How screwed am I?

[jseyfert3]

So yah, taking out that subfloor is going to sting, but it's the correct fix, and it'll expose what's underneath, good or bad, which shouldn't be ignored.

Pep talk time : You have long proved yourself as someone who doesn’t sweep things under the rug. You know what you need to do, as much as you wouldn’t have wanted this project....... especially because it’s a boring side quest with no WOW factor whilst being already busy. But the bottom line is until you prove where the mold stops by exposing 18 clean inches, the is mold has spread at least that far.

From there you can judgment call if sterilization will be good enough, but you won’t know until you’ve opened that can of worms.

And hey !! At least you have all us knuckleheads for moral support, right ??? We’ll listen and offer tips and throw rocks with you if need be !!

Yes, this is what I've grudgingly come to admit to myself today. Some of the worst parts of this will be having a half torn-up kitchen, to do this right I need to pull all those cabinets which means pulling granite countertops (without cracking them!), pulling cabinets. So hardly any counter space and no sink. I figure I can get the new dishwasher and rig it up standalone in the basement, draining into the utility sink until all this work gets done.

Tip: can't quite tell how straight your lines are, but if you draw horizontal and vertical pencil lines on your sheetrock using a level, then saw on the lines, it makes cutting the replacement parts much easier. Same for floor, only use a square instead of a level.

Yeah my plan was to neaten up the lines later for replacing drywall, but for a first pass I just wanted to cut out the moldy stuff and figure out how far it went.

 

[Rattus Suffocatus]

I dunno. It drives the agents nuts but realistically getting quotes every three years is about right now. And the companies and agents did it to themselves in the last 20 years.

The insurance companies all know you are getting quotes when you do (it should not be legal the amount of information that is shared), and it actually might keep your current one lower when you do it. I am VERY tough with my insurance agents now, but I've been shafted a few times over the years and I don't think much of the companies anyway... so it's all just business. If that guy had the same insurance for 10 years, he might find that the +$20 is actually +50% more than new quotes.

I have teenaged drivers going on line. I am being so tight with the agents my buffalo is riding the Indian right now. The difference between highest and lowest quotes for me so far is close to $2K/yr now. It's worth it.

I figured out that over my adult life I've been about 85% profit to the insurers as well. No other industry demands those kinds of margins.... none.... Be tough with them. It is just business.

 

[scdaren]

I dunno. It drives the agents nuts but realistically getting quotes every three years is about right now. And the companies and agents did it to themselves in the last 20 years.

Most of the quotes I get from agents are not competitive. I have found an agency now that is competitive on homeowners, but for me on auto no one can touch Geico, not even remotely close. They are hundreds of dollars a year cheaper than the next closest I have found. Been that way for many years, and I shop around almost every renewal.

 

[Rattus Suffocatus]

And Geico knows that. They always have been one of the more expensive ones for me when I've checked. I'd say more about them, but I won't.

 

[Newdude]

Yes, this is what I've grudgingly come to admit to myself today

See ?? I KNEW you were in there !!!! Your meticulous brain just took a lazy stroll down the scenic route knowing full well where the destination was. And welcome back !!

. I figure I can get the new dishwasher and rig it up standalone in the basement, draining into the utility sink until all this work gets done.

Dang. You said the upbringing led to hating dishes, but not even temporarily??? Lol. And Bravo for that too !!

but for a first pass I just wanted to cut out the moldy stuff and figure out how far it went

Standing water from a flood will wicc halfway up the wall or more. A drip will only go out and down for the most part. The few inches of sheetrock you cut is probably the end of it.

 

[jseyfert3]

Dang. You said the upbringing led to hating dishes, but not even temporarily??? Lol. And Bravo for that too !!

Well it was more that to do this right I’m likely going to need to pull the cabinets, which means no kitchen sink. I’m not speedy getting things done and washing dishes in the utility sink would be annoying to say the least. So a lot is just planning on not having a kitchen sink for a while.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Well it was more that to do this right I’m likely going to need to pull the cabinets, which means no kitchen sink. I’m not speedy getting things done and washing dishes in the utility sink would be annoying to say the least. So a lot is just planning on not having a kitchen sink for a while.

And that’s why you might want to at least get an opinion from your insurance company. A crew of guys could rip that out and fix the issue in a day or two. And if the granite countertop breaks, it gets replaced. You doing it yourself means you are on the hook for everything ... and the misses of the household might prefer having a functional kitchen sooner rather than later instead of a demolition zone full of all your tools and busted up materials .... just sayin’

 

[jseyfert3]

I wanted to spray down all visible mold with a bleach solution sooner rather than later. But I needed to get all that drywall dust cleaned up first. So I got a HEPA filter for my Ridgid vac.

Cleaned up.

The dining room wall definitely has some mold, probably need to trim that up a foot or so at least. Definitely not as bad as this side of the wall though.

And that’s why you might want to at least get an opinion from your insurance company. A crew of guys could rip that out and fix the issue in a day or two. And if the granite countertop breaks, it gets replaced. You doing it yourself means you are on the hook for everything ... and the misses of the household might prefer having a functional kitchen sooner rather than later instead of a demolition zone full of all your tools and busted up materials .... just sayin’

Yeah, fair point. I'd have to see if it's even covered, a quick search and "water damage from slow, maintenance type leaks" is not covered. The question would be if this is considered that or not. I could see it going both ways. I'm assuming that clause is more for someone who knew there was a leak and did nothing about it, rather than someone who didn't know there was a leak.

Suppose I can chat with my agent without filing a claim, see where things would stand.

 

[scdaren]

I wanted to spray down all visible mold with a bleach solution sooner rather than later. But I needed to get all that drywall dust cleaned up first. So I got a HEPA filter for my Ridgid vac.

