wet floors dealing with storm in florida. Water coming in thur the floor from outside wall how can I find the problem? How can I fix it or who do I call? Can it be the founation? Please need answer Wet
Pictures would help a lot.. In the mean time if you have a wet vac( shop vac) you will want to keep up on the cleanup as much as possible. If you have a fan (keep it out of the water) turn it on to help dry. Water can cause severe damage to the floor and create major buckling, makes it look like the waves in the ocean. If your situation is bad call a pro as soon as possible for they might be busy. Carpet cleaners usually offer emergency water extraction as do some general contractors.
Just a guess since you live in FL. It's a slab house, with a slab so low it's almost even with the outside grade,and no french drain. Did the yard flood?This message has been edited. Last edited by: joecaption,
joecaption
Posts: 17756 | Location: Hartfield VA | Registered: Jan 31, 2004
if the bottom of the drywall is wet inside, it is a good idea down south to measure up an even foot over the highest part of wet, scribe the wall along that line, and cut and dispose of that drywall. it's not a hard DIY job to turn a fan against that wall to dry it out (keep running the a/c to dehumidify as well) and when it's all dry to the touch, and presumably any mold that formed is washed off with soap and a weak bleach solution, put mold-tough drywall in that space.
sig: if this is a new economy, how come they still want my old-fashioned money?
Posts: 4771 | Location: North Burbs, MN | Registered: Mar 14, 2007
Contact your homeowner's insurance carrier immediately; they frequently have "preferred" emergency remediation companies that can bring in heavy duty equipment to help remove the water.
garden sprites idea is excelent, and here are some other ideas: are you sure that the water is coming frrom between the slab and the block wall ? It could be coming from a poor caulk job around the windows allowing the water to fill the block cavities.This is what happened to me when I lived in Miami. According to code a slab floor in fla. must be a minimum of 4 inchs above grade, so unless you had some real flooding it's unlikely that the water is seeping from between the block and the slab. If it is, you have a major problem as the block isn't adhered to the slab Once you remove the bad drywall , as ewschrad suggests, run a strong flow of water at the joint of the block and slab from the outside. if you see water entering you have that major problem I mentioned. If no water enters then drill holes in the block cavities from the outside if possible, but if not, from the inside. You will be able to see the block mortar lines from the inside and then it will be easy to find the cavities. If water drains out the holes, drill through to the outside and plug the inside holes. I would then caulk all the windows properly and leave the holes on the outside open orscreed over to keep varmits out. What will also work is to stuff bronze or stainless steel wool in the holes, it will allow the water to seep out But before you do anything, contact your insurance company, especially if you have flood insurance, It will pay for the repair
garden sprite is correct, contact your insurance company especially if you have flood insurance, they will pay for all repairs. Also, are you sure that the water is entering from betwwn the slab and the wall ? It could be as a result of a poor or failing caulk job at the windows, allowing water to get inside the block The way to check this is to drill holes in the block cavities and see if water drains out. The cavities will be easy to find after you remove the drywall as swschrad suggests. If water drains out continue drilling through the block to the outside , then plug the inside holes leaving the outside holes open or screened over to keep insects out. another way is to stuff bronze or stainless steel wool into the outside holes, this will allow the water to seep out To check if water is coming from between the block and slab run water at a stiff spray at where the block joins the slab and see if water is entering the house. If it is, you have a major problem as the walls are just sitting on the slab. It will take a pro to fix this But as I said before, first follow garden sprites suggestion Also, as a bit of info, florida code says that the slab must be at least 4 inchs above grade before block is mortared in placeThis message has been edited. Last edited by: nona,
funny thing is, if you have to rebuild any part of it, you are going to have to meet current code. mostly it's not that hard, most changes are minor. post-"oughts" hurricane changes could be significant in your area.
sig: if this is a new economy, how come they still want my old-fashioned money?
Posts: 4771 | Location: North Burbs, MN | Registered: Mar 14, 2007
here's something else you might want to think about.If the house wasn't built to the code that was in existance at that time or built without a permit, you may have a hard time collecting from your insurance company I have lived in Fla. since 1955 or 58 years and that 4 inch requirement has been in existance for all that time But that doesn't help anything , does it?
Yes, its a big problem and you should immediately call a professional flood cleanup service which provide you a better solution of your problem. A month ago I am also having a same problem and give a call to one of the professional cleaners and restoration company. Their service are very satisfied and great.