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June 30, 2008
signs of a flooding problem?
I am buying a house in Windsor Terrace with a "basement" - the original first floor but is now two steps down due to the building of the street. The owners have assured me that they have never had flooding and there is absolutely no visual evidence of any water damage. They have had carpet in some rooms down there for many years and the carpet appears in good condition, we even looked under the carpet and the plywood and pad had no signs of water. Are there other signs? Is Windsor Terrace not a flood-prone area?
Comments
If that basement didn't flood in these storms over the last few days it won't flood. Unless we get the hurricane of the century in which case we ALL flood.
Call them and ask to see the basement again, if you saw it before those storms not after. Just to check how it did.
You could say you want to see the whole house again, you don't have to say it's specifically the basement you're checking on.
Posted by: guest at June 30, 2008 1:25 PM
Some of WT is at a pretty high elevation. especially around PPW and 10th avenues...It does slope down towards Kensington, following prospect ave, so just figure it out. WT is probably way better (higher elevation) than 3rd or 4th avenues would be.
If you can see the house today, you'll know for sure if it stayed dry during both weekend storms by pulling up the carpet and examining the lower floors.
Posted by: guest at June 30, 2008 1:52 PM
You never know for sure but carpet can't tolerate any moisture without it smelling mildewy so you are probably safe. The area in the cemetary right near WT is the highest spot in Brooklyn so you have the slope working in your favor in most areas as well.
Posted by: Mrs. Limestone at June 30, 2008 2:01 PM
Is it a basement or a first floor - I ask because you mention that there is plywood under the carpet - which I think is a little odd for Windsor Terrace bc most of those houses are pretty old - I live in one and the original basement was a cement floor (about an inch think and under that just dirt)
That being said I live closer to Kensington and we have no problems with flooding.....
As Mrs. Limestone said carpet is really not tolerant of moisture so if the current owners had a flooding problem they would most likely choose a different flooring.... for that reason.
Good Luck - Welcome to the neighborhood!
Posted by: katiem633 at June 30, 2008 3:43 PM
Never heard that Windor Terrace is flood prone. Plywood on the basement floor means nothing. I recently finished the basement in my 100 year old house and put plywood over 2x4's to prevent any flood or dampness issues and to make it less basement like. It really makes a difference and all I lost is 2 5/8" of height
Posted by: guest at June 30, 2008 4:13 PM
Your best judge is your nose. A damp basement is pretty pungent.
Posted by: Steve at June 30, 2008 4:46 PM
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