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basement floor
My house has a lower lever that is about 3' below grade at the lowest point. I believe the original owner built this type of house due to the wet season water problem and simply never attempted to correct it at the source. Right after I moved in, the rains came and I watched the pond form in my front yard. I heard a motor running somewhere inside the house and with some investigation found a well camouflaged trap door under the enclosed stairway. I discovered a submersible sump pump and crock well hidden from a prospective buyer's view. That next spring I installed an American drain on the uphill side of the house as well as a catch basin at the low point of the yard next to the driveway berm. I also ran the drain to each downspout. I then removed the carpet from the entire lower lever and discovered he had place plastic sheeting under it as a barrier. The floors were spotted with mildew and soaking wet. I scrubbed with bleach, dried well, ran two dehumidifiers non-stop and used Thompson's water seal for concrete to finish the job. Once dried, I installed a top of the line high density foam pad and berber carpet. That was ten years ago, no moisture problems now except the usual ones associated with lower levels during the summer, and the automatic dehumidifier solves that. The crock has been dry as a bone for years now. During heavy rains or spring thaw I take a walk down to the outlet end of my drain and watch in amazement the amount of water that pours out, pulled from the area that adjoins my foundation and wonder how people can invest in building a home and not address the source of a known problem as obvious as water, but rather try and treat the symptoms after the fact.
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basement floor
It's an inside joke Eric.I installed a French drain.
AC, I don't know why people do these things. I assume the builder did what the customer asked since he had owned the property prior to building, so the water problem had to be evident. The person I purchased from is the same one that told me the roof and chimney were in excellent condition when I asked. He portrayed his family as simple country folk, held bible study in the family room as well. The chimney was cracked in several places and had to be lined. The first time it rained hard, I found the plastic trays in the attic crawl space he had put there to catch the water. I'm much more skeptical of the human race in my middle age, still do business with some on a handshake but most strangers are more closely perused by me these days.
To sum it up, the roof is new, the downstairs dry, the chimney lined and I have electricity this week. Life is good.
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basement floor
Just returned from the fireman's banquet. A few cocktails and a good dinner with old friends, it does not get much better.
I have been straightening out the messes here for almost eleven years. If I move again, it will be into a dwelling built to my specs or a condo in Vegas. I'm with you Eric, too much heartache and $$ to do this again. I will reach the point I imagine whereby I will not be able to take care of this property, but my youngest is interested in it so we shall see.
Thick fog coming off the lake tonight, supposed to clear Sunday. Have to roll the lawn and do some trim mowing so I hope the man is correct in his prediction of sun. Only two more trees to take down in the yard from the ice damage, glad I bought that Stihl 260 last winter, has not missed a beat.
By the way, my message notification is not working, is yours?
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