What On Earth!?! A Case for the Neighborhood Investigator

A reader who wishes to be anonymous asks: "What on earth is going on at the Fremont Library. The whole front lawn has been torn up for six months and they don't seem to be getting anywhere. Did the contractor botch the job?"

Steve Farmer, Seattle Public Library quality control inspector, says the library basement was leaking and this is not surprising considering the original waterproof coating on the foundation was applied over 100 years ago. "It's a big process," Farmer explained. We had to dig down to the foundation and let it dry and then keep it dry long enough to apply the new waterproof coating. It's been a pretty wet winter and we just haven't had the right conditions. The ground has been saturated all winter. As of April 28, the foundation work had been largely completed. Farmer said there was no problem with the contractor doing the work.

"Blame our famous Seattle climate for the job stretching on so long. Look for things to get buttoned up and the landscaping restored in the next couple of weeks," Farmer said.

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