Replies

1. 
   DanH | Sep 29, 2008 07:10pm | #1

   Uh, water?

   It might help if you could explain a little better what the construction is. What is the plywood resting on?

   There is no absurdity that human beings will not resort to in order to defend another absurdity. -- Cicero
1. 
   swamplisa | Sep 29, 2008 07:17pm | #2

   Well, there are the studs, which are sitting on top of concrete blocks which are sitting on top of a concrete pad.I think that does it.

1. 
   DanH | Sep 29, 2008 07:21pm | #3

   Well, obviously all the water hasn't dried out yet. You could help things along by placing one fan blowing air through the room (in one window and out another) and another in the crawl space, doing essentially the same thing.Be aware that there are almost certainly two layers of plywood on the floor, and water is trapped between the two. Drilling a few small holes through both layers might help things along a bit.If you can't get it dry pretty soon (or even if you can, perhaps), you're going to have to tear up and replace the plywood.
   Corporation: n. An ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility. --Ambrose Bierce

1. 
   swamplisa | Sep 29, 2008 07:31pm | #4

   I appreciate your reply. We havent tried a fan on the crawl space, I'll see if I can do that. We have had a fan in a window. It just seems so odd because the whole rest of the surrounding area is so dry, or at least it looks dry and it looks dry underneath too. I was thinking of getting some kitty litter to put on it?

1. 
   DanH | Sep 29, 2008 08:00pm | #5

   You can try kitty litter, but you'd need to keep stirring it around somehow to expose the damp litter to the air to evaporate. If you just pile kitty litter on the spots and leave it there it'll just block airflow to the plywood.
   Corporation: n. An ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility. --Ambrose Bierce

2. 
   Wichita_Realtor | Sep 30, 2008 03:21am | #6

   We have companies here in town that specialize in flooding and restorationSomeone told me they come into the home and pull up the carpet around the perimeter of the roomThen they place a low profile VERY high powered fan so that it blows air UNDER the carpetGood luck!(formerly Mr. Fix It ;^0)

2. 
   danski0224 | Sep 30, 2008 05:07am | #7

   So, what are you doing in the center of the room?

   Anyone have any splinters?

   How's the view from the window?

   :)

    

1. 
   swamplisa | Sep 30, 2008 05:17am | #8

   Seriously folks. Hurricane Ike flooded us, its not all that funny. We have gutted the house and are having lucky weather to thoroughly dry out. The room we'd like to fix up first, that seems the easiest and biggest, so we could live in it, has this wet spot that keeps recurring. All around is dry, underneath is dry, so it is very puzzling to us. Among other things I am quickly trying to understand, is this thing.

1. 
   DanH | Sep 30, 2008 05:18am | #9

   Like I said, consider drilling some small (maybe 1/4") holes through the floor -- a couple of dozen of them.
   Corporation: n. An ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility. --Ambrose Bierce

2. 
   danski0224 | Sep 30, 2008 12:30pm | #10

   Concrete block and plain old concrete will hold a lot of water, even though it looks dry to you and me.

   You apparently have wood sleepers on top of the concrete floor, based on your description.

   I bet there is water trapped between the plywood and the concrete... in addition to water trapped within the concrete that the wood is likely wicking out. Unless a laser screed was used when your floor was poured, count on high and low spots.

   You are going to have to cut a hole in your floor and get some air circulation.

   If your sleepers are right on top of the concrete floor, that will prevent air circulation through the subfloor and concrete. Things like insulation will also prevent that.

   There is no easy solution.

   You are going to have to start making holes in your floor to find out what is going on under it.

   Start where the wet spots are appearing.

   Cut it at least 2 joist bays square. Set the circular saw depth to just cut the plywood.

   Pay attention to the underside of the wood. If there is mold on it, you have to rip it all out.

   You may have to hire a professional disaster recover service. They have the chemicals, fans and dehumidifiers to get the job done.

   Seriously consider not replacing the wood if there are problems and if water down there is a recurring problem.

   Lots of luck.

3. 
   SteveInCleveland | Sep 30, 2008 04:47pm | #11

   Is it yellow?  Do you have a dog?  ;)

   I am sorry to hear of the flood.  Amazing the damage a flood can cause.

    

    

    

   "Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."  - St. Francis of Assisi

4. 
   Wichita_Realtor | Oct 02, 2008 05:13am | #12

   I thought of something else

   I have had "box fans" for years and they are fine for slowly moving the air around.

   But to really get a lot of air flow you need a more powerful fan

   I bought one from home depot for $79 that is much better than the typical box fan in most households

   Good luck!

   (better living through Handymanliness -- formerly Mr. Fix It ;^0)
5. 
   Tim | Oct 02, 2008 09:08pm | #13

   Do you have a dog? Seriously, I once looked into a mysterious and baffling "leak". Eventually, found it to be "portable", i.e the dog was peeing on the corner of the house and my granfather thought something was leaking!