Application of an Unknown Substance to Imitate Water Damage

The staining of building materials is a primary consequence and complaint of wind-driven rain through a building enclosure during a storm event, such as the roof covering and fenestrations. Determining the origin, cause, and extent of the staining is a routine step in the investigative process. Normally, the investigator is asked to determine if the interior staining was the result of “storm-related damage,” a “storm-created opening,” or age-related deterioration and deferred maintenance. In some cases, the staining that is present on the ceiling or other surface may look unusual and not representative of what is commonly encountered when assessing interior water damage. Additionally, there may be no corresponding damage in the attic space or on the roof assembly, which can lead the investigator to question the validity of the origin and cause of the staining. Was the stain the result of a property owner or other materially interested party applying an unknown substance to imitate water damage? This paper will discuss an investigative procedure used on multiple residential structures to assess the validity of questionable staining. The procedures discussed include the assessment of the physical characteristics of the staining, assessment of the space(s) above the staining, the sampling of the staining, and the laboratory analysis performed.