Pocster

Drizzling all day - no leak . I’ve noticed this before - needs to be substantial rain to cause leak . Kind of suggests not the lane . I did find this corner where roof flashing meets build . With the down gutter nearby perhaps it runs back over the roof with heavy rain …?

Only 5 years ago 😊

Here’s the red I did down the lane years ago . Looks like I murdered someone - but it isn’t a conclusive test anyway

Yeah I tried that before . I put a load of red down the lane - none came through . My assumption was maybe it wasn’t enough constant water I.e rain . I really just want to put water somewhere ( on a bone dry day ) and make it come through . It never leaks under light rain only heavy . My next suspect is this down pipe - but to run all that way ( past other walk on glazing unit ) and come out at the front one seems highly unlikely . But I’ll stick a 90 on it ; a 3 metre pipe and direct the run off away from the corner . Perhaps when it rains heavy it pisses down the pipe and splashes up ‘n under the roof …. I.e under the white render Running out of ‘possibilities’ … 🫤

Got my endoscope . Been sticking it in every hole I can find . No joy ( well joy , but not found the source of the leak )

Hasn’t rained for a day now . So went out and tipped a watering can of water into that gap 30 mins ago . Nothing on the inside …. Just want too see 1 drop - but nothing . I guess it might take time to soak through the blockwork , here’s hoping .

lol ! it hasn’t rained since early morning . So I could see it leaking through this morning as expected . Waited until about an hour ago . Though not dry in the upstand the drips were less . So I tipped some water behind the post …. It’s dripping now . But that’s not a conclusive test of course ! I really need some sun and zero rain and then the inner upstand is bone dry . Test again then … Weather this week looks pants - so will have to wait .

So I decided to trawl back through years of photos looking for that wall edge construction . i remember now there was an issue where the stone wall on the inside at this point would sit on the external insulation . So the SE designed a metal bracket to hold the stone but I had to put special I.e expensive thermal bricks ontop .As this part is different just wondering if the issue is there …

Ordered a cheap iPhone endoscope ( yes @Onoff broke the old one from over use ) . Be interesting too see exactly where this gap leads anyway . I vaguely recall this gate post was very tight to the build I.e I had to dig out some of the external insulation to the below ground section to get it in … Photo from the otherside Another ‘ possibility’ 🫤

So as it’s now stopped raining decided to move crap out the way outside and look for anything obvious . Did find this gap behind the gate post . You can see the water proof roof ends at the post . Need the leak to dry out and then I’ll tip a water can of water in that gap ….

Leak is coming in on slab not through upstand . Above slab is insulation then waterproof roof. 100% certain roof doesn’t leak .

I think when the weathers better I’m going to sand bag that lane entrance and hose the floor there . So the water runs down the lane . The lane is simply my likely suspect . Then if no leak ( !!! ) try and isolate the corner wall and quoins and hose there . Be nice to artificially reproduce the leak

Yeah I tried that before . It runs everywhere!

Nope The rain has pushed across to the other window in a storm . So the water will run somewhere . Last thing I want to do is ‘block’ it from the inside because where will it run then ? That’s what worries me ….

My preferred ‘solution’ is not to bother chasing my arse to find how the water gets in but simply manage it - like the entire basement does anyway . My issue is how do I make a waterproof ‘box’ that goes into the walk on glazing upstands that directs water into the dimpled plastic membrane that is attached to the ceiling …

This track mark runs towards the front of the property I.e towards those quoins . Maybe it’s coming in from there rather than the side …??

Had plenty of rain still leaks ! Could dig the trench the other side of my previous cementing I.e towards front of the lane . But not optimistic !

Misleading title causing click bait - should be banned

Nah that’s the air intake

I find mvhr invaluable. zero mould / moisture issues air is fresh also ; look at the pollution removed …

My recipe !!! in a mixer it’s half a bag of cement and a bag of sand ( or 2 halves of different sand ) . At least that kind of ratio . Water to suit . Tbh I just judge it on eye and stick a trowel in the mixer to guage it ( no pun intended ) . Bucket wise though . Erm a good glug of cement a double glug of sand and see what happens . Mine always turns out hard and so does my cement

Absolutely! If it’s a damp day or hot - all make a big difference! When I started my build I bought an electric mixer - much easier to be consistent. I became a pro . Back to the bucket mixing ( doing some today actually ) it will be Lady Luck I’ll be looking for

Mixing cement is a magic art . As you say sometimes it’s spot on other times it’s like you’ve never mixed it before . Cement mixing basically represents life in general …

You guys ! if ONLY everyone hadn’t laughed at me buying a Tesla powerwall 2 all those years ago ! Moaning about payback time but not factoring increased future electricity costs. Ahhhh 😊