Cleaned up.

The dining room wall definitely has some mold, probably need to trim that up a foot or so at least. Definitely not as bad as this side of the wall though.

Yeah, fair point. I'd have to see if it's even covered, a quick search and "water damage from slow, maintenance type leaks" is not covered. The question would be if this is considered that or not. I could see it going both ways. I'm assuming that clause is more for someone who knew there was a leak and did nothing about it, rather than someone who didn't know there was a leak.

Suppose I can chat with my agent without filing a claim, see where things would stand.

Yeah it all comes down to whether it was sudden and accidental. In my case, the leak detection guy determined it was a few weeks, which apparently was sudden enough. In truth, it may have been happening longer, I don’t know. There was already plenty of mold by that point.

 

[jseyfert3]

So I sprayed TSP/bleach last night, scrubbed, wiped up, repeated, then put a dehumidifier in place to start drying this out.

Things are already looking better, and the wood surfaces are are dry for the first time.

Also the grout cleaned up really fast, TSP is apparently an amazing cleaner.

 

[Newdude]

I can’t see from the pic so just in case you don’t know, they also make filters for the exhaust port of the shop vac to try and catch some of what made it through the others. Some crud will still always get distributed around the house but it will be less.

 

[Newdude]

CRAFTSMAN CMXZVBE38660 2-1/2 in. Diffuser Wet/Dry Vac Attachment - - Amazon.com

CRAFTSMAN CMXZVBE38660 2-1/2 in. Diffuser Wet/Dry Vac Attachment - - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

 

[JoyfulNoise]

So I sprayed TSP/bleach last night, scrubbed, wiped up, repeated ....

... Things are already looking better, and the wood surfaces are are dry for the first time ...

... Also the grout cleaned up really fast, TSP is apparently an amazing cleaner.

Yes, yes it is ....

When you get a new dishwasher, try adding a teaspoon or two to the wash cycle and you’ll see your dishes come out AMAZINGLY clean. Note - not compatible with any aluminum materials at all. There’s an online outlet called BubbleBandit that sells phosphate based dishwasher detergent if you want to stick it to the man ... in your face stupid EPA rules not based on facts at all !!

 

[jseyfert3]

When you get a new dishwasher, try adding a teaspoon or two to the wash cycle and you’ll see your dishes come out AMAZINGLY clean. Note - not compatible with any aluminum materials at all. There’s an online outlet called BubbleBandit that sells phosphate based dishwasher detergent if you want to stick it to the man ... in your face stupid EPA rules not based on facts at all !!

I have sodium tripolyphosphate still from when I lived in places without a water softener. I did try TSP but from my research STPP was what was actually used in detergents before it was banned, and worked better than the TSP did. Once I moved to a location with a water softener I stopped using it, it wasn't needed anymore.

I can’t see from the pic so just in case you don’t know, they also make filters for the exhaust port of the shop vac to try and catch some of what made it through the others. Some crud will still always get distributed around the house but it will be less.

CRAFTSMAN CMXZVBE38660 2-1/2 in. Diffuser Wet/Dry Vac Attachment - - Amazon.com

CRAFTSMAN CMXZVBE38660 2-1/2 in. Diffuser Wet/Dry Vac Attachment - - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

That is a very course filter though, I don't see that catching much of anything. What I got is rated at removing 99.97% of all particles 0.3 microns and larger from the air. It uses the bag as a pre-filter and then the main filter is the HEPA filter, as I understand things. It was also $50 for two bags and the filter! From what I read mold spores are 1 micro on the low end, 4-20 more typically so that's why I went with the expesive HEPA filter and not a regular shop vac filter. No way I'd suck up moldy dust with a regular shop vac filter.

What you linked says it's for debris when using the vac in wet mode, when you can't use a paper filter. Ridgid sells a similar course foam looking thing for the main filter in those cases, though traditionally I just use it without a filter when sucking up water.

 

[Newdude]

That is a very course filter though, I don't see that catching much of anything

I have found it works well all the time. Dog hair somehow makes it through and gets trapped by the diffuser. Then the dog hair traps all kinds of particles.

 

[Newdude]

I bought it years ago for a spacking project along with the fine particle filter. I’ve had to unclog the diffuser so many times since that there is no question it works.

This project with the mold adds another layer of concern. It won’t hurt here, but it will definitely at least help all other times.

 

[jseyfert3]

Dog hair? How does that get past? Sounds like your filters aren’t sealing good?

 

[Newdude]

I’ve had several filters over time, all tightly fit, but dog hair is magical stuff, as many of us can attest to. Yourself included I’m sure.

like I said I got it on a whim and it worked. With regular homeowner use (barring any unforeseen problems arising, like this) I might use it once a month and I have to clean the diffuser every third or so use. It seems really coarse like you said but there is also a finer foam on the inside. To me that is still less dense than the original filter but it still catches stuff anyway.

 

[jseyfert3]

Just to confirm, does your vac use a paper filter or a foam one?

I still attest if you’re cleaning the diffuser every third use your vac/filter isn’t doing great or has something wrong with it.

 

[Rattus Suffocatus]

Okay.. so if your plywood all looks that good I would not replace the subflooring. It cleaned up nicely, and it does NOT look delaminated.. if you are worried about mold further in the plywood, use a oil based outdoor paint to seal it up. I think you might be in better shape than we all thought yesterday.

If I would have known you had STPP, I probably would have told you to try using that instead of buying TSP. It probably would have also worked... but having TSP around is a pretty handy thing anyway. I am glad it's actually working out well for you. I don't think you are "screwed" after all.

And even with soft water adding the STPP or TSP still makes the dishwasher work better. You should avoid washing Aluminum in a dishwasher with or without the phosphates...