I am hoping someone can help me. We have recently discovered that we have a problem with 'Slab Edge Dampness' in our house that we built 9 years ago. It started off as a wet patch of carpet in one room that we reported to our insurance company. We had a number of tradesmen, plumbers etc in to try and locate the source of moisture, but with no luck. Then an engineer was brought in and has determined that moisture is getting into the footings from under the pavers. We have since discovered by pulling up edges of carpet that 2 and a half sides of the house has 'slab edge dampness'. We need to correct the problem and allow the concrete to dy out before we replace any carpet. This of course isn't covered by our insurance.
The engineer said that the paving contractors should have placed a vertical vapour proof barrier underneath the pavers extending up along the side of the slab. This would extend the barrier put in place by the house builder under the footings. The paving contractor (not the actual person that did the job though) has said that you can't see the one put in by the builder and so it's the builder's fault. He also dug down slightly against the slab and found a concrete ledge against the slab, which I'm guessing is from the form boards? He said this would be causing water to accumulate.
So, my questions are:
1. Should the sides of the footings be straight down? I dug a second spot and found even more concrete on the sides. Is this normal or a fault during construction?
2. Who is at fault? The builder, the paving contractor or do I have to just accept the cost to fix it myself? $$$! I did find the orange plastic membrane, but it has been folded down away from the house under the rubble base.
3. What's the best way to fix the problem? Hiring another paving contractor to pull up the pavers, and lay a second vapour barrier over the existing orange one?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!