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ABOUT THE CLAIM
Recently, Guardian and YA forensic engineers were called upon to investigate a property claim at a commercial facility. With moisture intruding to the interiors and causing damage to ceiling tiles, walls and other interior finishes, the owners of the business alleged wind damage to the building’s roof. The subject property is a 2-story, 40,000 sf, 1940-built facility. The roof system is a combination of steep slope with asphalt shingles as well as vertical sections of mansard roofing which also include asphalt shingles.
ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION
Prior to visiting the site, Guardian and YA engineers researched local weather data, historical photographs, and prior construction permits. On the Date of Loss, the maximum wind gust speed was estimated at < 35 mph. The most severe wind event in the past decade occurred on June 1, 2012. On that date, maximum wind gust speed was estimated to be 75 mph, and a less than one hour duration of wind speeds > 50 mph. Upon arriving at the site, the investigators completed a full roof inspection as well as an interior damage inspection. On the roof, there were: several areas of previous roof repairs with replacement shingles, detached/missing shingles at one (1) location, and overdriven nails throughout. At the exterior walls, investigators observed: detached/missing shingles at numerous locations, exposed nails in multiple locations, and unbonded shingles throughout.
ABOUT THE CAUSE & ORIGIN REPORT
The final cause & origin report identified many issues with the asphalt shingles that had nothing at all to do with wind and included dozens of photographs taken on the day of the investigation. While there was an obvious connection between the shoddy condition of the shingles and the leaks, and while there were many detached or missing asphalt shingles, neither was directly attributable to a wind event. There were two other primary reasons for all of the unbonded shingles:
- Overdriven and/or low nailing results in damage to the structure of the shingles and reduces securement to the roof. Unsealed shingles occurs when the shingle above does not seal to the shingle below. As with the nailing issues, unsealed shingles allow even light winds to lift and damage the exposed shingles. These conditions significantly reduce the wind rating of the shingles and put them at risk to damage from low and moderate wind speeds. Unsealed shingles can occur as either an installation defect and/or can be related to a manufacturing defect.
- Shingles installed on steep and vertical surfaces typically do not seal properly as the full weight of the shingle does not rest on the adhesive strip. Such installations are discouraged and require specialized installation techniques. Requirements include six (6) nails per shingles and the application of dabs of roofing cement to seal these shingles. These recommendations are made by all of the shingle manufacturers. Guardian did not observe any dabs of sealant at the shingles installed on vertical surfaces. On vertical walls, the absence of the roof cement is a contributing factor to the failure of the shingles and is an installation defect.
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ABOUT GUARDIAN & YA GROUP
For complex property claims, insurance carriers, TPAs, and adjusters count on the Guardian & YA Group forensic engineering team for rapid dispatch of experts, clear communication, and definitive cause & origin reporting. The now 700+ person strong group of building experts possesses deep experience with large-size claims, high-risk claims, and highly complex claims. When claims cross your desk that transcend the run-of-the-mill and the everyday, the combined Guardian and YA team of personnel who are strategically located throughout the U.S., including Mexico and England, prove to be your invaluable resource. They provide the construction and engineering investigations and reporting that helps both carriers and their insureds understand exactly what happened and why, facilitating fast, fair, and reliable resolutions. Kindly call on our experts today.