Hydro Landscaping Art

THEN

THEN AGAIN

AND NOW

AND NOW

MORE OF NOW

What unimaginable devastation! Gone are the grape vines, raspberries, strawberries, cherry trees, and all varieties of blossoms. Hydro Ontario used to trim the bushes and trees - not any more. This property was a flight route for birds - a stop over if you will, with lots of fruit bearing trees and bushes to nibble on. What about the wildlife which used to roam this greenspace? And to add insult to injury, we can't get any information from Hydro Ontario as to why they clear cut our greenspace. The only comment they made was that the community feels 'safer' now. I'll say - now that we can see clearly for 3 kms. in all directions ...

Co-op Affairs

I received an answer to my email to the office regarding the state of our basement. The Property Manager will be bringing in a foundation repair company to assess various basement problems in the co-op. The Property Manager, was (and maybe still is) one of our non-resident Board Members. She is an employee, or part owner, of the management company hired to oversee our co-op. Progress or conflict of interest?

Elections are months overdue. Still no word about subsidy confirmations. No visible work is being done in the co-op, yet we are still standing. The co-op has asked the Human Rights Tribunal for a month's extension in the action we have taken against them, one factor being that the co-op is still undergoing an audit. That's the longest audit I've ever heard of ...

Basement Update

Photo of water penetration and efflorescence - January, 2010

Maintenance Man painted floor prior to inspection by building consultant - March, 2010

Excerpt of building consultants report:

In summary, we found the air in the basement humid ... However, we did not find any evidence of past or currently active water leakage into the basement, and we did not see mould or other growths on exposed surfaces. Assessment: We understand the previous occupants of Townhouse no. __, resident for six years, had not experienced any water penetration into the basement. Nevertheless, Mrs. __ (me), wrote in her email to CMHC that there is active water leakage, potential for electrocution, mould growth, etc. (Report by Building Consultants dated July 14, 2010)

Efflorescence and concrete crumbling returned - October, 2011

Efflorescence around sump pit and on wall - October, 2011

Efflorescence and badly crumbled concrete - October, 2011

There is a nasal-searing, lung sucking stench of mould emanating from our basement, as well as extremely high humidity levels throughout the house. The co-op purportedly paid $5,000. to building consultants to inspect this basement - after the maintenance man painted over the floor. Well, look at the evidence now!

Below is a CMHC Fact sheet indicating what steps should be taken when efflorescence and cracks in concrete are evident. Our co-op has continually denied that there is a problem in our basement. Therefore no corrective action has been taken - to the detriment of the co-op and to us, the members who are breathing in this toxic indoor air mass.

