Well, after last week’s successful field trip to Island View Beach, Catherine and I returned to find our apartment full of water and smelling like a mouldy swamp. It turns out that the genius who lives upstairs had a toilet overflow (for an unknown number of hours) and the water leaked down (it does that) into our place. This bright star living above us thinks nothing of it, mops out her bathroom, and calls it a day. Or three. Meanwhile, the damage is done. Many gallons of water have flooded our carpets, eaten away the ceiling, infiltrated the walls, and rotted for three days. The upstairs tenant calls no one, and we return to a minor disaster.
Smartypants upstairs claims she didn’t know about the flooding. Where did the footprints come from? A mystery!
After the landlord, insurance adjusters and emergency contractors storm in, we realize that to get this fixed will take 4-6 weeks minimum, and that we cannot be there while this happens. Because we have no renter’s insurance, no one will cover the monetary cost of our enforced exile (the landlord has been great though, refunding our rent and offering for us to stay with him). So we are moving. Back to the smaller place I had, near Commercial Drive in Vancouver. It is probably a good thing; it will save us money and get us access to a 140 lb Rottweiler. In the meantime, we are staying with Catherine’s Aunt in Port Moody, east of the school. It is really not so bad here, it has a great view and borders a really wild ravine. I have been taking some pics (of course) to try to keep sane. I hope you enjoy!
Tom the dog showing off the view.
Uloborid spiders (Hyptiotes gertschi) mating. Thanks to Robb Bennett and Chris Buddle for the ID!
Sorry about the flood, but very glad to see your images!
Thanks! The Weekend Expedition may have to be missed this week.
I had a crash course in water damage restoration a couple of months ago, when a contractor client of mine was in a dispute with an insurance company and its insured. The manuals and standards, classes and types of damage, methods of cleaning, deodorizing, and a whole lot of other stuff that is quickly slipping from my memory … it’s extensive and meticulous. Down to the number of fans an insurer will allow for airing out a property depending on the class of damage.
Anyway, I was just a bit startled by the coincidence. Revisiting those memories wasn’t something i expected when I put your blog in my reader. 🙂 I’m here mostly for the photos, and they’re good ones again.
It is really crazy how a bit of water plays havoc with a home! There seem to be many issues around possible asbestos containment, bacteria and other things. In addition, there is lengthy repair.
I should add, I’m sorry you have to go through this. That client of mine was the contractor repairing my home from catastrophic loss before he ever hired me as a lawyer. Being put out of your home, worrying about your possessions, and finding yourself in certain areas uninsured is a bad place to be, and I sympathize. I’m glad to read that your landlord has shown you some kindness.