Q:Â I live in a subdivision that was built on a slope, and my neighborâs lot is slightly higher than that of my house. A concrete block wall stands between our lots; the concrete is covered with stucco and paint. But when water drains off my neighborâs lot during storms or when he irrigates his plants, the runoff is directed to my lot through some small drainage holes. There is so much water that itâs washing away the paint and stucco on my side of the wall. Iâve had to fix the wall twice, and it keeps right on happening over and over again. How can I fix this permanently?
A:Â There probably isnât much you can do if your neighbor wonât cooperate in the effort. He would have to be involved in fixing the drains on his side of the wall or decreasing the irrigation. Try to approach him about the issue, because eventually the drainage could cause erosion of the footings for the wall.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona homebuilding and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning “Rosie on the House” radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.
