‘New cracks every year’

Waterproofing issues and real estate doubts

QEvery monsoon, I find new cracks and water seepage in the ceiling. I had done waterproofing two years ago. How does one fix this problem? Are there professionals in the city who are good at this work?

AThe problem could have arisen due to non bondage of the waterproofing course and the slab. Cracks are formed when the bond between the waterproofing and the slab loosens. As a result of which, air is filled and the air pressure causes the cracks to form. You will have to remove the existing waterproofing course and clean the slab properly. Make sure that no loose particles are left behind. Wash the slab with rich cement water so that the cracks are filled, then coat the slab with night bond E.P. Fill the existing visible cracks by force rock crack filled material or Doctor Cracks material. Then follow the rest of the water proofing procedure. Make sure you groove your water proofing course in squares of 2 X 2 feet; this will help stop the air crack within the box if at all it arises again. And it will not expand further than the box. You can also repair the crack within the square instead of re-doing the entire water proofing procedure again.

QWe are new to the city and want to buy land to build a home. Which areas do you recommend as a worthy investment? We are okay even if it’s far from the city. How does one get a good broker and how are we to gauge whether the price being quoted is correct?

AConsider budget first. For example, since the construction of the Outer Ring Road is almost complete, a lot of land has opened up around it. It is reasonably priced and has a good chance of appreciating with time. There are many established real estate agencies that you could approach, and always go by word-ofmouth. The pricing of the land always depends on the last sale that took place in and around that area.

QCustomised furniture is always a better option as you have the opportunity to create it to suit the size of the room and your tastes, and you can control the quality. However, customisation can be expensive and time consuming. Comparatively, readymade furniture is less expensive and readily available. The advantage with readymade furniture is that if you buy at reasonable prices, then you can always change it after a few years.

AIs it better to buy readymade furniture available at stores or get it customised for the home?