Alterations to your properties

Hi All

Have just returned, having completed this week, and had a good wander around the site in somewhat gloomy weather, but still could not remove grin from my face.

On returning, have been reading comments regards the drainage of water from upstairs balconies. Whilst I fully understand concerns aired, I do feel there is a need to proceed with caution regards a solution. It appears that many are looking at different options to solve the problem, and this could lead to a variation of pipework on front of properties throughout the site, with no uniformity, which in turn could well spoil the aesthetics of the properties.

Suggest that you seek advice from PW as to how you can proceed with a solution, as you may find you invest monies in completing the work;  which if not officially passed, could be revoked, resulting in you having to reverse said works, and losing money in the process. I draw your attention to article 9 Prohibitions - clause 4, which explains do's and don't, to the extent of not allowing washing lines, let alone any pipework!
As stated -  I understand concerns and the need for a solution, but let's make sure all is done in accordance with the rules and regulations laid down by PW, which whilst they may seem somewhat  draconian, they are there to help keep the site looking great, and more importantly... protect all our hard earned investments.

SAS

Hi SAS,
             Fully agree with you there. While I myself also have concerns about the inadequate drainage from the upper apartments impacting us below, the issue should be collectively presented to Polaris as a snag item to ensure a solution of satisfactory appearance. While some will condem Polaris for their rules & regulations (of which we all get a copy at completion) you have got to see the collective benefit of keeping the standards high. It is not just the Polaris urbanisations that set standards and rules. Here in the UK  you will also find that in certain apartment/housing complexes you are not allowed to hang washing on balconies etc or change the external appearance of your property.
I'm sure it is not that desperate of a situation that we have to jump the gun and dash out and put this right with whatever fix we feel suits. Like you say - read the rules & proceed with caution, there is enough to shell out on at this stage without having to relegate something to the skip 3 months later. I mentioned in a posting a few weeks back that this could be classed as a design flaw and if enough people put this to Polaris we might just get a solution provided by them. The appearance of the properties on this first phase will provide the yardstick for which the next phases popularity will depend.

Regards,

Hi all

This also caused me concern and totally agree with both your comments. I think as many people as possible should contact

Polaris and put pressure on them to sort it.

Sharon

Hi all

I totally agree with each comments.  I am on top in a 2 bed but I am going to feel I can't clean my terrace area without upsetting someone.  Maybe someone who is living on  the Condado or even on this forum, arranged for a petition to be signed by all then present to Polaris World?

Scapa totally agree.  When I was out in July I was cleaning up before leaving and washed the terrace - fortunately no-one had moved in downstairs, but I still had to go and clean up the mess from the downstairs terrance.  Once someone is there - or has some form of awning below it could be very awkward.

Ted

hi folks,

when leaving mid august we cleaned down the terrace from the solarium to the ground floor, and although there was no one in the ground floor apartment we stuffed the drainage hole with our mop head  not a drop went through. problem solved.

jake and mary.

Hi Jake, Mary

Where did the water go ? Is there another drain on the upstairs terrace of did it just work it's way to the top of the stairs and then down the staircase ?

Regards,

hi bilbo,

no there is no other drain,  i just worked it down the end stairs with a yard brush then on to the lawn in front of the apartments.

cheers

jake and mary.

Hi folks,

sorry to appear as the awkward one here, but as much as I understand and admire Jake's efforts to brush the mucky water along his balcony, down the steps and onto the grassed area............why should we as upstairs owners have to do that? 

Polaris World should address the shortfall in its design of the drainage system and make corrections.

Before you all start thinking I am selfish toad, please understand that all I am saying is why should any of us paper over the cracks at this early stage. 

I appreciate Jake's idea would indeed give us a short term solution, but what happens when the heavy rains arrive? 

Would you still be happy to deliberately bung up the drain and hope the rising rain water finds its way to the steps?  

A joint letter or petition to PW seems a very good solution for everyone.

WW

Hi, 

I agreed with WW but not only that, if you are continually washing your solarium with chemicals(Bleach) etc, this is also a weed killer  and will eventually kill plants, shrubs and grass at the bottom of your stairwell.  Just another thought for you all to mull over.

Just think how the penthousers feel, every floor except the top floor are going to be effected by this problem, god help the people on the ground. Hopefully they will have thought of that problem for us, but I doubt it.

I'm again with WW on this, people power needs to be enforced.


Ali

Hi All,

I agree with everyones comments regarding this issue but I think we are going to have a really hard time getting anything done by PW.

There are 2 simple reasons. 

 Firstly, this design is standard throughout Spain, just take a look through some of the rental sites and you will see the same or similar design time after time. 

Secondly, As we have seen reported on other threads, PW seem to be a law onto themselves, disregarding owners genuine concerns and issues on things such a building apartments not to plan (pergolas) , moving and removing swimming pools, town centres etc.

I am not suggesting that we don't try but lets be realistic about the likely outcome.

15 Sep 2008 4:16 PM Billbo Apartamento I'm in Hartlepool & Jardines 8 I've made 58 posts Edit this post

Yes Ted,                 Agree with what you say there - that's what I was talking about when I mentioned a back fall. The slopes have to be the right way or you end up with a water trap. Why incorporate a drain on the top terrace and then don't bother on the lower one ?? I had read previous threads about some of the apartments leaking through the patio doors at the point which they contact the floor. On the basis of my 3 bed snag, that problem must be confined to the two bedrooms because we have a built up step of an inch or two that the base of the frame sits on and the patio definately slopes away from the building because I took my level just in case. As it turns out, I did not need it because the water was on and by turning the tap on and letting it run a while the direction of the water flow was quite clear. Issue still to resolve then !!!! Regards, _______________________ Will & Jackie. Is this post spam or against our rules of posting? If so please click here to report it

15 Sep 2008 3:52 PM Ted H Ático I'm in Purley and jardin 13 I've made 143 posts Send private message to Ted H

Unfortunately blocking the drainage points off isn't an option - there is a big risk that flooding goes back to the upstairs appratment, and leaks under the doors, rather than draining off down the stairs.  I don't understand why Polaris didn't fit a drain as they have done on the upstairs solarium. Ted

This message was last edited by Billbo on 9/15/2008.

Hi All,

Just back this evening from Condado have uploaded photo of guttering taken in Garden 2 of Barry's apartment. Barry is retired and he is available to do the guttering for 3 bedroom apartments. While I take your concerns on board, I am not waiting for PW to decide on what or if there are going to do anything about the drainage. Having arrived on Friday night my wall was stained from the upstairs apartment, (People upstairs are entitiled to clean their patio's). I hope to get awning added on but cannot until this issue is resolved, therefore in the meantime I am going to get this guttering done whether it is allowed or not as I dont want my garden furniture destroyed from above, also uploaded photo of storage under stairs for 3 bedroom from garden 9

Hi All,

Having viewed the pictures that Skinnymags has posted I am of the opinion that the drainage pipe does not look out of place.  In fact if everybody does this it would certainly look as if it was meant to be.  Heres hoping we can do something similar to the penthouses or else the people on the ground floor are in for a soaking.

Thanks for the Photos Mags
Cheers
Ali

I agree after seeing the photo's of the guttering it doesn't look too out of place. Thanks for that skinnymags.

I know itshould be  up to PW but unless anyone does anything about it, it won't happen, at least you have done something positive