Leaks in Walls
 

Does any one who has a stucco home had any problems with rain leaks getting your carpet wet? I was told by home warranty that you have to patch all of the hairline cracks in your stucco to prevent leaks. With a block house?

The concrete blocks are hollow and any water getting in will make its way down to the floor slab and then seep through soaking your carpet. The same can happen if there are cracks in the stucco.
The other thing to be aware of is the water may not be getting in near where the carpet is getting wet. I've seen roof cracks several linear yards away from where the water appeared.

I have the same problem and was told the same as you. I inspected the outside wall where the carpet was wet, and, sho 'nuf, I could see where the caulking that sealed between my lanai slab and the wall has peeled up, which would allow water to seep into the wall and on the carpet. I have bought some waterproof caulking. I will wait a bit for the area to dry and then remove the deteriorated caulking with a putty knife and apply the new caulking, making certain that I seal the seam completely.

If I am not mistaken, the older homes were built with concrete blocks The newer homes are built using poured concrete. Perhaps this makes a difference????

Betty

Concrete block vs poured concrete doesn't matter. All concrete is porous. It is strong but not waterproof. The paint or other applied coatings, caulks, and sealers provide the waterproofing. I had a crack in the stucco above one window and it leaked. I chipped away the old stucco which came off quite easily due to the water seeping underneath. Reapplied stucco and 2 coats of paint and no problems since.

Just a thought from someone who knows nothing about home repair... Can you go outside and vigorously hose the area while a spouse or friend is inside to see perhaps where the water is gaining entry?

Potential for Hurricane Damage
 

If you live in either cinder block or concrete block house with a stucco covering, the only thing between your home and wind driven rain is the paint on the side of your house. Hurricane Charley cased a great deal of damage in metro Orlando in 2004. Most of the damage to homes was flooding caused by wind driven rain.

If your house is over two years old and still has the original builder's paint, one of the best things you can do to prepare for Hurricane season is to paint it. A painter can and should patch the cracks, but doing that is not enough. Get your house painted or do-it-yourself.Use a top quality paint, you can get them at reasonable prices at Lowes or Home Depot

Has anyone used the new ceramic paints that are supposed to last forever and provide water protection.

I haven't tried the ceramic paints but have used very expensive oil based marine (boat) paints that work for all kinds of things to keep water out.

just thought if i bought a new house i would not have to worry about leaks, but guess thats not true

But just wet the carpet, no basement to worry about here ...put the fan on them and you are o.k.

It was horizontal driving rain that caused these problems and it got in through some tiny holes around the windows. Doesn't happen that way very often.

I gotta say, builder and carpet guy and window man all arrived within hours of us calling warranty.

They removed pad, where it was wet, we didn't think it was necessary, but they are replacing pad...they brought in a big fan. Window guy caulked.

So..things are fixed...........Until some other crazy storm comes and tap dances on our homes. Every part of the country has it's downside.

I thought it was cement blocks, green moisture proof barrier, stucco, paint in that order.

Stick
 

Im thinking Stick built for that with 140 mph sealed Vinyl Mastic Wide Plank Siding.

Our poured concrete and stucco CYV is dry as a bone (six years old).

We've owned and built new homes before, and this is the only one that hasn't needed any repairs in the first few years.

Builders seem to have a disagreement concerning how to wrap a house . Some believe wrap protects against rain while others claim that any penetration in the wrap and the water has no way to escape.

Based on what I am reading the OP more likley has a leak somewhere on the roof.

Several of my neighbors had their homes repainted at the same time utilizing a contractor who guaranteed the paint would last a lifetime.

If this is true then I'll have him paint me too:crap2: