My house was built in 1978; I bought it seven years ago. About four
years ago I started having problems with water getting into my (large)
crawlspace. I've read a good bit, including "drip edge" posts in this
group. There is about a 3/4" gap between my roof decking and the top of

my wood fascia. From my reading, it appears that the drip-edge was not
installed. I think water is getting into the blockwork via the gap. The

gutters seem to be pretty tight against the fascia, but maybe that's
misleading.


Is my assumption correct the gap and drip edge?
If not, do I need to fill the gap by adding a small board atop the
fascia? Or, maybe, make a custom-bend of aluminum to act as both
drip-edge and gap-plugger?
I've had a home inspector out here a couple of times over the years. He

never mentioned this, so I've sort-of assumed the gap was normal
construction.
If this is a problem, I don't want to solve it by re-roofing. The bucks

aren't there. And I think I need to get to work soon with wet weather
coming on quickly.


My thanks to any kind soul with helpful suggestions.

wrote in message
oups.com...
My house was built in 1978; I bought it seven years ago. About four
years ago I started having problems with water getting into my (large)
crawlspace. I've read a good bit, including "drip edge" posts in this
group. There is about a 3/4" gap between my roof decking and the top of

my wood fascia. From my reading, it appears that the drip-edge was not
installed. I think water is getting into the blockwork via the gap. The

gutters seem to be pretty tight against the fascia, but maybe that's
misleading.


Is my assumption correct the gap and drip edge?
If not, do I need to fill the gap by adding a small board atop the
fascia? Or, maybe, make a custom-bend of aluminum to act as both
drip-edge and gap-plugger?
I've had a home inspector out here a couple of times over the years. He

never mentioned this, so I've sort-of assumed the gap was normal
construction.
If this is a problem, I don't want to solve it by re-roofing. The bucks



I read this a couple of times. What I think I read is that your home is
block construction and you think water may be getting into the block from
the roofline.

Clarify that for me and others.

Most water in the crawlspace comes from no gutters, gutters dumping without
a splash block or improper grading of a yard to get the water away from the
house. Check these first

Houses on hill sides sometimes receive water from above and there is the
occasional wet weather spring to contend with.

Awaiting your response.

Colbyt

I too am a little lost. Do you have a soffit and eave overhang
that extends out past the outside wall face?
The only way I could see water getting into the block work at the
roof line would be due to no overhang. If moisture were getting
into the block at the roof line I would expect to see water
stains, blistered paint, or other water indications up high, not
in the crawl space. If the water were wicking around the shingle
edge heading toward the block work, it would rot the fascia first
assuming it is not some water proof material.

Colbyt was right on suggesting the problem is more likely to be
grade related or gutter/downspout related.

(top posted for your convenience)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Keep the whole world singing . . . .
DanG (remove the sevens)




wrote in message
oups.com...
My house was built in 1978; I bought it seven years ago. About
four
years ago I started having problems with water getting into my
(large)
crawlspace. I've read a good bit, including "drip edge" posts in
this
group. There is about a 3/4" gap between my roof decking and the
top of

my wood fascia. From my reading, it appears that the drip-edge
was not
installed. I think water is getting into the blockwork via the
gap. The

gutters seem to be pretty tight against the fascia, but maybe
that's
misleading.


Is my assumption correct the gap and drip edge?
If not, do I need to fill the gap by adding a small board atop
the
fascia? Or, maybe, make a custom-bend of aluminum to act as both
drip-edge and gap-plugger?
I've had a home inspector out here a couple of times over the
years. He

never mentioned this, so I've sort-of assumed the gap was normal
construction.
If this is a problem, I don't want to solve it by re-roofing.
The bucks

aren't there. And I think I need to get to work soon with wet
weather
coming on quickly.


My thanks to any kind soul with helpful suggestions.

Thank you for your reply. Sorry for the lack of clarity. You are
correct in your assumption. When there is a hard rain, or even just a
good steady one, water gets into my crawlspace (actually a large,
unfinished basement with dirt floor). My house has blockwork on stepped
footings. When I bought the house there was not a square inch of
efflorescence on the blockwork. About two years after the purchase,
efflorescence appeared on most of the blockwork. I need to re-grade
along the front of the house (the side with the worst water problem).
But, it's not as if there is a severe grade running down to the front.
The grade goes downhill into the neighbor's property. Anyway, my
downspouts do empty onto splashblocks that angle away from the house.
My gutters are tight against the fascia and do angle toward the
downspouts. (Of course, I might be looking at a matter of degree being
part of the problem here). The asphalt shingles have drooped down but
are pretty-much aimed at the middle of the gutter valley, so it doesn't
seem (to this admittedly ignorant homeowner) that water running behind
the gutter would likely be the problem.
My area gets some monsterous gully-washers in spring and summer. When
those come I often have running water in the crawlspace. Can this
really be the result of water pressure from groundwater? (The water
does seem to exit the blockwork/footings into the crawlspace below
ground level). I'm going to do the tar / visquine / french drain thing
along the front next spring just to be on the safe side. But, I was
assuming that the rain was getting into the blockwork through the gap
between the roof decking and the fascia. (Yep. I know about
assumptions.)
Thanks for your consideration and response(s).

"Do you have a soffit and eave overhang
that extends out past the outside wall face?"

Yes. Again (see reply to Colbyt) I apologize for the confusion. I'm
definitely not knowledgeable in these matters. Late last winter I got a
construction guy out here and we dug a trench along a small part of the
front wall. This part is between the front steps and the garage wall. I
expected to see holes, damaged block, erroded mortar or some other way
for the water to invade. To my surprise, the blockwork was in excellent
shape. (So said the construction guy). As I noted in the previous
reply, I'll be doing some work along the longest part of the front of
the house next spring (tar / visquine / french drain / re-grade). But,
if I don't see damaged blockwork, what could be putting water into my
crawlspace at such a rate that I occasionally get running water? (The
water doesn't come up from the dirt floor. I've looked into that.)
Thanks very much for your consideration.

wrote in message
oups.com...
Thank you for your reply. Sorry for the lack of clarity. You are
correct in your assumption. When there is a hard rain, or even just a
good steady one, water gets into my crawlspace (actually a large,
unfinished basement with dirt floor). My house has blockwork on stepped
footings. When I bought the house there was not a square inch of
efflorescence on the blockwork. About two years after the purchase,
efflorescence appeared on most of the blockwork. I need to re-grade
along the front of the house (the side with the worst water problem).
But, it's not as if there is a severe grade running down to the front.
The grade goes downhill into the neighbor's property. Anyway, my
downspouts do empty onto splashblocks that angle away from the house.
My gutters are tight against the fascia and do angle toward the
downspouts. (Of course, I might be looking at a matter of degree being
part of the problem here). The asphalt shingles have drooped down but
are pretty-much aimed at the middle of the gutter valley, so it doesn't
seem (to this admittedly ignorant homeowner) that water running behind
the gutter would likely be the problem.
My area gets some monsterous gully-washers in spring and summer. When
those come I often have running water in the crawlspace. Can this
really be the result of water pressure from groundwater? (The water
does seem to exit the blockwork/footings into the crawlspace below
ground level). I'm going to do the tar / visquine / french drain thing
along the front next spring just to be on the safe side. But, I was
assuming that the rain was getting into the blockwork through the gap
between the roof decking and the fascia. (Yep. I know about
assumptions.)
Thanks for your consideration and response(s).


Based on this reply I think you have a ground water problem. Some early
spring work regarding may solve your problem.

A good test is to lay a hose running full blast on the high side of the area
you are having a problem with and then watch where the water goes. Your
neighbors like mine did will then you are crazy. You will be surprised at
what you learn.

Moving 6" of dirt by however many feet to channel the water may make the
difference you need. The water needs to flow away from and around your home.

Colbyt