I have moisture in walls in a three spots. This is a concrete house. One wall has
red brick inside but it is encased in concrete.

I wrote here earlier. I think I know what is causing it but I am asking what to
do about it.

I've located three places - two inside walls and one outside. The outside wall
has a stucco layer that has a crack. I supposed water is seeping in from outside.
Paint inside show discoloration. The outside patio is often wet and water may
pool there. The house in on a slope and it rains here a lot around the year and
freezes in winter.

The moist spot in the two inside walls are near downspouts that go through the
house and though the bottom slab into drainage.

One downspout shows slight leaking (there is rust in the sealing). The downspout
is insulated but near the rust part it is not and it shows a lot of sweating
(condensation) during cold weather.

The other inside wall has had its downspout replaced years before and the
downspout looks OK. I believe that it had the same problem and previous owners
had it replaced to lessen the moist. Anyway the wall shows moist about feet
upwards from the floor. The floor is parquet and shows no moist.

I've gotten the moist levels using a moisture meter. The moist rises to about a
feet or less and cover an area of about a square feet.

I don't think this is a problem with leaking water. The water lines go near the
places but are situated under the parquet floor which is dry. And the problem may
have developed over the years as the previous occupants have done something to
stop it.

Lets assume the moist came from leaking and sweating downspouts. One is fixed and
I'll fix the other too. How do I get the moist out of the wall? I carved a good
part away. The concrete had become porous and was easy to chisel away. Luckily
these walls do not carry weight. How long can it take to dry out? Inside the
house the moisture levels is dry 40% in winter but 50%-60% in summer. I am also
consider just replacing the moist wall parts with new concrete. Would that just
add to moist?

Can the moist say there for years as it appears to have been at least in the
first wall? Areas near the current moist places show water damaged which has
dried up. An inspector took a look at the problem and said there is no mold.

Moisture would not just stay there for years, otherwise the Hoover Dam
would have never set up.

wrote:

Moisture would not just stay there for years, otherwise the Hoover Dam
would have never set up.

I am thinking that those places dry in summer and and become moist in fall.

some ideas:
plumbing: install a water meter it will indicate usage and leaking
water.
drainage of rainwater: may be poor or blocked have a plumber snake all
rainwater pipes and downspouts and underground traps.
tarp the roof until a roofer can fix it.
open wet walls and run large blower fans with the home heat on.
consider handling rainwater from uphill as required and permitted by
your local building inspector, such as with drain tile or gravel
drainage.
info the previous discussion is at:
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.h...6d4b200e4d6917


Dave wrote:
I have moisture in walls in a three spots. This is a concrete house. One wall has
red brick inside but it is encased in concrete.

I wrote here earlier. I think I know what is causing it but I am asking what to
do about it.

I've located three places - two inside walls and one outside. The outside wall
has a stucco layer that has a crack. I supposed water is seeping in from outside.
Paint inside show discoloration. The outside patio is often wet and water may
pool there. The house in on a slope and it rains here a lot around the year and
freezes in winter.

The moist spot in the two inside walls are near downspouts that go through the
house and though the bottom slab into drainage.

One downspout shows slight leaking (there is rust in the sealing). The downspout
is insulated but near the rust part it is not and it shows a lot of sweating
(condensation) during cold weather.

The other inside wall has had its downspout replaced years before and the
downspout looks OK. I believe that it had the same problem and previous owners
had it replaced to lessen the moist. Anyway the wall shows moist about feet
upwards from the floor. The floor is parquet and shows no moist.

I've gotten the moist levels using a moisture meter. The moist rises to about a
feet or less and cover an area of about a square feet.

I don't think this is a problem with leaking water. The water lines go near the
places but are situated under the parquet floor which is dry. And the problem may
have developed over the years as the previous occupants have done something to
stop it.

Lets assume the moist came from leaking and sweating downspouts. One is fixed and
I'll fix the other too. How do I get the moist out of the wall? I carved a good
part away. The concrete had become porous and was easy to chisel away. Luckily
these walls do not carry weight. How long can it take to dry out? Inside the
house the moisture levels is dry 40% in winter but 50%-60% in summer. I am also
consider just replacing the moist wall parts with new concrete. Would that just
add to moist?

