Hello everyone,
Over a year ago, we bought a semi-detached house. The other half still belongs to the seller (who was also the builder and is a craftsman) and is being rented out.
Due to the heavy rainfall last week and a blocked drain in the driveway, our basement window well unfortunately flooded, and water entered the basement. It was about 3cm (1 inch) deep in all rooms. We were able to remove the water completely after 3-4 hours.
However, the lower parts of the walls became damp and are still damp after one week. It actually seems to be getting worse. It looks like the moisture has risen to about knee height. The paint is also already peeling off.
The strange thing is that at our neighbors’ house, where no water had entered, the same situation appeared two days later—not only on the wall towards our house but everywhere.
The seller/builder has now drilled several test holes today in his basement through the tiles, screed, and insulation layer. There is water standing between the cover plate and the insulation layer!! (I haven’t spoken to him yet, only to the tenants.)
What could have gone wrong here? Could it be water from our basement that seeped down through the tile joints and screed? Is that even possible in such a short time? Could the groundwater level, or possibly standing water (perhaps caused by the soakaway next to the house), have risen and found a way somehow between the floor slab? We do not have a waterproof concrete shell (also known as a “white tank”) or similar, but only a basement wall insulated with bitumen. According to the soil tests done at the time, there is no groundwater within the top 5 meters (16 feet).
We are quite puzzled, frustrated, and worried that the house might turn into a financial disaster for us.
Would you recommend hiring an independent expert and perhaps a lawyer as a precaution? Do you think this kind of damage might be covered under warranty or guarantee?
Thank you very much in advance for your time, assessments, and advice.
Over a year ago, we bought a semi-detached house. The other half still belongs to the seller (who was also the builder and is a craftsman) and is being rented out.
Due to the heavy rainfall last week and a blocked drain in the driveway, our basement window well unfortunately flooded, and water entered the basement. It was about 3cm (1 inch) deep in all rooms. We were able to remove the water completely after 3-4 hours.
However, the lower parts of the walls became damp and are still damp after one week. It actually seems to be getting worse. It looks like the moisture has risen to about knee height. The paint is also already peeling off.
The strange thing is that at our neighbors’ house, where no water had entered, the same situation appeared two days later—not only on the wall towards our house but everywhere.
The seller/builder has now drilled several test holes today in his basement through the tiles, screed, and insulation layer. There is water standing between the cover plate and the insulation layer!! (I haven’t spoken to him yet, only to the tenants.)
What could have gone wrong here? Could it be water from our basement that seeped down through the tile joints and screed? Is that even possible in such a short time? Could the groundwater level, or possibly standing water (perhaps caused by the soakaway next to the house), have risen and found a way somehow between the floor slab? We do not have a waterproof concrete shell (also known as a “white tank”) or similar, but only a basement wall insulated with bitumen. According to the soil tests done at the time, there is no groundwater within the top 5 meters (16 feet).
We are quite puzzled, frustrated, and worried that the house might turn into a financial disaster for us.
Would you recommend hiring an independent expert and perhaps a lawyer as a precaution? Do you think this kind of damage might be covered under warranty or guarantee?
Thank you very much in advance for your time, assessments, and advice.
B
Bauexperte12 May 2015 00:33Good evening,
first of all: stay calm, even if it is difficult right now!
There can be many reasons why moisture remains in the house; speculating about the cause won’t help you. On the contrary, the longer you worry, the more anxious you will become! No user here—at least no one in their right mind (I hope)—will give you an assessment of where the cause "might" be. In my opinion, that would be irresponsible!
Personally, I would only consider involving a lawyer or expert if you cannot reach a reasonable settlement with either your former seller or your insurance company. What I would definitely do is set up drying equipment and document the situation onsite with photos as well as in writing. It will rain again, and as long as it is unclear where the water is coming from, I would want to prevent any further penetration into the building structure, independently of establishing who caused it.
Good luck and best regards, Bauexperte
first of all: stay calm, even if it is difficult right now!
Peppito schrieb:
Due to the extreme rainfall last week and a clogged drain in the driveway, unfortunately our basement window well filled up and water entered the basement. It was about 3cm (1 inch) high in all rooms. We were able to fully remove it after 3-4 hours.
However, the lower parts of the walls became damp and are still damp after one week. It feels like it is getting worse. It looks as if the moisture has risen to about knee height. The paint is also starting to peel off.
There can be many reasons why moisture remains in the house; speculating about the cause won’t help you. On the contrary, the longer you worry, the more anxious you will become! No user here—at least no one in their right mind (I hope)—will give you an assessment of where the cause "might" be. In my opinion, that would be irresponsible!
- Have you already spoken to your seller or informed them in writing with proof?
- Who is responsible for the clogged drain in the driveway? What caused the blockage?
- Who is liable under warranty—if the fault lies with a craftsman or contractor at all—only you can know, since you have not commented on the previous construction project itself. Who built the property? The seller themselves with additional tradespeople or was it built via a general contractor? Are there any guarantees or warranty retention agreements?
- Was the basement constructed according to the guidelines in the soil report, i.e., were proper foundations laid in the ground?
- Do you have natural disaster insurance and/or have you spoken to your insurance company? Insurers have their own experts and may send a specialist to assess the damage.
Personally, I would only consider involving a lawyer or expert if you cannot reach a reasonable settlement with either your former seller or your insurance company. What I would definitely do is set up drying equipment and document the situation onsite with photos as well as in writing. It will rain again, and as long as it is unclear where the water is coming from, I would want to prevent any further penetration into the building structure, independently of establishing who caused it.
Good luck and best regards, Bauexperte
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