I have a hole in my floor

@winterose (39887)
Canada
September 27, 2012 4:43pm CST
Three days ago I get a call from the city saying they are coming to inspect my apartment. I always get nervous for things like this. They left a phone number but when I tried it is was a fax number. I contacted the city but they really didn't know what the call was about. I said the man said inspection, so they said it must be for cockroaches and bedbugs. Well I don't have any. I worry all night and the next day (Tuesday) the janitor knocks on my door to say the architects are coming to inspect my floors because I live right on top of the lobby. They came the next day (Wednesday) and drilled a small whole in the living room floor. Apparently, the gossipers were right, this apartment is said to be cold in the winter because it is directly above the lobby, there is no apartment under me. But for the life of me I have no idea what one small hole is going to do.
2 people like this
8 responses
@chertsy (3798)
• United States
1 Oct 12
Stinks they put a hole in a awkward spot in your living room. Hope its not to small that when the heat comes on. You will have a warm floor to walk on somewhat. When the heat rises from the lobby it will heat your room. Only downside, it will be only your living room that has the somewhat warm floor.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
3 Oct 12
they hid the hole behind my wall unit, so it is not really visible, but that was what I was thinking, only the living room will be warm.
@stringer321 (5643)
• Kiryat Ata, Israel
28 Sep 12
Wow, this is weird. I have no idea why to make a hole in the floor. Don't they have the architecture plans of the house ? Maybe they needed to see what the floor is made of to understand whether it can isolate heat and coolness, preventing them to pass through it from one floor to the other. Some materials can isolate temperature : for example: temperature pass slower through a Styrofoam. Iron, on the other hand, can pass heat quickly. I think it is your right to ask them to repair that hole because you will want to wash the floor and the water will leak through the hole. People will be able to look into your apartment from the lobby through the hole, even if they see a tiny part of it. They will be able to listen to what you say and so on...
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
29 Sep 12
no the whole is going to stay because that is their solution to heat the apartment better. It is in the corner behind my wall unit anyhow, they cannot see much at all.
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
28 Sep 12
let the cold air leak out?
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
29 Sep 12
no heat rises so it would be to get the heat from the lobby
1 person likes this
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
28 Sep 12
A hole in the floor? That doesn't make sense. Unless they are going to use it as a channel for wiring or piping. Did you not get an explanation?
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
29 Sep 12
nope all they said was the floors were cold and then they drilled the hole.
@bjc66bjc (6730)
• United States
28 Sep 12
This sounds very wierd, but I am not a carpenter nor an architect but had I been you I certainly would have inquired as to why the hole was drilled.. Why don't you asked them..someone should have an answer...
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
29 Sep 12
that is why they did it because the floors are cold, this was their solution.
• United States
28 Sep 12
I sounds like they were checking to see if the floor joist was stable and intact.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
29 Sep 12
that would not make a difference for the heating in this apartment that is why they drilled the hole.
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
28 Sep 12
Maybe the small hole is going to allow them to pipe in some kind of insulation, or run some in floor heating system. I would think otherwise it will just let more cool air come up. If the coldness comes from the floor then you know that maybe you can put on some extra rugs, etc. A little at a time.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
29 Sep 12
It would be nice if they do run some in floor heating system, but I have no money for rugs this winter that is for sure.
• United States
27 Sep 12
The only thing I can think of is physics. Heat rises and if i remember right, it follows the path of least resistance. I'm thinking that a current of warm air will rise through that one hole. I would also suspect that the warm air coming through the hole will displace the cold air in your apartment. I believe the warm air from the lobby will vent up into your living area. Maybe someone else will have a different explanation that is more correct. Those architects must have a reason for making one hole. I believe it would be related to heat convection.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
29 Sep 12
yep that would be their rationale for doing it