For inanimate objects, buildings can be surprisingly eloquent when they are in distress. In many cases, observable symptoms arise early enough to warn you of problems while they're still fairly easy to fix. The language is not terribly difficult to interpret if you keep your eyes open and document your observations (some building communication is a function of gradual change rather than dramatic display). Following are a few of the ways your building might be trying to tell you something's wrong.
White staining (efflorescence)
Efflorescence results from water that enters the wall system and has no ready avenue for exiting. The process is detrimental, in varying degrees.
Green or black (organic) staining
Hydrophilic microvegetation (algae, mold, mildew, etc.) can thrive only where water remains for extended periods. If enough water is present to support plant life, it's enough to be deleterious.
Cracking
Some cracking in masonry and concrete is inevitable and could be nothing more than insufficient control joints. It could also indicate something more sinister. (OK, some signs are a little harder to interpret. That's why there are engineers.)
Appearance of words/images on walls
Hooligans.
Rust stains on concrete
Water has contacted the embedded reinforcing steel and caused it to corrode.
Spalled bricks
As with white staining, water gets in and can't get out. When it freezes, the expansion that accompanies ice formation will spall bricks.
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Levitation
Gravitational anomaly or aliens.
Bulges, displaced bricks or other planar irregularities
Bulges could foretell potentially catastrophic problems and should be immediately looked at by a qualified professional.
Condensation on windows or other interior surfaces
Inadequate ventilation is the most common cause. In ground-floor units, defective or missing vapor retarder or inadequate crawl space ventilation are other possible causes.
Concrete spalls
Corrosion (rust) occupies more space than steel and its formation will exert enough force to shatter the concrete.
Distorted roof deck
Deck irregularities usually indicate deteriorated (decayed) sheathing. This can be due to leakage but is more commonly the result of poor attic ventilation. Warpage from improper storage prior to placement or defective fire retardant treatments are some other possible causes.
Bulges/splits in metal guardrails
Water that enters hallow rail components and cannot escape will freeze and the accompanying expansion will distort and break the confining material.
It's obviously impossible to list here all of the ills that a building can suffer. The point is that conditions that look out of place usually mean that some destructive process is underway and needs attention.
Patrick Gray
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