I’m building a home in W Va. Last fall in order to protect the subfloor over the winter I covered it with an EPDM membrane. Every thing went well over the winter. No leaks. We began working again in April of this year. I left the EPDM on while we were working for protection from the elements, as I can only work on the weekends. Understandably as we started nailing plates, walls, braces some water worked its way through the subfloor. What am I facing here in terms of replacing plywood, mold etc.?
thanks, jack
Edited 5/10/2004 3:31 pm ET by wvjack
Replies
Can you pull up the EPDM and take some pictures to post here? It's impossible to know from what you wrote whether this is no problem or total disaster.
-- J.S.
Is the EPDM still in place?
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Yes, it is still in place. I really don'twant to take it up until the house is dried in which will be in a couple of weeks-working only on the weekends doesn't leave a lot of time. What I'm looking for is the potential disaster-or not- that I'm facing.
jack
Moisture under EPDM wasn't there until you started nailing thru subfloor???
I'd look at the other side of the problem: water vapor coming up thru the subfloor and condensing on the underside of the EPDM. It's a nice tarp, but it's also a great vapor barrier. If you have a damp basement (and who doesn't?) and an unheated house during the winter, you have condensation wherever the temp crosses the dewpoint. The basement floor is (generally) below the frost line; therefore the basement stays warmer than the air upstairs. I think.
Of course, this is all speculation on my part. Don't quote me yet. I'm still learning.
;-)