Moisture

Question: Mr. Marantz: I realize you receive many emails on flat roofs, however ours is a little different.  My husband installed a flat roof 29 years ago on our porch, which is attached to the house. The ceiling and walls inside were all finished in cedar. We never had a problem in all … [Read more...] about Flat Roof Leak

Question: Dear Ari, I read your article in a recent issue of Sunday homes. You mentioned efflourescence briefly, but did not give a detailed description of a lasting remedy, or how to treat it best. I have it in my basement in 3 places making up areas about 1 square meter. The largest is in an … [Read more...] about Efflourescence

Question: Hello, Thank you for taking time to read my letter during this busy season. We purchased our first home last year in May and moved in August 1. As much as we love the house it has caused us grief. Against my better judgement, there was no house inspection. We would have not got … [Read more...] about Damaged Weeping Tiles

Question: Mr Marantz I have a couple of issues with my basement that I hope you can help me in pinpointing the problems and possible solutions. We are currently renovating our basement and ran into a few unusual items. Some background on the house: I have discovered that it was moved … [Read more...] about Concrete Spalling & Wet Basement

Question: Dear Mr. Marantz, It has happened again! Part of the kitchen ceiling in our 1929, two-and-a-half story home is disintegrating as water trickled through it last winter. This last happened in 1997 when there was also much snow. On both occasions we had, at the end of a southwest-facing … [Read more...] about Ceiling Damage

Question: I have a problem whereby there is a leak in my basement wall where the wall and concrete floor meet. Apparently, the weeping tile has broken and thus the seepage. Unfortunately, the problem is under my front planter and cannot be repaired from the outside. I had someone come and put … [Read more...] about Basement Seepage

Question: I read your column in the free press almost every Sunday. I have a problem in my basement. We have been in this home, our first house, since 1989. In the spring we noticed several wet spots on the basement floor. Last winter I, and a very talented good friend, renovated the basement. We … [Read more...] about Basement Seepage & Mould

Question: These are the proposals that my daughter received for fixing the leaky basement in her house. The second and third companies listed recommended steel reinforcing for the inside basement wall as well. The first company thought that the wall would go back into place when the soil pressure … [Read more...] about Basement Repair Methods