38 votes
Accepted

Does this downspout design make sense?

It's completely wrong! The shingles overlap each other. This ensures that water running from top down doesn't enter under them. When you flush water against the overlapping sections, they are not ...
vidarlo's user avatar
  • 1,900
27 votes

Expedient repair for water damaged drywall behind tile

Sorry, there is no shortcut here. It's likely damaged well beyond what you can see and the only fix is to tear that all out, remove the drywall that is likely crumbling, replace/repair any studs, ...
jwh20's user avatar
  • 23.3k
25 votes
Accepted

Are pressure-treated posts that have been submerged for a few days ruined?

Pressure treated wood can handle submersion. Many folks just pack rock around the post, so they are always in water after rain. You should be fine to go ahead and pour your concrete with no worries.
Ed Beal's user avatar
  • 103k
25 votes

Expedient repair for water damaged drywall behind tile

With the COVID stuff going on the last thing you want to do is have your family have respiratory issues due to mold. There is mold growing behind your shower, probably on every shower wall. Money ...
DMoore's user avatar
  • 48.1k
25 votes

What is an air bleeder valve, and how does it winterize pipes?

This is for an outside valve that can freeze. Frozen water can crack pipes and valves. Destroying them. An air bleeder will look like a small round knob sticking out of the side of the valve, under ...
crip659's user avatar
  • 23.8k
23 votes
Accepted

Boiler *might* have caused water intrusion... who do I call?

You call a plumber and get the water heater replaced. Most of the white junk appears to be mineral build-up from ignoring a leak for a long time. Have the new one installed properly to code with a ...
Ecnerwal's user avatar
  • 212k
22 votes

Does this downspout design make sense?

Get it out of that corner and have the water flow downwards not upwards under the shingles guaranteed to leak. You just need one more part. Downspout Side Elbow Loves
Traveler's user avatar
  • 17.1k
21 votes

What is this yellow gummy substance in our cabana walls?

I think that's not sap but fungus. Because: Those boards look old, and the black color looks like there's already fungus under the finish. If so, and if the yellow globs actually are new, "coming ...
KayGee's user avatar
  • 331
20 votes

Contractor work caused a water leak in the house - UK

Let me tell you a story about insurance companies and how they will screw you. First, before you call your insurance company to report an accident, call them and ask for a policy review to see if your ...
d.george's user avatar
  • 12.4k
17 votes

Are pressure-treated posts that have been submerged for a few days ruined?

Pressure-treated lumber is pressure-treated by... wait for it... submersion. It was literally dunked in a vat of liquid. The vat was sealed and pressurized, forcing the liquid to enter the wood. It ...
isherwood's user avatar
  • 136k
17 votes

Expedient repair for water damaged drywall behind tile

You say you're looking for an expedient fix for the duration of the lockdown? That's pretty simple then. Buy a cheap shower curtain, cut it roughly to the size of the missing tiles, and Duck-tape it ...
Graham's user avatar
  • 2,026
17 votes

What is this yellow gummy substance in our cabana walls?

They are fungal fruiting bodies. https://www.ediblewildfood.com/blog/2012/10/witchs-butter-edible-fungi/ To my eye it looks like golden jelly fungus or "witch's butter". Your board is ...
Willk's user avatar
  • 6,593
16 votes
Accepted

What is an air bleeder valve, and how does it winterize pipes?

An air bleed valve looks like this You'll note The directional arrow The cutoff valve (red handle) The air bleed valve (the knob past the cutoff) The reason for this process is that once you shut ...
Machavity's user avatar
  • 24.7k
14 votes

What are some tools or methods I can purchase to trace a water leak?

If four roofers could not find the leak, it's unlikely that we can find it from photos. So I'll tell you what kinds of things to look for, and answer the question, 'what kinds of tools' etc. If the ...
jay613's user avatar
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12 votes
Accepted

Removing water from oak hardwood floors

I believe you are going about the right way. Even when drying lumber using dehumidification techniques, it will take a least a week to get the moisture to start going down, 2 weeks to get a stack of ...
Jack's user avatar
  • 34.8k
12 votes

Why is there efflorescence and spalling several feet up on an interior column in my basement?

