Was our leaky wet room badly installed?
Q The en suite in our house was converted by the previous owners into a “wet” room – no cubicle just a beautiful mosaic tiled shower room. It’s lovely. The problem is: it leaks. We have regrouted the floor and part of the wall in places but there is a damp patch in the downstairs ceiling which keeps coming back. Is there a chance the wet room was not installed properly?
AWet rooms were one of those interior ideas borrowed from hotel designs but they are not just a matter of tiling a bathroom and putting a drainage hole in the middle of the floor. A wet room has to be "tanked" – a special fibreglass liner put in under the floor tiles. No amount of grouting will work if the basic tanking hasn't first been done.
This will merit further investigation and unfortunately the removal of some, if not a great deal, of your beautiful mosaic. Don’t let it go on: water getting onto the ceiling below isn’t just unsightly, it could ultimately cause the ceiling to come down.
Can I plant a garden on a local strip of grass?
Q We live in the house at the end of a terrace. There is a small strip of grass and then the public path. It’s a quiet area without much foot traffic. I have only a small concrete yard instead of a back garden. Could I plant flowers (and maybe veg) on the strip of grass? I am inspired by an article I read about guerrilla gardening.
AGuerilla gardening – whereby enthusiastic gardeners find a piece of unused, neglected land and plant a garden on it – is an increasingly popular idea.
It benefits the community, is a worthwhile activity and removes an eyesore. That’s if it’s properly done and planned.
However, we also have a tradition of people trying to take ownership of strips of land that isn’t theirs by planting stuff on it, grazing horses, erecting railings – all manner of subterfuge. If your motivation is the former then it could be a great idea.
Is your house in a modern owner-managed estate? Then you must approach the management company with your idea. If it’s not then contact your local authority to ask advice and permission. The big concern will be in both cases is that you are trying to grab the strip of land for yourself and ultimately attempt to take ownership of it.
Could you bring your idea to your residents’ association? Or if there isn’t one, could you start a small action group made up of neighbours?
A community effort involving a plan should have better luck with the local authority and you would be better off in the long run if you have a team of people willing to help with the garden: even a small garden is hard work.
You would also be wise to canvas local opinion in general as you will need support for your idea and, while flowers and veg can look fantastic when cared for properly, there’s nothing more miserable then a weed-filled plot where a garden used to be.
Your questions
Send your queries to Property questions, The Irish Times, The Irish Times Building, 24-28 Tara Street, Dublin 2 or e-mail propertyquestions@irishtimes.com. This column is a readers’ service and is not intended to replace professional advice.
