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jimmythedog · Mar 5, 2009, 06:34 PM

My Daughter has water coming up through her dining room floor, she is in a four unit condo, plumbers claim the leak is coming from tree roots way out in the yard and claim after removing tree and repair leak her problem with the water infiltration will be cured. I feel that the integrity of the slab has been compromised and damaged from the water leak and it also needs attention... Of the four units hers is the only one with water coming in. Also could there be plumbing buried in that slab that could be damaged and leaking. The water is clear and does not seem to be sewer. And would there be insurance responsibility for these damages. She lives in Georgia, near Atlanta.

21boat · Mar 5, 2009, 07:25 PM

My biggest concern is how much water was under the footers and how long was the water leaking.

How many stories above that floor/footer system?

I don't quite buy the lines way out in the yard was causing this unless its up hill from her leak.

I would use a metal probe. 1/2 piece of steel rebar and see how the ground is around the footers. We use a T probe to help find drain fields.

I would send a letter to the Condo Association just to inform them of your worries. This would help document the leak and dates. Send if certified for your records.

Things may dry out and be fine but I would check it out while the ground is still wet.

Take pictures of walls and ceilings in case there is major settlement in the next several months.

Get a couple of house inspectors to look over the situation.

The best and most expensive is get an engineer out to asses the situation.

Many time there is plumbing in a slab construction. Haven't seen one yet that didn't have plumbing under the slab. How would a toilet drain if no plumbing was there.

Signed 21 Boat

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bones252100 · Mar 5, 2009, 07:35 PM

Concur with your thoughts on the slab integrity. The tree roots may well have caused the problem but the leak is in the condo not the yard. Removing the tree & its roots may be necessary. The damage caused by the roots is more likely beneath the condo.
A phone call to the insurance agent is advised for clarification on coverage.

speedball1 · Mar 6, 2009, 05:15 PM

Tree roots causing water to come up through the slab? Interesting! Has anybody bothered to check for a leak in the water pipes under the slab?
To check to see if you have a hidden leak first shut down everything in the house, no flush, no drinks of water, and if you are on a meter go out and check the little pointer in the gage. It should not move or creep. If it does you have a leak. If you're on a pump then check the pressure gage after the pump builds up to pressure and shuts off. The gage should not fall and the pump come back on. If so then you have a leak. Hope this helps and thank you for rating my reply, Tom