Can the moist say there for years as it appears to have been at least in the
first wall? Areas near the current moist places show water damaged which has
dried up. An inspector took a look at the problem and said there is no mold.

Dave wrote:
I have moisture in walls in a three spots. This is a concrete house.
One wall has red brick inside but it is encased in concrete.


The moisture is coming into the home somehow. If it is not a plumbing
leak. Possible, but it does not sound likely, then I would would think rain
is your problem. You need to find the source and eliminate it (them). They
may not be near where you are seeing the results. Finding them can be
difficult sometimes. Someone with experience is more likely to be able to
find them.

Good Luck

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit

wrote:
Moisture would not just stay there for years, otherwise the Hoover Dam
would have never set up.

Hover dam took several years to fully cure. They pumped cool water
through it for years to remove the heat created in the curing process and to
speed up the curing process that was slowed down by the heat.


--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit

In article ,
says...
I have moisture in walls in a three spots. This is a concrete house. One wall has
red brick inside but it is encased in concrete.

I wrote here earlier. I think I know what is causing it but I am asking what to
do about it.

I've located three places - two inside walls and one outside. The outside wall
has a stucco layer that has a crack. I supposed water is seeping in from outside.
Paint inside show discoloration. The outside patio is often wet and water may
pool there. The house in on a slope and it rains here a lot around the year and
freezes in winter.

The moist spot in the two inside walls are near downspouts that go through the
house and though the bottom slab into drainage.

One downspout shows slight leaking (there is rust in the sealing). The downspout
is insulated but near the rust part it is not and it shows a lot of sweating
(condensation) during cold weather.

The other inside wall has had its downspout replaced years before and the
downspout looks OK. I believe that it had the same problem and previous owners
had it replaced to lessen the moist. Anyway the wall shows moist about feet
upwards from the floor. The floor is parquet and shows no moist.

I've gotten the moist levels using a moisture meter. The moist rises to about a
feet or less and cover an area of about a square feet.

I don't think this is a problem with leaking water. The water lines go near the
places but are situated under the parquet floor which is dry. And the problem may
have developed over the years as the previous occupants have done something to
stop it.

Lets assume the moist came from leaking and sweating downspouts. One is fixed and
I'll fix the other too. How do I get the moist out of the wall? I carved a good
part away. The concrete had become porous and was easy to chisel away. Luckily
these walls do not carry weight. How long can it take to dry out? Inside the
house the moisture levels is dry 40% in winter but 50%-60% in summer. I am also
consider just replacing the moist wall parts with new concrete. Would that just
add to moist?

Can the moist say there for years as it appears to have been at least in the
first wall? Areas near the current moist places show water damaged which has
dried up. An inspector took a look at the problem and said there is no mold.


Also check the grade around the structure to make sure the soil line is
not above the foundation. I am not sure what the moisture reading is for
sure, but some termite companies locate termite activity by using
moisture reading meters.

--
Lar
---- to email get rid of the BUGS!

"Joseph Meehan" wrote:

Dave wrote:
I have moisture in walls in a three spots. This is a concrete house.
One wall has red brick inside but it is encased in concrete.


The moisture is coming into the home somehow. If it is not a plumbing
leak. Possible, but it does not sound likely, then I would would think rain
is your problem. You need to find the source and eliminate it (them). They
may not be near where you are seeing the results. Finding them can be
difficult sometimes. Someone with experience is more likely to be able to
find them.

Good Luck

What I would like to know is how long does it take for concrete to dry out if
receives no water from outside source.

About a week ago the downsprout was sweating but a day later it warmed outside it
is it not moist anymore.

Dave wrote:
"Joseph Meehan" wrote:

Dave wrote:
I have moisture in walls in a three spots. This is a concrete house.
One wall has red brick inside but it is encased in concrete.


The moisture is coming into the home somehow. If it is not a
plumbing leak. Possible, but it does not sound likely, then I would
would think rain is your problem. You need to find the source and
eliminate it (them). They may not be near where you are seeing the
results. Finding them can be difficult sometimes. Someone with
experience is more likely to be able to find them.

