Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Financial reponsiblity for water leaks

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

On Jan 25, 2014, at 12:50 PM, Kathryn McCamant <kmccamant [at] 
cohousingpartners.com> wrote:

> We have found it very helpful to have the landscape
> or maintenance committee do any annual check or the site grading because
> many people are just not aware of the importance of keeping water away
> from the foundations.

Or aware that the ground settles, particularly after new construction. We had 
major dig-outs before we built to remove contaminated soil and old oil drums. 
As a result the land all around had been loose, not packed down from decades. 
The water in the north side back yards became a major issue.

Our consultant pointed out to us that the land had settled 3-5 inches along the 
foundation. The slope of the land was then toward the building, not away. In 
another area a storm drain is now higher than the land around it.

Facilities take constant vigilance.

Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org