Forensic Investigation Of Moisture Intrusion Into Tilt-Wall Structures

Abstract

The Author Was Retained By Attorneys Who Had Been Engaged By A Window Installer To Defend The Installer Against A Lawsuit For Damages To An Office Building, Which Had Been Damaged By Water Intrusion. Because The Facts Strongly Indicated That At Least Some (But Not All) Of The Windows Installed By The Client Did Indeed Leak, And Since It Was Reasonable To Believe That This Moisture Had Caused Some, But Not All Of The Damage To The Building, The Defense Strategy Devised Was As Follows: 1. Attempt To Quantify The Number Of Windows In The Building That Leak. 2. Attempt To Quantify All Other Sources Of Moisture Intrusion Into The Building. 3. Attempt To Quantify The Actual Cost Of The Damage Due To Water In The Building. 4. Attempt To Quantify The Cost To Eliminate The Sources Of Moisture To Repair The Building. 5. Devise A Rational Approach To The Apportionment Of These Costs Among The Sources Of Leaks Including Those Attributed To The Client. 6. Examine The Specific Causes Of The Window Leaks To Determine If They Are Due To Improper Installation, Poor Materials, Or Poor Design Since The Client Might Only Be Responsible For Improper Installation.