Our spare room flooded

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 02-22-2010, 01:46 PM

Murphy just won't leave us alone! We have had ice cycles pretty bad this winter and they were built up all along the back of the house. On Wednesday our spare room flooded from it. I guess the ice was melting down between the siding and the walls and came in under the window. It was pouring down the wall for awhile.

Anyway, we have the problem stopped at the moment, can't really do much to repair the outside until spring or summer. My question is about the carpet and padding. We have been trying to dry it, we pulled both up. The plywood underneath was even soaked.

Should we just replace it? My dh thinks we should replace the padding at least. I was hoping to get it dry and not have to spend the money. BUT I don't want mold to grow. It smells really bad up there, like mildew and it has since the second day. Is there anything we can seal up the plywood floor with that would prevent mold from growing there? We just aren't sure what all we need to do to avoid a mold issue. We live in a pretty humid environment if that matters. Thanks!

**JerryG** · 02-22-2010, 01:51 PM

It's going to be pretty tough to dry out plywood. Flooring is typically 3/4" thick and due to it's structure, it's multi-layered with glue in between the layers.

With that said - you've done the right thing. Pulled up the carpet and pad and let it dry as best as you can.

Have you contacted your insurance company? That's actually pretty critical. They may cover the entire cost of replacement.

Either way, I wouldn't worry about the floor replacement until the drainage / leakage is corrected.

Good luck and so sorry this happened.

**WV_mom_of2** · 02-22-2010, 02:58 PM

Jennifer I am so sorry to hear this! We have had icicles really bad this year too and my mom said that they had built up so much outside one room of her house and the gutter had frozen too. When it would melt a little it was running in and leaving brown spots on her ceiling in that one room!

My only advice is to rent a carpet cleaner and use it to suck the water out of the carpet and padding(or you can use a shop vac if you have one). Then maybe put some heat in that room and a fan to circulate the air and try to dry out the plywood. Good luck!

**AmyBoz** · 02-22-2010, 03:02 PM

I'm not quite sure about the plywood, but I would definitely replace the padding. You don't want to fool around with possible mold issues. It's bad news, all around.

So sorry!

**Texasgirl** · 02-22-2010, 04:51 PM

Do you have a dehumidifier?
I would get one and put it in that room.
I live in Texas and we keep a dehumidifier in our front room on all the time except for the winter months.

It will help dry out the room.

**frugalfranny** · 02-23-2010, 12:40 AM

I agree with amy about the mold issue. I wouldn't chance it.

Put a fan - of any kind and size at this point - in the room to keep the air moving and try to dry it out. Use as many as you have! Especially if small ones.

Hope you have a shop vac. They rent fans - large ones- for drying out rooms. They are monsters and make lots of noise - but better some noise than rotted flooring and mold!

The sooner you can get the plywood dried the better the chance to save it.........won't know until it is dry if it is going to warp or not.

Good luck..........that sucks that this has happened to you. Hugs to you!!