I recently bought my first ground floor apartment and noticed that the laminate flooring in the living room was swollen in some spots when I moved in. Initially, I was told it was due to past water damage from a clogged patio drain. However, the issue seems to have worsened despite no new water intrusion. There's a corner in the room that feels persistently damp, almost like there's morning dew. After consulting with a plumber and handyman acquaintance, he mentioned there are no pipes below that area, and the pillars might be drawing moisture from the ground. He suggested that since the water seems to come from the foundation, the best fix might be to just switch to tile flooring and not worry about it. Is this truly the best course of action? Is ignoring potential water damage and mold and covering it up with tile actually advisable?
4 Answers
Ignoring water damage is a big no! You might be setting yourself up for major flooding, mold issues, and a headache down the road, especially if you ever plan to sell. It's crucial to address the flooding at its source. A sump pump, better drainage, or proper grading can make all the difference. Plus, it might be worth discussing this with your neighbors to see if they have similar issues. You should all work together on a solution because it may be a problem for the whole building.
That's an interesting situation! When you buy an apartment, you're typically responsible for your unit, but common structural issues might fall under the condo association. So if the leak comes from above, you'd need to know who’s on the hook. Usually, there's a condo association that manages shared spaces and infrastructure, so it’s all written down somewhere. Definitely look at the agreement, it could save you a lot of trouble!
Check your purchase agreement and any HOA documents you may have. Often, structural issues fall on the building management or owner. In many cases, things like proper exterior grading or drainage fixes could be a simple solution to your problem. Don't leave it up to chance!
What kind of specialist should I talk to about this? We don’t really have flooding in basements where I live, so I’m not sure where to start.