Multiple lines of creases in the height of a tab often raise suspicion that the damage has been due to hand lifting, that is, intentional damage. But, that is not true. There is more to consider. If the multiple lines… Read More
Category Archives: Simple Forensic Methods
Threshold Vehicle Impact Damage
Most damage to a building resulting from a vehicle impact is relatively obvious because it is so severe; however, as the severity of the damage diminishes at distances farther from the point of the impact discerning vehicle impact damage from… Read More
What Can We Tell From These Photos? (Case Study 19)
The roof surface exhibits a deep trough near scupper through which the roof drains. The roof runoff can’t drain off the roof until it fills and overflows the trough. The trough has been present for months, as evidenced by the… Read More
What Can We Tell from This Photo? (Case Study 17)
What can we tell from this photograph? This photograph was taken at the base of a wall in a hallway. The vertical and horizontal cracking exhibit sharp edges and relatively clean fracture surfaces indicating that they occurred recently. The horizontal… Read More
What Happened Here?
The shingles along the eave of roof exhibit broken and dislodged tabs and surface gouges (Figure 1). What could have caused this? Vigorous ice removal. The damage is along an area that was reportedly covered with ice (see featured photograph).… Read More
Quickly Identifying Unsealed Shingle Tabs
Here is a quick and easy method to identify unsealed, partially unsealed, or poorly bonded shingle tabs or shingle strips. But I must warn you, “DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT THE RISK OF… Read More
Wow! What Did That Look Like Before It Fell?
That’s a statement that we usually think when we see a collapse. Through the wonders of technology we can now often find an answer. In this case, we were able to view the porch roof a year or so prior… Read More
What Can We Tell from This Photo? (Case Study 12)
What does this photograph show? This photograph was taken of active condensation of excessive airborne moisture on the underside of a roof deck. This photograph provides a significant amount of information about the consequences of condensation and even about the… Read More