TOPIC: What is vinyl siding hiding on a Structure

I always fret at the thought of inspecting a structure that is not new and covered with siding.

Why you say, because of what it is hiding and what I can miss.

This one had enough clues to lead me to dig deeper.

Manufactured home 1984. Hmmmmm. Key clues that come to mind. Age, PB, cheap siding, bad maintenace, homeowner upgrades. Seller, two years ago. OK.

Well looks good from here, dosen't it?


Let's get a little closer.
Hmmm. What's wrong with this picture?


Transition from siding to skirting.


Let's take a peek.



Whoops!








Well, let's crawl underneath and check a few things.
Hole in the floor insulation membrane, let's take a peek.
Well, the subfloor don't look to pretty either.


Let's check out a few things inside now.
This was in the carpeted Master bedroom near the exterior wall.
This don't look good considering what I found under the siding.


Whoop's!!!
Houston, we got a problem ;D


Problem with Structure;

Original siding material was an imitation t-111 manufactured by Masonite corporation or similar which consisted of a hardboard material that was found defective in the late 80's. Falling apart from moisture.

What caused the moisture?

A foil faced Polyicynerate insulation added on the interior and also on the exterior causing a double moisture barrier and trap.
Next problem, Vinyl siding is not a water tight envelope defense, and a (WRB) weather resistive barrier behind the siding is a necessity and requirement.

Next inspection with vinyl siding, Please stay on your guard and always question "What is lurking behind this plastic face shield on the envelope of the building.

Hope you enjoy the pictures;




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They will cover anything with vinyl and not take off out the rot I see it a lot but you did a great job finding this.



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Wow, talk about trying to dress a place up. I hope your clients ran, fast.

The inside is what was dress up to sell.
Called the client this morning to pick up his hard report and tanked me again and said he would have a contractor put a price tag on the repairs required to walk out of the deal, so I think that a deposit on the property had been issued.
I told him to give the Contractor the report to better accurately price the repairs.

All of the outside walls were rotted and soaked. But unless you start poking around, you would never know it.
Clues, clues, clues. They say vinyl is final, but that is only for paint, not protecting what is behind it.

Siding is the first line of defense as a rain shield and it is a poor one at that, so the second line of defense such as a WRB weather resistant barrier, better be in place to protect the wall assemble. 

Marcel - great stuff, as always!  That looks like one half of a double wide.  Was that what is there?  That might be why the T1-11 is there - it was the wrapping they used to transport the house to that location.  It was never intended to be the final exterior envelope, but I wonder if someone just painted it up!

Single wide trailer Jay and that T-lll was like an imitation back in those years, recall it well on trailers, it was original, just falling apart from moisture intrusion.