Following on from my last post, Mr S & I moved into our newly renovated home the day after our honeymoon and lived in bliss, in a dust free zone for three months.
Then, just before Christmas, as the building nightmares became a distant memory, the heating system started losing pressure.
We couldn’t find a leak; we checked every radiator and studied the walls for damp patches every day. It was only when the kitchen floor started to warp that we realised it was probably under our brand new Walnut floor.
I called the insurance and they sent around a leak detection guy and his divining rods, I kid you not! I wish I had a video of him working to share with you, but it was like being transported back in time, the divining rods seemed to have a life of their own.
He pinpointed the exact location of the leak, right in front of the kitchen and uncovered this.
Can you believe that the builders thought it acceptable to join the old system to the new using scraps of copper pipe, spot welded together and wrapped in a plastic bag. I can just imagine them all standing around looking at it and saying ‘yeah that plastic bag will stop it leaking…’ It’s frustrating to think that we could’ve avoided the heartache and damage if one of them had just popped out to get a new bit of piping.
So the rest of the floor had to come up and the concrete dried, then finally a new Oak floor laid (we decided against Walnut as the last one had scratched and dented too easily).
Now, after a second flood during our trip to New York I’m beginning to think the floor is jinxed! The builders were in again last week to remove the mouldy floor.
We heard the rubbish was going to the local pub for their bonfire, so we went and watched. It was quite cathartic to see it burn, feels like we are finally on track to a finished house after two months of organising the insurance company and suppliers.
So we are living in a building site again and it’s hard not to get despondent, but at least the insurance are paying for decorators and the ground floor will be good as new when they’ve gone.
Off to search the internet for someone who can ‘bless’ the new floor before it is laid ;)
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Kelly, my lovely, I think you have a poltergeist under there. Love the bonfire, a very dramatic episode in the life of the naughty floor!!
Ha I think I do too, one that doesn’t agree with my choice in flooring, hopefully it will like this one better ;) x
Kelly, I can imagine how stressful it must have been. We renovated ours 2 years ago and I’m starting to notice some problems too – it’s so heart breaking isn’t it, after all the time and effort – and money! Good luck with the new floor, your dining room looks lovely. x
Thanks Geraldine, it really is heart breaking, especially for the second time! Luckily Direct Line have been brilliant on both occasions and we should have a new floor laid in a few weeks. x
How therapeutic that bonfire must have been!
You can’t imagine the upheaval of rennovations like this unless you go through them can you? Especially when it effects the ground.
I really feel for you and anyone affected by leaks or flooding because it rocks the idea of safety within your home. I hope you find a good ‘spiritual person’ to bless your new floor, perhaps you should just have a special ‘floor blessing’ party and do it yourself!
Alex x
It was very therapeutic! I can’t imagine how people who get properly flooded with sewage or water from outside must feel, on the positive side, my leak was nice and clean.
I love the idea of a party and I will definitely feel like one by the time it’s all over. x
Going, going, gone! Was it a cathartic experience ?
Damn builders, so sad that we have to pick through endless trails of disaster just to find one decent one. Hope they have gone bust dear :-/
It was really cathartic, we had a little drink to it.
Builders have a lot to answer for, he’s either bust or he’s changed his name, couldn’t find him when we went looking for compensation anyway! x
Gosh, Kelly, living nightmare!
And? have you found someone to bless the new floor?
I absolutely hate shoddy workmanship. It should be punishable!!!!
I really hope you are lucky from here on and thank god for insurance. Hurray!!!
x
Thanks Tine, not found anyone yet, but I love Alex’s idea of a party when the new one is laid, we can all do it :)
Yes, thank goodness for insurance x
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