Water Damage

Until very recently, it has been dry here. However, the past two nights have brought us 1 am thunderstorms that have really been impressive. Accompanied by southerly breezes, these storms have brought us a great deal of water, thunder, and lightning. Both nights Monkey and I have been stirred by the storms to close windows.

Yesterday morning brought us a new concern to be diligent about. Our basement was flooded again. This time, however, it was not a leaky hot water heater or a backed up drain. It appears that our southern wall, made of seventy-five year-old brick, is no longer waterproof. My untrained eye believes that the water, being driven by the southerly wind, is inundating itself between our wall and the dirt outside, eventually seeping through the wall and into the basement. I haven't actually seen it do this, but, my novice CSI: House Owner skills have decided to build a case that tends toward that inevitable conclusion.

The result of this new issue of home ownership: two early morning forays into the basement with the ShopVac, a never ending fan blowing on the damp rug outside the laundry room, massively peeling floor paint, and an impending "estimate" from a basement waterproofer that might send the Monkeys on tilt.

Stay tuned for fund-raising messages.