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Home Repair Design Dilemma

Need help with concrete moisture

Erin Hopkins McHugh

4 years ago

I live in a 90 year old industrial warehouse that was converted into condos about 15 years ago In Cleveland, Ohio. The building is all brick and concrete. My unit is on the second floor and I do own it. Directly underneath a portion of my unit are my downstairs neighbors‘ open air porches. That portion of my concrete floor that has the porches underneath develops a large amount of moisture. i have issues with ice forming on my floor in my home in the winter and always mold. is there anything I can do in my own unit to address the problem or do my neighbors‘ porch ceilings need to be insulated? or something else entirely? any advice on this situation would be helpful. its a Co-op and the HOA is run by the unit owners, but the HOA doesn’t have enough money to complete large scale repairs right now. There are plans to tuck point the exterior brick once the funds are available. Thanks!

Featured Answer

PRO

HALLETT & Co.

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Not your fault- the building has a deficiency that has to be addressed by the building. I would get a couple proposals from contractors (they will be reluctant to come out for a PITA job, you will likely need to pay a consulting fee- say two hours of their time) . Get a written scope and cost from them and present it to the board and ask how they wish to proceed.

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Comments (7)

Erin Hopkins McHugh
Original Author
4 years ago
This is a plan of first floor units with porches under my unit.
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
4 years ago
So to be clear your floor is a concrete slab that is also the ceiling of the exterior porch below? In Ohio? That is a poor design (not your fault). I'm not an expert here but it seems you need to drop the porch ceilings enough for a good layer of foam- say frame the ceilings down with steel 2x6's then spray it solid with closed cell foam and then install a new ceiling finish. In no way should you have ice on your floor (or mold). HOA should remedy- looks like a special assessment is in order.
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Erin Hopkins McHugh
Original Author
4 years ago
Plan of my second floor unit. The entire length of the South wall/ patio door wall has ice and mold issues Inside the unit.
Erin Hopkins McHugh
Original Author
4 years ago
@HALLETT & Co. yep! You got it right! Okay I thought it seemed like a design flaw. we bought the place in summer and the issues with the floor weren’t apparent at that time or during our inspection. I figured the porches would need to be addressed. Thank you!!
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
4 years ago
This is a major design deficiency that the HOA needs to address. Have any friends that are lawyers? How long have you owned? Can you sell it and run (I am sort of kidding) You mention tuck pointing- do you suspect moisture coming through the brick as well?
Erin Hopkins McHugh
Original Author
4 years ago
Ha! I was a paralegal for over a decade so I know lots of lawyers! Yes, there is moisture also coming through the brick and that is on the docket to be addressed by the HOA since that issue affects most the units in the building- unfortunately for me the ice and mold of the floor is unique to my unit. No other unit is located over open air porches.

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