Location: Brampton, Ont, Canada
Posted on: 13-04-17 11:54:15
Quote:
Originally posted by Fido
Folks ,
I get it now and thanks you all again for your sincere advice.
Yes R_C , as you have pointed out , I might be better off with a general contractor rather than an inspector at this stage -- what AG and others must have also implied.
Thanking you sincerely for your advice friends. I am very happy to have sincere & invaluable advice on the forum.
You don't need to thanks OP's for advice - You and Few other Active members had always help CD's - congratulation
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'Some goals are so worthy, it's glorious even to fail.' (Param Vir Chakra awardee Lt. Manoj Pandey)
Guys ~
As we are settling down (first home buyer) we are noticing certain things which may or may not be issues.
a. One corner of the cold room gets damp... it coincides with one corner of the structure.
b. At another exterior wall we observe a damp spot of 3ft by 3ft after every rain.
c. Some interlocking stones adjoining the structure are uneven and have some gap at few places b/w them and the structure .... might need caulking
d. Basement window wells / covers etc.
For the future :
We plan to get a door cut from the garage into the house.
We plan to get a powder room done.
We plan to get an area in the back deck ed.
With above observations and any other we are unaware of - should we take the opinion of general contractor or an inspector ?
Can some people recommend general contractor they have had good experience with... my apprehension being that knowing that I have less knowledge, the contractor may suggest not so important maintenance also ..... ( like that Meineke guy once told me to overhaul my suspension when I knew that was unnecessary)
How to go about it --- and do a vital, essential and desirable analysis ?
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Fido.
Quote:
Originally posted by Fido
Guys ~
As we are settling down (first home buyer) we are noticing certain things which may or may not be issues.
a. One corner of the cold room gets damp... it coincides with one corner of the structure.
b. At another exterior wall we observe a damp spot of 3ft by 3ft after every rain.
c. Some interlocking stones adjoining the structure are uneven and have some gap at few places b/w them and the structure .... might need caulking
d. Basement window wells / covers etc.
For the future :
We plan to get a door cut from the garage into the house.
We plan to get a powder room done.
We plan to get an area in the back deck ed.
With above observations and any other we are unaware of - should we take the opinion of general contractor or an inspector ?
Can some people recommend general contractor they have had good experience with... my apprehension being that knowing that I have less knowledge, the contractor may suggest not so important maintenance also ..... ( like that Meineke guy once told me to overhaul my suspension when I knew that was unnecessary)
How to go about it --- and do a vital, essential and desirable analysis ?
Fidoji:
Please check if the problem is dampness or leakage. A slight dampness in the cold room is normal due to condensation during humid days. If you see stream of water or continuous bubbling along cracks in the concrete, then the problem needs to be attended by a professional.
About the exterior wall - is the damp spot inside or outside? On the outside please check if you have a leaking gutters which drops excess water in that spot.
Interlocking is usually not caulked - the stones are just placed near each other and the gaps filled with polymeric sand. If a small area is uneven, you can pull out the stone + about 1 feet in the surrounding area, level, grade (with crushed stone/gravel/sand), place the stones back and fill the gaps with polymeric sand. Pay close attention to the grade - it should direct the water away from the foundation.
Whenever you proceed, test the contractor's workmanship, integrity and your comfort by signing up a small job and gradually hand out each job independent of each other.
Good luck.
Hiren
Hiren ,
Thanks a lot for your prompt & helpful response . At times I wonder the nature of your profession since you are well versed in almost everything under the sun from court cases , to car auto parts to now this house repair and maintenance ... though I am certain these are interests and your profession would be another area of your expertise and knowledge 
It is dampness in once corner in the cold area and no bubbles or leakage but since it is only in one corner, it concerns me.
The exterior dampness is slightly less concerning as not only is it outside but at a certain height - when you approach the basement from outside... but necessary to be checked out as well.
Polymeric sand is something I learned off recently in an effort to contain the weeds b/w the interlocking stones.... however removing of slabs and grading them (if needed) is something I d again have to depend on a pro for.... my handy man skills have just begun....if there s a gap between the wall and the stones and it appears to be going down in the ground would polymeric or cement or caulking be the better idea ?
