Studio water clean-up very easy because of re-do

Thank you for your posted concerns and encouragements about my
flooding issues.

All the work we did in my studio really paid off Saturday as the water
again flowed through the space. The only items that had to be removed
were the boxes of miscellaneous things that had not found a home in
the re-arranged room. If I had finished the reorganization the
carrying would have been minimal.

The water comes in the furnace room on one side of my studio and from
an unfinished workshop area on the other side. The water wants to run
to the lowest spot in the laundry room which is on the other side of
the studio. Thus there are two streams running across the floor. By
stationing a wet vacuum at each location we were able to stay ahead of
it. Sump pumps really aren't the answer because the water would run to
the sump pump. Fixing the foundation is the answer and hopefully that
will be done by spring.

This fall we replaced the carpet with an epoxy painted floor so
clean-up only means mopping the floor which it probably needed any
way. All the wallboard which was replaced this fall is the paperless
type which does not mold. I would recommend both the epoxy painted
floor and paperless wallboard to anyone remodeling a lower level.

My studio is the lower level of the house but because of the different
elevation between front and back yard it doesn't feel like a basement.
There are large windows on the north and west sides of the studio.

The ice rink is still in the back yard but small enough that it won't
come into the house even when it melts.

Saturday was a long day as we watched and worried. Emptying the wet
vacuums was the real work. We are afraid to put it down the floor
drain because we aren't sure that it would leave the house properly.
The water must be carried upstairs and dumped in the front yard.
Fortunately there is an outside stairway so they didn't carry the
water through the house on the way out. In addition to fixing the two
places the water comes in we need to double check one of the floor
drains and make sure it is draining properly. I think it is plugged
someplace along the line. A few buckets of water poured down the drain
is OK but when lots of water is involved it doesn't drain. Is it
plugged or is that backup water coming in? We really need to find out.
We have treated this water as if it were all rain water. I really feel
sorry for those who have sewage back-up in their homes. That is so
much worse. It is a regular problem in older parts of Chicago.

Again, thanks for your concern. I should be able to start sewing again
this afternoon.

Susan

Thanks for the upbeat update, Susan! I'm glad to hear that you are coping
so well with the problems. And thanks for seconding my opinion about the
epoxy floor paint for lower levels! I loved that stuff when I had a
basement. Watch for one little glitch--it can be slippery when wet, so be
careful walking across the wet floors!

--
Carolyn in The Old Pueblo

If it ain't broke, you're not trying. --Red Green
If it ain't broke, it ain't mine. --Carolyn McCarty

If at first you don't succeed, switch to power tools. --Red Green
If at first you don't succeed, get a bigger hammer. --Carolyn McCarty

"Susan Laity Price" wrote in message
...
Thank you for your posted concerns and encouragements about my
flooding issues.

All the work we did in my studio really paid off Saturday as the water
again flowed through the space. The only items that had to be removed
were the boxes of miscellaneous things that had not found a home in
the re-arranged room. If I had finished the reorganization the
carrying would have been minimal.

The water comes in the furnace room on one side of my studio and from
an unfinished workshop area on the other side. The water wants to run
to the lowest spot in the laundry room which is on the other side of
the studio. Thus there are two streams running across the floor. By
stationing a wet vacuum at each location we were able to stay ahead of
it. Sump pumps really aren't the answer because the water would run to
the sump pump. Fixing the foundation is the answer and hopefully that
will be done by spring.

This fall we replaced the carpet with an epoxy painted floor so
clean-up only means mopping the floor which it probably needed any
way. All the wallboard which was replaced this fall is the paperless
type which does not mold. I would recommend both the epoxy painted
floor and paperless wallboard to anyone remodeling a lower level.

My studio is the lower level of the house but because of the different
elevation between front and back yard it doesn't feel like a basement.
There are large windows on the north and west sides of the studio.

The ice rink is still in the back yard but small enough that it won't
come into the house even when it melts.

Saturday was a long day as we watched and worried. Emptying the wet
vacuums was the real work. We are afraid to put it down the floor
drain because we aren't sure that it would leave the house properly.
The water must be carried upstairs and dumped in the front yard.
Fortunately there is an outside stairway so they didn't carry the
water through the house on the way out. In addition to fixing the two
places the water comes in we need to double check one of the floor
drains and make sure it is draining properly. I think it is plugged
someplace along the line. A few buckets of water poured down the drain
is OK but when lots of water is involved it doesn't drain. Is it
plugged or is that backup water coming in? We really need to find out.
We have treated this water as if it were all rain water. I really feel
sorry for those who have sewage back-up in their homes. That is so
much worse. It is a regular problem in older parts of Chicago.

Again, thanks for your concern. I should be able to start sewing again
this afternoon.

Susan

My floor has a little texture to help with slippery situation. Only
problem is that the rough texture was hard on the sponge mop. Will
have to get a rag mop. In the laundry area there is more texture
because of more danger of water on that floor. The surprising thing to
me has been the temperature of the new surface. I thought it would be
very cold like the old painted floor in the laundry room. It is cooler
than the carpet but fine to wear just my slipper. I was dreading
wearing "real" shoes and socks all winter.

Susan

On Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:51:08 -0700, "Carolyn McCarty"
wrote:

Thanks for the upbeat update, Susan! I'm glad to hear that you are coping
so well with the problems. And thanks for seconding my opinion about the
epoxy floor paint for lower levels! I loved that stuff when I had a
basement. Watch for one little glitch--it can be slippery when wet, so be
careful walking across the wet floors!

Susan:
Have you thought about adding a Sump Pump? I admit I know NOTHING about
those except that some relatives with basements use them. We don't generally
have basements in my area though.
Good luck with your clean up.
PAT

"Susan Laity Price" wrote in message
...
Thank you for your posted concerns and encouragements about my
flooding issues.
..