Water Intrusion Testing Cost & Pricing
People want to know how much does it cost to perform water intrusion testing. Our company BLD, Building Leak Detection provides a host of professional forensic, quality assurance water intrusion testing and forensic leak investigation throughout the Western United States. Some of these states include the entire state of California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico.
In a nutshell, the cost for building leak testing depends mostly on the size of the area, windows, doors, curtain walls, walls or decks etc... being tested. Accessibility to the test specimen, testing methods and equipment, and the amount of time needed to properly investigate the suspected water intrusion play a role in developing the cost for testing.
Building Water Intrusion Testing Cost Breakdown
Full-Day Water Intrusion Testing
$2,250 per 8 hour day
This fee includes:
- Test manager
- 1–3 technicians
- Test vehicle
- Water intrusion testing
- Moisture investigation
- Testing equipment
- Field documentation / reporting
Half-Day Water Intrusion Testing
$1,450 Roughly 4 hours
Explain that half-day testing is generally appropriate for:
- Smaller projects
- Limited testing areas
- 1-3 Technicians
- Water Intrusion Testing
- Re-testing
- Individual window/door investigations
- Post-repair testing
Overtime
$282/hour
Water Intrusion Test Reporting
$200/day
How Much Does Water Intrusion Testing Cost in Los Angeles?
Here in LA including Southern California, our professional building leak detection testing commonly ranges from $1450 for about a haft day or 4 hours, to $2250 for a full day, or 8 hours of forensic, quality assurance or other types of testing depending on the scope and complexity of the project.
Full Day Testing Pricing
Full day testing is an 8 hour day of water penetration testing. What you get is a staff of up to 4 crew members, a vehicle with just about every testing tool known to man, and the knowledge of years of experience backed by thousands of tests.
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What information determines the Cost of Water Intrusion Testing
Below are the most important bits of information we'll need to determine the cost of your building leak testing.
A) Number of Areas or Systems Being Tested
The number of ares or systems to be tested can vary greatly and thus the fee for these tests will follow.
B) Number of Windows and Doors
Our testing whether its forensic or quality assurance testing is Billed by the day. Thus the more windows and doors there are to be tested the more the cost to perform these tests.
C) Size of the Building
If we're testing a roof or walls. The overall size of the building will play a huge role in the cost of the testing. Furthermore, the type of test required will or can dictate the price of the testing.
D) Accessibility
Accessibility means, how do we "get to" (access) the specimen to be tested. For example, if you have a window on a two story building that leaks, we will need to erect scaffolding to get directly in the front of the specimen to apply the water for the test. The more difficult the specimen is to test the more costly it will be to test it.
Lifts:
One of the tools used to access a specimen which may be difficult to access are lifts. These lifts are like little tractors which you operate from within a bucket or on the ground. Lift rentals can cost you the home owner or contractor as much as $1200 per day of use.
Scaffolding:
Scaffolding are a series of rectangular shaped tubular boxes attached to the building which allow direct access to the walls of the building. Scaffolding can be as high as a building is tall. The cost to erect scaffolding costs varies greatly and usually has to be noted by the company.
Roof Access:
Roof access usually comes in two different forms. A ladder that is attached to the side of a building or a stairway which runs through the center of the building from one of the floors to the roof deck.
What do you do when there are difficult to access specimen to be tested?
When we come in contact with a building that had areas that are difficult to access we will typically use one or more of the tools listed above. We can use scaffolding with man lifts together but rest assured, we have not come across any test that we were unable to perform.
Types of Buildings
There are so many different styles of buildings we test. Below are a few examples of the types of buildings. How a buildings style can dictate the cost of testing mostly depends on accessibility to the exterior walls / windows.
Types of Buildings
There are so many different styles of buildings we test. Below are a few examples of the types of buildings.
- Single-family homes
- Condos
- Apartments
- Multi-family Homes
- Commercial buildings
- High-rise buildings
- New construction Homes
Type of Testing Required
The AAMA and ASTM have multiple different standards for testing a wide variety of conditions and systems. These systems can range from decks, to roofs, to windows, doors, walls and more. One of the biggest benefits to these standardized tests are that they are repeatable. This means these tests can be repeated at a later date and time for such things as litigation. Choosing the correct test is important and once decided should be administered by a professional testing agency.
- ASTM E1105
- AAMA 501
- ASTM E2128
- ASTM E5957
- ASTM E783
Some of the Different ASTM and AAMA Tests We Perform in Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah...
ASTM E1105
The ASTM E1105 is a field water penetration test of newly installed fenestration products. This test is performed in the field which can be at a home, a business or commercial building. It involves a pressure chamber and a calibrated spray rack system. The filed version differs from the lab version, ASTM 331.
AAMA 501.2
The purpose of the AAMA 501.2, also known as the wand test. According to the AAMA document, "is to provide a quality assurance and diagnostic field water penetration check method for installed storefronts, curtain walls and sloped glazing systems. The procedure outlined in this document is not intended to test the rated or specified water performance representative of a wind driven rain event. AAMA 503 is the proper test method for field testing of storefronts, curtain walls and slope glazing for air leakage resistance and water penetration resistance performance."
ASTM E2128
The ASTM 2128 is a field test which locates water infiltration in wall systems. In the words of the ASTM 2128 document, 'This guide describes methods for determining and evaluating causes of water leakage of exterior walls. For this purpose, water penetration is considered leakage, and therefore problematic, if it exceeds the planned resistance or temporary retention and drainage capacity of the wall, is causing or is likely to cause premature deterioration of a building or its contents, or is adversely affecting the performance of other components. A wall is considered a system including its exterior and interior finishes, fenestration, structural components and components for maintaining the building interior environment.
Investigative techniques discussed may be intrusive, disruptive or destructive. It is the responsibility of the investigator to establish the limitations of use, to anticipate and advise of the destructive nature of some procedures, and to plan for patching and selective reconstruction as necessary."
ASTM E5957
The ASTM 5957 is designed to test waterproofed membranes on such surfaces as decks, basins, shower pans or parking garages for example, but not roofing surfaces. This excerpt taken from the ASTM 5957 test document. " This guide provides the user with a method for testing the watertightness of waterproofing installations applied to horizontal surfaces having a slope not greater than 20 mm/m (2% slope) (1⁄4 in. per ft).
This guide is intended for waterproofing installation on parking garages and plaza deck type applications over habitable spaces or on elevated structures, but is not intended for use on building roofing systems. Applicable waterproofing membrane installations that may be tested using this guide are fully adhered or bonded sheet membranes, liquid or fluid applied membranes, or loose laid sheet membranes."
ASTM E783
The ASTTM E783 air infiltration test is usually performed along side the ASTM E1105 water penetration test. "This test method provides a field procedure for determining the air leakage rates of installed exterior windows and doors.
This test method is applicable to exterior windows and doors and is intended to measure only such leakage associated with the assembly and not the leakage through openings between the assemblies and adjacent construction. The test method can be adapted for the latter purpose, provided the potential paths of air movement and the sources of infiltration and exfiltration can be identified, controlled, or eliminated.
This test method attempts to create and given set of natural environmental conditions. There is a strong possibility that the test method or the test apparatus may, by virtue of their design and use, induce air leakage that does not occur under natural environmental exposure."
Destructive vs Non-Destructive Testing
In the world of water penetration testing whether its a wall test, a window test a door test or a deck test, there's only a couple ways to go about performing these tests with 100% certainty that you have in fact found the water intrusion issue. You either remove building finishes like drywall for example, or you observe it from the exterior side of the wall.
Destructive testing
So there are two situations where destructive testing is used in water infiltration testing. The first is the removal of building finishes like drywall to locate an active leak and or put eyes and hands not the actual water entering the building from the exterior. In other words, you remove the interior drywall so you can actually watch water entering the building.
The second situation where destructive testing is used in water penetration testing is the removal of finishes on the exterior side of the building. This is reserved for a different forensic type investigation where you can take the building apart piece by piece to locate the fault in the sequence of building material as applied.
In other words, you take the building apart from the outside to see where the defect is in the construction of the building system is. It can be a deck, skylight, roof, or just about any system in construction.
Non- Destructive testing
I feel like non destructive testing is a much easier topic to explain. Basically, and just as it's described, the observations you undertake into the determining where water infiltration derives, is performed without removing any wall covering materials. Yes, thats correct. You observe the water leaks as it enters the building without removing any building finishes.
Typically this is done with the use of moisture meters, moisture mapping, and an infrared camera. In full disclosure I must admit that the use of an infrared camera to locate leaks is never 100%, meaning, you can see moisture in a wall system for example, but never know where the water actually enters the building wall.
Heres how that plays out... let's say water enters the wall through an opening. The water has to somehow make its way through 4-6" of wood stud gap, then 4-6" of insulation just to show in a location that may be feet away from the entrance of the rain leak.
keep in mind that when water enters the building, it travels down the wall, may hit a fire-block, may get absorbed in the wood itself, or the insulation and if it makes it to the drywall so the infrared camera picks it up, it can take well over an hour in some cases. That same leak can be seen seconds after it enters when the wall finishes are missing or removed.
