Downpipe joints, gutter gaps and damp walls
Small rainwater faults that keep soil wet and walls stained.
In short: Stained brickwork under a downpipe joint and a gap between gutter and wall were both recorded on one Castle Hill home. Both keep moisture where it does harm.
A leaking joint leaves a mark
Water escaping from a downpipe joint runs down the brickwork, leaving staining and efflorescence. Below it the soil stays damp against the footing.
Gaps between gutter and wall
Where a gutter meets brickwork with an open gap, water and pests both find their way in. Sealing or covering it is a small job.
Rainheads without overflows
If the outlet blocks, the rainhead fills and spills, and without an overflow that water can head back toward the wall.
Why pest inspectors care
Damp soil next to the house is exactly where subterranean termites prefer to work. Drainage faults are conducive conditions.
Fix order
Repair leaking joints, seal gaps and add overflows first. Then regrade soil that falls toward the house.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Castle Hill. Licensed building practitioners, NSW Fair Trading licence 366177C.