A picture would help, but just from your description, water is likely coming down the fireplace's chimney, then down to the ash pit. It could be coming down inside of the chimney if the cover has a ...
BaddDadd's user avatar
  • 249
11 votes

Expedient repair for water damaged drywall behind tile

First off, Don't use thinset on drywall. Use a mastic adhesive because it will be better for the damaged area. After the tiles have been installed, use an epoxy grout for maximum strength. Seal around ...
JACK's user avatar
  • 80k
11 votes

Expedient repair for water damaged drywall behind tile

Hang another shower curtain on the back wall with a tension-rod. That will let it continue to dry out and should be cost-effective until you can take it down to the studs and see whether the wood ...
Eric Hauenstein's user avatar
11 votes

How do builders prevent water damage during construction?

The ultimate goal in construction is zero water intrusion, and they're not using treated wood. This seems counter-intuitive. Why would you expose framing lumber to water? The answer is simple: limited ...
Machavity's user avatar
  • 24.7k
10 votes
Accepted

Why is this townhouse only $5,000?

You need to consider the final selling price you could get for it, if it was fixed up and in great shape. Based on "outdated" ones at $43k, maybe $45k-$50k? So there's a bunch of costs you ...
gregmac's user avatar
  • 29k
9 votes

Expedient repair for water damaged drywall behind tile

I side against those who say retiling the wall is the ONLY way to do this. Nonsense. My quickfix is similar to graham's, but I think a little more durable since even joint mud is generally very ...
J D's user avatar
  • 682
9 votes
Accepted

Blue liquid dripping from mini-split

A tiny bit of corrosion on the copper lines is fine. You'll get less of it, and eliminate the liquid coming off the lines, if it's not possible for air to easily get in there to bring the moisture. ...
KMJ's user avatar
  • 11.2k
8 votes

How do builders prevent water damage during construction?

How to prevent water damage during construction Don't expose construction to water. How do builders prevent water damage during construction? They don't; at least not in regards to framing and the ...
MonkeyZeus's user avatar
  • 16.5k
8 votes

Removing water from oak hardwood floors

We had a refrigerator valve break, probably 4+ months ago or so, and like you, it was on top of 2" wide solid oak flooring that had been finished with several coats of polyurethane when we had ...
Milwrdfan's user avatar
  • 4,404
8 votes

Is DIY water mitigation possible in my case?

The general rule on water damage is Make sure no additional water gets in Dry stuff out If damaged, do your best to replace it Most of the problems with water damage are long-term. Wood will rot, ...
Machavity's user avatar
  • 24.7k
7 votes

Expedient repair for water damaged drywall behind tile

You just want to fix it for the shorter term which makes sense to me. Remove the old dry wall and replace with a piece of 1/2" sheathing making sure that the ends are supported so the tile won't crack ...
Ack's user avatar
  • 5,719
7 votes
Accepted

Do skirting boards prevent\help to manage damp in any way?

Skirting is purely aesthetic. It doesn't stop damp transmission itself, but just hides a gap where floorboards meet wall. In the article you quoted, the important words are: ...concealing the ...
SiHa's user avatar
  • 2,734
7 votes
Accepted

How do I prevent exterior water from seeping into interior moulding?

Those bottom corners are the only problematic locations, right? Referring to Page #7 of these Jeld-Wen installation Instructions which I recently followed. You are missing the foam wedges Go to the ...
MonkeyZeus's user avatar
  • 16.5k
6 votes
Accepted

Drywall falling from ceiling

First, you should let your landlord know ASAP, before the problem gets worse. The ceiling falling down is not your fault. Not reporting it and letting it continue to fall down would be. Anyway, most ...
Robert Nubel's user avatar
6 votes
Accepted

What could cause the drywall behind the baseboard to crumble and allow interior of wall to fill with dirt?

Drywall Crack - That is a likely the factory joint of the drywall. It cracks due to movement of the studs that can happen for a variety of reasons, including temperature, humidity changes and ...
Mike P's user avatar
  • 175

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