Leaky Homes

A leaky (home) building is one where moisture gets between the outside of the house (the cladding) and the inside walls. Buildings that have a high risk of leaking were mostly built between the late 1980s and the mid-2000s, using plaster-style monolithic cladding systems. The exterior walls typically have an unbroken or smooth appearance.

Once water or moisture gets behind certain cladding types, and if there is no drainage and ventilation between the cladding and the framework, the water becomes trapped and the potential for fungal growth and rotting rapidly increases.

Problems often include the decay of timber framing which, in extreme cases, have made buildings structurally unsound. Some buildings have become unhealthy to live in due to moulds and spores developing within the damp timber framing.

If your leaks are coming from internal sources such as plumbing, you do not have a leaky home. A leaky home means water from outside your house has made its way in, and is causing damage.

Houses identified as having a high risk of leaking are those built in the Mediterranean style (without eaves and with flat roofs), using monolithic cladding systems. They usually feature textured wall surfaces made out of plaster over polystyrene or fibre-cement sheet. Buildings built with this sort of cladding between the late 1980s and the mid-2000s need to be inspected thoroughly.

Common signs to look for

A leaky home is not weathertight. Most weathertightness issues aren’t obvious. However, if water is dripping or pooling inside your home when it rains, you are likely to have a leak.
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Also look out for:
Sagging of ceiling linings
Corrosion of fixings such as screws and nails
Uneven floor surfaces, like the lifting of vinyl
Mould or fungi formation on surfaces (although this is often due to poor ventilation)
Musty smells
Swollen materials such as skirtings and architraves
Staining or discolouration of materials or surfaces
Stained or rotting carpet, or rusting of carpet fixings.
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Building features that can cause problems
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Certain areas of your home will be more prone to taking on excess moisture than others, and there are some common building features that can cause problems with weathertightness. The following features have been commonly associated with weathertightness issues:
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Flat roofs, or roofs with parapets
Roof to wall junctions
Pergola fixingsHandrail fixings
Lack of flashings to windows and penetrations
Decks over living areas
Balustrade to deck or balustrade to wall junctions
Clearances at bottom of claddings
Level of ground outside is above interior floor level
If your home has some or all of these features it does not necessarily mean you have a leaky home, but it does highlight areas to be aware of.
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