Good Luck

What I would like to know is how long does it take for concrete to
dry out if receives no water from outside source.

Is the concrete in contact with the ground? If so it depends on the
moisture in the ground and how easily it flows through the ground. Not all
concrete is the same so that will add to the variations what is the humidity
and is the air still or is it moving? Is the area closed off or does it
have free circulation with the rest of the house - outside.

There are just far too many variables to come up with any kind of easy
answer. It is far easier to measure it. It is my experience that it takes a
typical wood frame home about two days to dry out from a typical warm humid
day, when the home is closed up and A/C is turned on. You mileage will
likely vary based on your local conditions and construction as well as
furnishings.


About a week ago the downsprout was sweating but a day later it
warmed outside it is it not moist anymore.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit

"Joseph Meehan" wrote:

Dave wrote:
"Joseph Meehan" wrote:

Dave wrote:
I have moisture in walls in a three spots. This is a concrete house.
One wall has red brick inside but it is encased in concrete.


The moisture is coming into the home somehow. If it is not a
plumbing leak. Possible, but it does not sound likely, then I would
would think rain is your problem. You need to find the source and
eliminate it (them). They may not be near where you are seeing the
results. Finding them can be difficult sometimes. Someone with
experience is more likely to be able to find them.

Good Luck

What I would like to know is how long does it take for concrete to
dry out if receives no water from outside source.

Thank you for your reply.


Is the concrete in contact with the ground? If so it depends on the
moisture in the ground and how easily it flows through the ground. Not all
concrete is the same so that will add to the variations what is the humidity
and is the air still or is it moving? Is the area closed off or does it
have free circulation with the rest of the house - outside.

The concrete is not in contact with ground. The slab which the wall is in contact
is about 10 feet from ground. There's a a big "crawling space". The downsprout
goes through the slab at the very point of both moist wall points.

Looking at the places from below in the crawling space I can't see any wet spots
there. That is why I'm inclining to think it is not a leaking pipe allthough the
copper pipes are 30-40 years old.


There are just far too many variables to come up with any kind of easy
answer. It is far easier to measure it. It is my experience that it takes a
typical wood frame home about two days to dry out from a typical warm humid
day, when the home is closed up and A/C is turned on. You mileage will
likely vary based on your local conditions and construction as well as
furnishings.

The concrete looks a bit porous but it is concrete.



About a week ago the downsprout was sweating but a day later it
warmed outside it is it not moist anymore.

Dave wrote:
"Joseph Meehan" wrote:

Dave wrote:
"Joseph Meehan" wrote:

Dave wrote:
I have moisture in walls in a three spots. This is a concrete
house. One wall has red brick inside but it is encased in
concrete.


The moisture is coming into the home somehow. If it is not a
plumbing leak. Possible, but it does not sound likely, then I would
would think rain is your problem. You need to find the source and
eliminate it (them). They may not be near where you are seeing the
results. Finding them can be difficult sometimes. Someone with
experience is more likely to be able to find them.

Good Luck

What I would like to know is how long does it take for concrete to
dry out if receives no water from outside source.

Thank you for your reply.


Is the concrete in contact with the ground? If so it depends on
the moisture in the ground and how easily it flows through the
ground. Not all concrete is the same so that will add to the
variations what is the humidity and is the air still or is it
moving? Is the area closed off or does it have free circulation
with the rest of the house - outside.

The concrete is not in contact with ground. The slab which the wall
is in contact is about 10 feet from ground. There's a a big "crawling
space". The downsprout goes through the slab at the very point of
both moist wall points.

I would think that would be an important observation. I would look
there very carefully.


Looking at the places from below in the crawling space I can't see
any wet spots there. That is why I'm inclining to think it is not a
leaking pipe allthough the copper pipes are 30-40 years old.


There are just far too many variables to come up with any kind of
easy answer. It is far easier to measure it. It is my experience
that it takes a typical wood frame home about two days to dry out
from a typical warm humid day, when the home is closed up and A/C is
turned on. You mileage will likely vary based on your local
conditions and construction as well as furnishings.

The concrete looks a bit porous but it is concrete.



About a week ago the downsprout was sweating but a day later it
warmed outside it is it not moist anymore.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit