So almost as much as I get asked, "How are you?" these days, I get asked, "So how's your basement?" The answer to both questions is: Exceedingly fine. We have only one little spot of moisture in the problem area of the den, one you can't even distinguish from the other dark stains without touching it.
This seems to confirm the hypothesis of the masonry guy, who didn't like the way mulch was heaped up over the bottom of our sills. He showed us that the sills sit directly atop the fieldstone foundation, so having the earth banked that high invites water to seep into the joint. Of course, it would take a mighty downpour for enough water to pool there, so it's hose watering that is most likely the culprit--which would explain why the problem appeared on a weekend when there was no rain to speak of but our neighbour turned the hose full force into the front planting beds.
His recommendation was to dig out the joint and test the hypothesis by running the hose directly into it. We had planned to do that this weekend, but that was before it turned into the rainiest one in the history of Chicago. At least, I changed my plans, but
monshu insisted on going outside today and scrabbling in the dirt. So, in order not to look like a skiver, I had little choice but to follow him out there, which is how I ended up hacking through tree roots with a shovel in the middle of a fucking downpour.
Needless to say, that spelled the death of any chance we'd make it to Celtic Fest.
bunj and I had planned to try again this morning, but he predictably bagged when the remnants of Ike promised no let-up and there was no way in hell
monshu was going to leave the house again after getting up at 5:30 to wet vac the basement common areas and, for his pains, slipping on the stoop and banging up his head and hand. So my compensation was spending a little time on www.daltai.com and reading from Campbell's Popular Tales of the West Highlands. Bíonn an bhliain seo chúinn choiche ann!
This seems to confirm the hypothesis of the masonry guy, who didn't like the way mulch was heaped up over the bottom of our sills. He showed us that the sills sit directly atop the fieldstone foundation, so having the earth banked that high invites water to seep into the joint. Of course, it would take a mighty downpour for enough water to pool there, so it's hose watering that is most likely the culprit--which would explain why the problem appeared on a weekend when there was no rain to speak of but our neighbour turned the hose full force into the front planting beds.
His recommendation was to dig out the joint and test the hypothesis by running the hose directly into it. We had planned to do that this weekend, but that was before it turned into the rainiest one in the history of Chicago. At least, I changed my plans, but
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Needless to say, that spelled the death of any chance we'd make it to Celtic Fest.
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