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 ...
- 1,800
23
votes
Accepted
Should a tiled shower ceiling have cement board instead of drywall?
I would want cement board up there, but not for the reason you may expect. I wouldn't want hard, heavy tile hanging on a thin layer of paper regardless of moisture concerns.
It's not terribly ...
- 129k
22
votes
Accepted
Water leakage in new house - is this common or an issue?
Apparently this is a flat roof, maybe a terrace roof.
Since the roof is flat, there is no slope to let gravity get rid of the water for you. So it really needs to be done properly, with an EPDM ...
- 8,767
22
votes
Accepted
French Drain: Why do I need 3" of rock bedding beneath the pipe?
If you put the pipe right on the fabric, you'll end up filtering the inflow through the 1/2" circles of fabric pressed up against the holes in the pipe, as opposed to filtering through all the ...
- 201k
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
- 16.8k
20
votes
Accepted
Does tar roof patch on EDPM rubber roof cause damage?
Never, ever, feed them after midnight!
Like gremlins, rubber roofs are very special and cool... But they have rules. You can get a rubber roof wet. You can expose it to direct sun.
But you can't put ...
18
votes
Water leakage in new house - is this common or an issue?
Ouch! This is really, really incompetent work...this house is likely to develop serious mold problems in the future. I would look for another builder.
- 437
17
votes
French Drain: Why do I need 3" of rock bedding beneath the pipe?
The water will still flow through the rocks with the pipe assuming your ditch slopes as well. If any sediment makes its way through or around the fabric, the extra 3" will help prevent the ...
- 775
17
votes
How can I monitor my roof to detect roof leaks before they cause damage?
I go up into my attic about once a month (or after we get a heavy storm) with a good flashlight and give everything a visual inspection. Specifically, I make sure I'm very accustomed to the way that ...
- 1,817
16
votes
Water leaking inside outdoor electrical box. What should I do?
That’s a standard weatherproof (Bell) box, and yes, sometimes they do accumulate and hold water as you have found.
Code not only allows boxes to be drained.
Code requires boxes to be arranged to drain;...
- 102k
15
votes
How important is Tyvek/house wrap for a house with metal siding?
While I don't doubt that your father 'never installed a house wrap for a metal building in his life' I have to wonder how many of them were residences? Buildings with walls that trap moisture or where ...
- 5,709
13
votes
Accepted
How important is Tyvek/house wrap for a house with metal siding?
I don’t see a problem with felt for a portion as it was used for years, I believe a wrap is a good idea as it will increase the energy efficiency and keep the condensation from the metal off the ...
- 102k
12
votes
How can I locate and repair a leak on a flat roof?
Clearly this has been a problem for a while and also the standing water and patch job on the flat section of the roof is to blame.
There is no real shortcut here, as you can see, so the solution is to ...
- 23.1k
11
votes
How to leak proof roof?
You have either, too flat of a pitch in your roof or installed your roof tiles incorrectly. Just accept it and move on.
It's going to have to be redone. You would be wisest to tear it all out, then ...
11
votes
French Drain: Why do I need 3" of rock bedding beneath the pipe?
I'm doing similar right now,at my home.
The problem is twofold.
Silt and sediment will flow with the water and ultimately, may either clog the geotextile, or bypass it (through it if its a broad ...
- 610
8
votes
How can I prevent a wooden door from expanding and binding when it rains?
I am going to guess that you have a wood door causing the problem. If you have checked the original installation and frame alignment and feel that cannot be changed, then the only real solution is to ...
- 58.2k
8
votes
Accepted
Effective method for waterproofing a tube through a hole drilled in the side of a bucket?
What you want is called a bulkhead fitting.
This has a gasket to make a seal against the container, and threads to connect to whatever fittings you need. Some have outside threads on only one side,...
- 28.9k
8
votes
How would you protect a plywood container from moisture and abrasion?
The usual approach is a couple coats of polyurethane varnish. I'd sand it a bit to clean it up and give it a coat on all exposed surfaces. Steel wool between coats. It'll be apparent when you've ...
- 129k
8
votes
Accepted
Inserting probe into pressurized water pipe
The usual way is to use a T with the middle outlet being vertical:
With a proper fitting, you screw this hollow adapter in. Ecnerwal says in a comment it is called a "thermowell".
Fill ...
- 8,767
8
votes
How can I monitor my roof to detect roof leaks before they cause damage?
Roof leaks are caused by many different things. For example:
Shingles or tiles: Cracked, broken, missing, worn
Flashing: Loose, broken, missing, poorly installed, worn
Gutters: misaligned, clogged
...
- 34.3k
8
votes
Accepted
How can I store canned spray foam insulation for reuse weeks or months later?
You can reuse the same spray over and over simply by injecting some drop of acetone, then pour it out, and do it again 3 times to be sure nothing remains. The trick is to do it just after using it (...
- 486
7
votes
Accepted
Is mortar waterproof?
Mortar is not waterproof. However, there are products that can be applied to mortar (and other concrete materials), that can make the mortar waterproof.
- 131k
7
votes
Best way to install gutters on roof with no vertical facia or eaves
This would be a situation where you'll have to use gutter straps (usually in T or K style):
Image credit to acehardware.com
They install on the roof decking - make sure to follow the manufacturer's ...
- 6,905
7
votes
How to leak proof roof?
What is the pitch of your roof?
In the USA, this type of roof (most roof types, in fact) is installed over solid decking (usually plywood or OSB) with the underlayment nailed or stapled over the ...
- 12.5k
7
votes
Accepted
Can I install a row of bricks on a slab to support a shed?
Michael Karas is correct in that a half-height block foundation wall is common, but that doesn't really address your concern about water intrusion. His suggestion to seal the block does, and that ...
- 129k
7
votes
How can I protect this exterior outlet from water and prevent smoke leakage to the interior?
Let's start with the harder one here
Smoke
It looks like there's a gap in the stone to the left of the outlet. I would at least try to fill it with something (maybe caulk if you want the simplest ...
- 24k
7
votes
Accepted
Is there a product for channeling water away from water appliances?
Water heaters have pans. You place the pan under the water heater, then attach a hose to send the water someplace less damaging.
You can also get water sensors, which rest on the floor and sound an ...
- 2,492
7
votes
How important is Tyvek/house wrap for a house with metal siding?
I don't see what the issue would be with the Tyvek (or any other) house wrap. When my renovations were done, much of the brick was removed & replaced with OSB+Foam Board+ House Wrap + Hardiplank (...
- 6,743
6
votes
French drain did not solve the problem
Putting a drain sump on the inside is like catching the blood from a cut on your arm into a cup. What you really need to be doing is taking a hard look at what caused the cut and remedy that problem ...
- 64.1k
6
votes
How can I attach things to the inside of a shipping container without compromising the water tightness?
You can do this without disturbing the walls or ceiling of the container. Frame thin wall sections on opposite sides (use 2x3s instead of 2x4s to minimize the loss of width). Run 2x3 joists between ...
- 6,068
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible