July 21, 2024

Status report on minor water intrusion

ASSUMING THAT this summer’s planned projects will be successfully completed, there are three minor remaining water-intrusion issues. At least, to my knowledge they are minor or probably under control. (Still, this topic matters attention because water is a threat to the building’s structural integrity — and can ruin interior finishes. If not addressed timely, repair costs balloon quickly.) 

Below the jump, this post lists and briefly describes the three remaining issues.

  1. Ledge between school building and stairwell to basement.   This area gets doubly soaked during rainfall, because a sump pump dumps water here. That may well be contributing to the repeated deterioration of the concrete in the retaining wall of the stairwell below. (For details, see here.) It would be best if someone will connect a pipe or hose that channels the sump pump’s water away from this surface.
  2. Basement, walls of southeast mechanical room.   Upon heavy rainfall, water runs down the unfinished concrete walls and puddles on the unfinished concrete floor. The specific source of the water is unclear. Because this room is not actively used,  the main risks are rebar corrosion in the basement wall, and the growth of mold/mildew in the room. To hopefully address the issue this summer, we are repainting the 2nd-story wall surface above the room in question. We will then observe whether that has taken care of the problem. If not, then one waterproofing contractor recommends $5K worth of injection grouting. For details, see here.
  3. Social Hall south upper wall and ceiling.   The water damage here may or may not be from an active leak. My goal is to monitor the situation during the coming winter. For details, see here.

 

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