/thaw cycles.
Chemical Hazards
Substances harmful to health when improperly handled or encountered:
- Asbestos: Hazardous fibers from insulation, tiles, and older materials linked to lung diseases.
- Bleeding: Migration of liquids or chemicals to adjacent surfaces.
- Carbon Monoxide (CO): Poisonous gas from incomplete combustion, often colorless and odorless.
- Corrosion: Deterioration of metal exposed to weather, moisture, or chemicals.
- Lead-based Paint: Toxic metal linked to severe health issues, especially for children under age 6.
- Radon: Radioactive gas associated with lung cancer, mitigated by ventilation or vapor barriers.
Construction and Strcutral Defects
Deformations or damages to building materials caused by environmental factors or aging:
- Alligatoring: Cracks resembling alligator skin in aged asphalt or paint due to thermal expansion.
- Buckling: Bending of materials from wear or water exposure.
- Crazing: Web-like hairline cracks in weathered materials, like metal and concrete.
- Cupping: Warp that causes wood boards to curl at edges.
- Distortion: Alteration of glass flatness causing visual issues.
- Settlement: Structural shifts, often from underground freeze-thaw cycles.
- Splitting: Long cracks in membranes caused by stress or expansion issues.
- Warping: General distortion in a material from usage or environmental stresses.
Roofing and Surface Hazards
Issues that commonly arise on roofs, shingles, or building surfaces:
- Blister: Raised spots on a surface caused by moisture, trapped air, or gases.
- Blue Stain: Discoloration in wood from mold-like fungi.
- Drippage: Bitumen material dripping from roof edges or deck joints.
- Feathering Strips: Tapered wood strips used to level wood shingles during re-roofing.
- Mud Cracks: Shrinkage cracks in coatings applied too heavily.
- Veining: Lines or marks on aging soft bitumen roofing materials.
Concrete, Masonry, and Foundation Issues
Problems related to cement, bricks, and foundational materials:
- Crater: Pits caused by cracking from contaminants in concrete.
- Mushroom: Widening of caisson pier tops beyond foundation wall thickness.
- Pop-out/Stucco Pop-out: Spalling of stucco materials due to poor installation or stress.
- Spalling: Chipping or flaking due to poor drainage and freeze-thaw cycles.