Thanks for the tip about the contractors .... very valuable and it would not have crossed my mind otherwise....
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Fido.
Would you please be kind enough to tell us, if it is a NEW House and it has Warranty and Guaranty etc., If so, then, the leakage-seepage, crack or water leaks will all come under the Major Structural Deficiencies and they all are covered for an Initial Period of Five years. I am pretty sure that it is a Newer home and you just got into it not so long ago. So, let us see if you do have to sweat it out or make a claim for a FREE REPAIR.
It should be covered by the NEW HOME WARRANTY.
FIDO.. I am happy to see you right on the ball and happy that you caught up with all of the problems early and in time. Kudos to you and to your keen observations. That does not help much. So, here are a few quick solutions. Use them only if you find them helpful. It should.
a) You can get Two good *DE-HUMIDIFIERS and run them on the days that you find them that they are needed. That is for the use inside the house. They could be used/secondhand machines too. because you will only be using for a very short duration. Also you can dispose them off easily after use. This is for the moisture and seepage issue.
b) The same for this issue also. In fact the proper solution will be the application of Parging Cement at the exterior end and a subsequent coating of Ashphaltene on top of it. May be two coats over twice the area around the suspected location. All of these if it gets done under the Warranty, then, you will be in lala land.
c) Caulking etc., is minor and if it could be accomplished by yourself, then it will be one that you can take care of.
d) If capable, then, you may have to clear around them and position the Window Wells and make sure that any moisture will drain away quickly and properly by providing proper path and correct materials placed under the wells, prior to installation. Also to fasten them to the walls you might need Carbide tipped Drills and Concrete screws to fasten them with. Alternately use HILTI GUNS.
ENTRY DOOR FROM GARAGE..: It has to be a STEEL DOOR, which is Fire Proof and all the fittings, studs etc., should be Steel studs and any wood used must be FIRE RETARDENT MATERIALS. Also the GYPROCK must be fire proof. The rest as per the code. More on it if you need it.
A powder Room will cost you a minimum of Two grand. Make sure that it has ample room to swing and the drain from the same goes into the Sewer Mains. (The Grey water drains do not encounter paper waste.)
That is a great idea. I also wanted to hear back from you on this after you get proper answers from the City Hall. I heard that when you do a DECK or a PATIO, if it is not connected to the HOUSE, they do not include the same as an extra or push the Value of the property higher, IF IT IS NOT ATTACHED TO THE HOUSE? Can you find that out from the location where you are in. Why pay extra to the city hall as TAXES?
I am a handy man and I do all my own work and now I am taking it easy. But I still hear a few quirks from my friends who are into the fix it yourselfs.
Good Luck. Hope this fills in the voids that you are seeking.
FH.
https://www.rona.ca/en/parging---ultra-bond-parging-mix
Here is ONE SUCH Solution..: http://www.aquaguardinjection.com/services/window-well-drainage-solutions
*EDIT
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Quote:
Originally posted by Fido
Guys ~
As we are settling down (first home buyer) we are noticing certain things which may or may not be issues.
a. One corner of the cold room gets damp... it coincides with one corner of the structure.
b. At another exterior wall we observe a damp spot of 3ft by 3ft after every rain.
c. Some interlocking stones adjoining the structure are uneven and have some gap at few places b/w them and the structure .... might need caulking
d. Basement window wells / covers etc.
For the future :
We plan to get a door cut from the garage into the house.
We plan to get a powder room done.
We plan to get an area in the back deck ed.
With above observations and any other we are unaware of - should we take the opinion of general contractor or an inspector ?
Can some people recommend general contractor they have had good experience with... my apprehension being that knowing that I have less knowledge, the contractor may suggest not so important maintenance also ..... ( like that Meineke guy once told me to overhaul my suspension when I knew that was unnecessary)
How to go about it --- and do a vital, essential and desirable analysis ?
Thank You so very Much Full House ... Sorry I was in vacation and did not read your post earlier
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Fido.