Basic Price Schedule Broken down For Many Of the Water Intrusion Testing Performed In Los Angeles, Southern California, Northern California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and New Mexico
| TEST STANDARD | PRICE |
|---|---|
| Basic Water intrusion investigation | Starting at $1450 |
| AAMA 501.2 | Starting at $1450 |
| ASTM E1105 | Starting at $1450 |
| ASTM 2128 | Starting at $1450 |
| ASTM 5957 | Starting at $1450 |
| Window Leak Testing | Starting at $1450 |
| Door Leak Testing | Starting at $1450 |
| Deck Leak Testing | Starting at $1450 |
| Stucco / Siding Wall Leak testing | Starting at $1450 |
| Post Repair Testing | Starting at $1450 |
| Shower Pan Testing | Starting at $750 |
| Forensic Consulting | Custom Quote |
Whats Included With Our Water Intrusion Testing?
What you get with BLD testing agencies water intrusion testing;
Field Investigation
- First step is a visual investigation
- Second step is a series of moisture meter readings or mapping the area to locate the point of penetration if the wall covering is in place
- We can use infrared thermography where appropriate/ when appropriate
- Fourth step is the actual water intrusion testing to whatever standard required
- The fifth step is documenting the process as it unfolds
- Sixth step is the watching for leakage and verification either visual or with infrared
- Finally we put it all together in a report
Heres a Look at Our Testing Equipment Used for Water Infiltration Testing
Calibrated spray rack system
So interestingly enough, calibrated spray rack systems can either be purchased or made in-house but the testing agency. The only requirement is that each rack be calibrated every 6 months and that it produce a spray that equals; "Water-Spray System—The water-spray system shall deliver water uniformly against the exterior surface of the test specimen at a minimum rate of 5.0 U.S. gal/ft2·h (3.4 L ⁄ m2·min).
The water-spray system shall have nozzles spaced on a uniform grid, located at a uniform distance from the test specimen and shall be adjustable to provide the specified quantity of water in such a manner as to wet all of the test specimen, uniformly and to wet those areas vulnerable to water penetration. If additional nozzles are required to provide uniformity of water spray at the edge of the test specimen, they shall be equally spaced around the entire spray grid."
501.2 Spray Wand
The spray wand is a fantastic tool to locate water intrusion used primarily on storefront systems, skylights, curtain wall systems, and sloped glazing. Like with the calibrated spray rack system, the wand must also be calibrated every 6 months and can also be manufactured by the testing agency. It / they can also be purchased. What makes the wand so special is its nozzle. The nozzle is very specific and is called out in the AAMA 501 field test standard. " The test shall be conducted using a Type B-25, #6.030 brass nozzle with a 13 mm (0.5 in) FPT as manufactured by Monarch Manufacturing Works. The nozzle shall be connected to a hose [19 mm (0.75 in) diameter is suggested] and shall be provided with a control valve and a pressure gauge between the valve and the nozzle."
Moisture Meters
Moisture metering devices are used to locate moisture with a material like wood, drywall, cement etc... They typically measure about 3/4" to 1" deep in these materials. Not all moisture meters are the same. We have roof deck scanners that are larger moisture meters that measure up to 12" deep. We have moisture meters with pins that poke into the surface material and some without. The cost range for a moisture meter is somewhere between $50 to $11,000 for a very good unit that is calibrated.
Infrared Cameras (Thermography)
Infrared cameras allow the user to see moisture that's located within wall systems like drywall for example, without having to remove any wall surfacing material. This is also known as non-destructive testing. Well most people don't realize that infrared cameras have been around for a very long time, but just recently within the last 15 years used in the building construction industry as a forensic tool.
Infrared cameras, see temperature differences in walls, floors, ceilings, or any other building material and put it into color within the camera of viewer. To a trained operator who understands these color differences, also understands what moisture looks like, hidden within building material materials. Infrared cameras range from $500 all the way to $75,000 and more.
Pressure Chambers
The pressure chamber in the field are essentially a box built out of wood and clear vinyl, and installed directly onto a window, door, wall, skylight, or curtain wall, System. The pressure chambers allow for the pressurization of these building components to determine whether or not these individual components perform according to their laboratory testing. In other words, when a window for example is tested in a laboratory, it is pressurized and tested. The pressure chamber we creates this test in the field. What's the pressure chamber is applied to the specimen, it is pressurized with a vacuum to the appropriate field pressure to determine its effectiveness.
Field Test Reporting
Water Penetration Testing Reporting cost $200 a day for every day of testing
Field test reporting is not automatically included with all tests. We give all clients the option of whether or not to have testing reports included with the field testing.
What is Included in the Field Test Report?
- Date and time
- Current weather conditions
- Areas water tested
- Testing method or standard
- Test duration (how long was the test)
- Equipment used (spray rack, wand, etc..)
- Observations
- Moisture findings
- Leakage locations
- Test results
- Photographs and video
- Recommendations, if applicable