Mandated for a problem of unpleasant odor in a kitchen, our expert was far from expecting this situation, so simple in appearance, to become one of our most complex of the season. And the customer even less. But if there is one thing that is confirmed with each case, it is that there are always surprises hidden behind the walls. Read our column and see how the instinct of an owner saved him many complications.

Arrived at the scene, our expert is greeted by the owner of the house who reiterates the problem that there is a strong smell of humidity in the kitchen, mainly around the sink. The owner suspects a leak at the water return, but is unable to locate it. This is why, before opening the wall unnecessarily, he seeks the advice of an expert. The approach is completely justified, but before going any further, our expert takes some information on the building and its history.

The owner, let’s name him Mrs. Jones, acquired the house in 1987. He and his wife had the roof redone in 2001 and then they changed all the doors and windows 5 years ago, that is to say in 2010. The smell is not new, but it has never been so vivid as it is now and mainly in the kitchen. Come to think of it, it seems to have intensified since the arrival of spring.

With this precious information in the bank, the expert goes to the kitchen where, as the owner attested, he discovers a subtle smell of humidity which gains in force the closer he approaches the sink. At first glance, the hypothesis put forward by the owner seems to be confirmed. However, a glance under the sink accompanied by a reading of the humidity level indicates that the problem is elsewhere. Still, standing in front of the sink, the smell is undeniable. Looking out the window overlooking the backyard, an idea crosses the mind of our inspector: what if the smell was not from a plumbing problem, but rather from water infiltration.

A few seconds later, the contact humidity sensor reveals high humidity under the window above the sink. With the owner’s permission, the expert removes the bottom molding and widens the opening between the window frame and the wall. This discreet incision allows it to peek behind the drywall without causing damage to the wall requiring subsequent repairs.

He then inserts his screwdriver into the wooden post and, oh dear, the latter sinks too easily. By scraping with the flat tip, our expert takes a few pieces of waterlogged wood which confirm the hypothesis of water infiltration. It now remains to verify the extent of the damage, then identify the source of the problem in order to make effective and permanent corrective measures.

The expert accesses the kitchen window from the outside and begins his examination. Conclusion: the installation was sloppy. Indeed, the implementation of flashings is deficient and allows water to infiltrate inside the wall. The main function of flashings is to ensure the seal between two construction elements of different types.

Now that the reason behind the water infiltration is known and since we have learned from Mr. Jones himself that he had all the doors and windows changed at the same time, it is important to check all the windows in order to to know if the problem is found everywhere. Without too much surprise, our expert discovers that the windows facing the prevailing winds are the most affected. The openings in the walls under all the windows show the extent of the damage. The work will be expensive and our problem resolution file suddenly turns into a legal expert’s file, because our client has the firm intention of holding the window installer responsible for the damage.

The lawyer for Mr. Jones our experts recognized in Court, will take the case in hand and assert the rights of our client. They will accompany the latter throughout the legal process and ensure that he is adequately compensated for the damages caused by the contractor. We must also underline the reaction of the client who, following his instinct, called in professionals. Thanks to this decision, we were able to identify the problem and remedy it before the situation deteriorated to the point of endangering the health and safety of the Jones family.

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