Fire repair and hardening in West Covina, Los Angeles County
Sealing Wall Penetrations in West Covina
West Covina visits begin with every pipe, wire and duct that passes through the stucco, since an open gap there admits water, pests and drifting embers.
Our first check on a West Covina visit covers every place where something passes through the outside wall: a refrigerant line set, a dryer vent, a hose bib, a cable entry, the gas line at the meter. Each one leaves a hole in the plaster, and the seal around it is often a bead of caulk that has cracked and pulled away. Those gaps let water into the wall and give a drifting ember a way inside.
Finding and sizing the gaps
We walk each wall with a flashlight and a mirror, marking every penetration on a sketch of the house. At each one we note what passes through, the size of the gap around it, and whether the plaster beside it is stained, cracked or hollow when tapped. A dryer vent gets extra attention, since lint lights easily and a flap that sticks open lets sparks in. Wiring entries are checked for a weatherproof fitting, and any abandoned pipe or cable is noted so its hole can be closed for good.
Closing them properly
Small gaps around a pipe are cleaned out and filled with a fire resistant sealant, then capped with a trim ring or a flashing boot that sheds water. Larger openings are cut back to sound plaster, backed with lath, and patched in coats so the new plaster bonds to the old. The dryer vent gets a rigid metal duct and a hood whose damper closes by gravity, and abandoned holes are filled solid. Where a line set enters, a cover shields its insulation from the sun and keeps the opening behind it sealed.
Work we take on in West Covina
Every service on this list is offered here. The exterior and fire work comes first, then remodeling and new space.
Book a walk-through in West Covina
Send the address and what you need. We reply about a visit and a written scope.