Forensic Assessment of Mid-Rise and Multi-Story Buildings in Orlando, Florida
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An Orlando building envelope investigation is often required when wind-driven rain, exterior cracking, or concealed moisture begins affecting
mid-rise and multi-story buildings. In Central Florida, intrusion frequently becomes persistent when the building envelope stops functioning as a system —
water enters under pressure, then migrates through connected cavities and assemblies.
Foundation Waterproofing 101, LLC performs forensic building envelope investigations to determine how, where, and why moisture is entering
building assemblies — and why prior repairs, sealants, or coating applications often fail to stop recurrence.
Orlando Exposure Conditions That Drive Recurring Intrusion
Orlando buildings face long wet seasons, high ambient humidity, and frequent wind-driven rain that forces water into small defects at façade transitions.
Even without direct coastal salt exposure, repeated wetting cycles and vapor drive can sustain concealed moisture conditions once water enters wall assemblies.
We commonly see recurring intrusion around window perimeters, at stucco/EIFS transitions, at balconies and slab edges, and where repeated repainting or patch
repairs have concealed cracking, failed sealants, and improperly terminated flashing details.
Why Building Envelope Failures Are Common in Orlando
Moisture migration and pressure-driven intrusion mechanisms observed during Orlando investigations align with established building science research addressing
wind-driven rain exposure, pressure differentials across wall assemblies, and the performance limits of aging façade systems.
Reference:
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
- Seasonal wind-driven rain events and storm conditions
- Pressure differentials across exterior wall assemblies
- High ambient humidity and vapor drive
- Thermal expansion/contraction and movement cracking
- Aging stucco, EIFS, and exterior coating systems
- Repeated maintenance without corrective flashing/drip detailing
These conditions routinely overwhelm cracked exterior walls, window perimeters, architectural projections, and improperly detailed terminations — particularly
on wind-exposed elevations.
What Is an Orlando Building Envelope Investigation?
Our findings are evaluated in the context of applicable
Florida Building Code (FBC)
requirements, construction-era standards, and documented field conditions.
A building envelope investigation evaluates the entire exterior moisture barrier system, not just isolated leaks or visible interior damage.
- Exterior wall assemblies and transitions
- Architectural bands, bump-outs, ledges, and projections
- Windows, penetrations, sealants, and perimeter interfaces
- Flashing integration and drip edge geometry
- Exterior cracking and coating integrity
- Concealed wall cavities and inter-floor moisture migration
The objective is to identify failure mechanisms, not cosmetic symptoms.
How We Confirm the Source (Not Just the Symptom)
Central Florida intrusion conditions often involve multiple pathways and connected cavities. Our process focuses on cause-and-effect documentation: correlating
interior symptoms with exterior defect locations, identifying probable pathways, and confirming mechanisms through targeted field verification.
When appropriate, we use controlled water testing, moisture mapping, and selective intrusive verification to document concealed conditions and explain why localized
patch repairs or coating-only approaches often fail to stop continued intrusion.
Forensic Reporting & Litigation-Aware Documentation
Our Orlando investigations are frequently performed with the understanding that findings may be relied upon for insurance review, engineering coordination, or potential litigation.
Reports emphasize cause-and-effect documentation, photographic evidence, moisture data, and clear identification of intrusion pathways.
Formal written reports are commonly prepared for:
- Attorney review and dispute resolution
- Insurance claim documentation
- Engineering evaluation and design coordination
- HOA and ownership decision-making
- Capital planning and repair justification
Our role is to document what is occurring, why it is occurring, and what technical conditions must be corrected to stop continued moisture intrusion —
independent of any specific contractor or repair scope.
Florida Licensure & Professional Credentials
Foundation Waterproofing 101, LLC operates as a Florida Licensed Specialty Contractor under:
Florida Specialty Contractor License: CGC1539326 —
Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR)
For projects requiring licensed engineering analysis, stamped design, or code-based calculations, we coordinate with and reference our affiliated engineering firm,
Foundation Masters, a Florida licensed engineering firm.
Common Orlando Building Envelope Failures We Document
Wind-Driven Rain Intrusion
Rain is forced laterally and upward into cracks, joints, and improperly terminated assemblies — bypassing surface coatings and sealants under pressure.
Exterior Cracking
Cracking commonly results from differential movement, thermal cycling, shrinkage, or substrate failure. Even hairline cracks can admit water during wind-driven rain events.
Window & Transition Failures
- Failed perimeter sealants
- Improper window flashing integration
- Water intrusion at stucco/EIFS transitions
Improper or Missing Flashing
- Reverse-lapped flashing
- Embedded metals without drip edges
- Face-sealed terminations reliant on coatings
- Discontinuous water management at transitions
Saturated Wall Cavities
- Wet framing and substrates
- Wet insulation and sheathing
- Vertical and lateral moisture migration
- Conditions supporting microbial growth
Multi-Story Building Risks in Central Florida
Multi-story buildings in Orlando experience increasing wind pressure with elevation and recurring wet-season exposure. Guidance from
FEMA Building Science
identifies pressure-driven moisture intrusion as a primary contributor to exterior wall system failures.
- Wind pressure increases with height
- Moisture migrates vertically and laterally through connected cavities
- Architectural elements can span multiple floors
- Localized repairs commonly fail to stop intrusion
When architectural features connect multiple units, partial or isolated repairs rarely stop water movement.
What You Receive
- Photographic documentation of observed conditions and defect locations
- Moisture data and mapping of affected areas
- Identification of likely intrusion pathways and failure mechanisms
- Prior repair review: why past repairs did not stop intrusion
- Clear recommendations for what conditions must be corrected to stop recurrence
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you provide repair specifications?
We document failure mechanisms and the conditions that must be corrected. If stamped design or engineered details are required, we coordinate through Foundation Masters.
Can you determine whether the leak is from windows or the wall assembly?
Yes. Many “window leaks” originate at wall transitions, flashing terminations, stucco/EIFS interfaces, or concealed pathways. Our process is built to differentiate source from symptom.
Will your report support insurance or attorney review?
Our documentation is prepared with litigation-awareness: photo evidence, data, and mechanism-based findings intended to be reviewable and defensible.
Why do past repairs often fail?
Surface patching, sealant-only repairs, and coating-only systems often ignore hidden pathways, reverse laps, missing drip geometry, and connected cavities that move water beyond the repair area.
Florida Service Areas
When to Schedule an Orlando Building Envelope Investigation
- Recurring coating or paint failure
- Interior moisture with no visible leak source
- Mold-related concerns or unit shutdowns
- Repeated unsuccessful repair attempts
- Exterior cracking that continues to reappear
- Water intrusion around windows, balconies, bands, or transitions
Schedule an Orlando Building Envelope Investigation
We don’t guess.
We test.
We document.
We explain why your building is failing — and what actually stops it.