Renovating a Home > Renovation Fact Sheets > Renovating Your Basement — Moisture Problems The following fact sheet is part of the About Your House — General Series Common Situations Moisture is the most common problem in basements — either entering from outside sources or being produced inside by the occupants’ activities. The soil around the walls can contain a large amount of moisture from surface water that is seeping down or from a high water table. Water can find its way inside by gravity or through a crack or flaw in the water protection layer of the foundation. Water can also be pulled up by a “wicking action” or “pushed up” by hydrostatic pressure from the soil under the walls or floor. In the summer, warm moist air from outside can enter the house and lead to condensation on the cool basement walls or floor. Daily activities also produce moisture that can be trapped inside the home. Basement moisture problems often include: Foundation cracks that leak. Standing water. Efflorescence (white, chalky stains). Wet decaying wood in contact with concrete. Damp or moldy walls or floor. Condensation on windows, pipes and other fixtures. Wet insulation. Moisture damaged finishes. Musty or damp carpets. High humidity. Stuffy, damp smells. House as a System A house is much more than just four walls and a roof—it’s an interactive system made up of many components including the basic structure, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, the external environment and the occupants. Each component influences the performance of the entire system. A renovation provides an opportunity to improve how your house performs. Basement moisture problems can have a huge effect on the durability of the entire house structure and on the indoor air quality (IAQ) throughout the house. Avoid Surprises Moisture problems are caused by a buildup of a variety of water sources. Whether it comes from surface or ground water that leaks in, water that wicks up or water vapour that condenses, it must be controlled. The easiest way to control moisture is to stop it from coming in and to exhaust the water vapour produced in the house to the outside. Here are some of the likely situations that people encounter. However, every situation is unique. You may need to hire a qualified professional to do a thorough investigation, find the moisture problems and suggest the best solutions. Foundations Does water leak in through cracks in the foundation wall or floor? Is there a complete concrete floor? Patch small cracks from inside with cement-based material or use an injection-type foundation repair system. Fill large cracks from inside (and outside if possible) with “hydroscopic material that expands as it dries. Consult a structural engineer or basement specialist concerning multiple, severe or expanding cracks. Install a concrete floor over a sealed polyethylene moisture barrier. Water may penetrate cracks, continue to deteriorate the existing house, affect IAQ and any proposed renovations. Severe or active cracks may be an indication of future structural problems or even present unsafe conditions Without exterior protection and drainage, water will eventually find its way inside. Dirt floors are a huge source of moisture and soil gases. Existing problems
	Are there any white, chalky stains (efflorescence) on the walls or floor? Are there any black, white or green mold stains or fuzzy growth on the walls or floor? Are there any wet or decaying wood windows, sill plates, columns or beam ends in contact with concrete? Are floor tiles lifting? Are carpets damp or musty? Is there any wet insulation, framing or moisture damage on finished walls?
	Provide better drainage and dampproofing to the outside. Efflorescence indicates water evaporation of moisture that has wicked through the foundation wall. Clean up mold according to CMHC guidelines. Remove the sources of moisture. Replace decaying wood. Provide a capillary break between wood and concrete. Seek professional advice as damage may compromise structural strength. Damp concrete causes lifting floor tiles and damp carpets. Improve foundation drainage. Install a polyethylene moisture barrier over the concrete floor as part of a retrofit floor system. Replace carpets with hard surface flooring. Remove wet insulation or finishes. Fix the moisture source before refinishing.
	Continued efflorescence is a sign of ongoing moisture problems. Some molds are toxic. Clean up must be done carefully to avoid health hazards. Wood in contact with concrete will continue to decay and will eventually result in structural problems. Tiles won’t stick to damp floors. Damp carpets will continue to be a haven for dust mites and mold. Materials that are wet from any source (leaks, capillary action or condensation) will get moldy and decay, leading to unsightly finishes, durability problems and hazards to health.

Under the Wire

There's low-level grumbling in our co-op - for good reason. No one knows what's going on. Our outside Board member may or may not have stepped down in light of the fact that she has pronounced herself to be our new Property Manager. She may or may not have a connection to the management company hired to look after our development. The contractor who assessed work to be done in our unit works for the other co-op she manages. Does this contractor also work for the management company?

No work has been done in our unit, although a white car, purportedly from this company, has been seen in our co-op.

I notified the office about essential contracts which must be maintained. Furnace servicing is to be done in the Fall. Other contracts which haven't been done in years are sewer/sump pump maintenance and fire hydrant inspections. They must be reinstated. I expressed my abhorrence about the tons-of-rocks plateau that a Board of Directors sanctioned 3 or 4 years ago to act as a snow storage site. The snow removal contractor referred to this site as the 'gravel pit', when instructing his crew where to dump road debris during spring clean up. The piling up of snow ravaged our mature evergreen trees - branch by branch, as well as creating a lake around a whole row of units. In my email to the office, I stated that the clean up of this site is a contractual obligation with the company - it goes beyond any volunteer clean up. The Property Manager answered my email indicating that she would like to inspect this site with me. To date this has not happened.

In the meantime, eviction notices are still popping up in the co-op. Some may result in evictions - some may not.

Dexter

Dexter, our beloved dog, passed away two days ago. He was going to be 15 years old on November 10th. He was the most huggable dog ever. He understood our emotions and our need for someone constant in our lives. Dexter was our focal point, our vessel of love. He was our protector and companion. We miss him dearly.

Rest in Peace dear Dexter. We love you so much.