Flooded Basement - who to call

[Onetap]

The only insurance likely to pay out is the builders IF he has any and that will probably need a claim against the builders.

True, it also assumes the owner has receipts for the work.

I would doubt that would be likely to succeed as the builder suggested the valve was removed and the owner agreed!

I doubt that they had mentioned that a probable side effect was future sudden flooding with sewage. The owner could not be expected to have known this; the builders should have known what the valve was there for.

It would be similar to a repairer removing flue components from a boiler, spilling combustion products into a house; if they don't know what they're doing, they shouldn't be working on that equipment.

 

[Michelle96]

Wow, I had no idea that after my last post on this that more of you came in to offer advice. Thanks for that.
As an update - I used a wetvac to suck it all up (which took 3 days) and dumped it all down a manhole that is under a panel in the basement. A friend recommended a 'handyman' to then help me cut out all the dry wall up to 1500mm off the floor and cut out the insulation. Dumped it all, did a clean up and started drying process with heaters and dehumidifiers. Installed new insulation, dry wall, got it plastered and painted.
With the heavy rain over the past few days however 'water' (damp) has begun to seep through around the perimeter of the room. I had not put down floor finishings as wanted to be sure it was dry and so I can see this damp on the screed. From what I understand there is the screed, next an insulation layer followed by a bitumen layer and then a concrete slab. I think that water is still trapped below the screed. The flood was 6 months ago and I'm hoping that eventually it will all dry out.
Again many thanks for everyone's advice
Michelle

 

[Agile]

It might do eventually!

But it would be far quicker if you bought a dehumidifier !

Normally further postings send you an email notification! Or are you one of those people who keep changing their email address?

Tony

 

[rjm2k]

Has the cause of the problem been addressed so it doesn't happen again?

 

[Michelle96]

"Has the cause of the problem been addressed so it doesn't happen again?"
Yes, the non return valve on the entry to the building has been left off as it keeps backing up if put on - can only assume that the 'fall' on the internal pipe doesn't meet the required gradient to let the waste flow through it. To ensure it doesn't back up into my basement through the en-suite I had a sani-flo system put in which is directed back up to ground level before dropping back into the main pipe - hope this all makes sense as I'm clueless as to all the correct terminology & a lot more besides as you can probably tell by now.

As for the drying out process - am beginning to worry now that the tanking has failed as screed is now wet. It had been dry for the past month except for slight damp around the perimeter which I was hoping was the last of the sewage water from the flood rising up. Am clinging on to the idea that all this rain has raised the water table which is pushing on the tanking and creating pressure thereby squeezing up the water trapped between the screed and the bitumen - is that even possible - I don't know......