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SVreX
SVreX MegaDork
8/30/19 5:27 p.m.

Embedding wood in concrete then exposing one end to a water leak is pretty much ideal conditions for termites. 

That one is worth calling the pest control company. 

drsmooth
drsmooth HalfDork
8/30/19 5:56 p.m.

This or a product similar to it may be of use to you.

https://www.boatlife.com/product/git-rot-kit/

The epoxy soaks into the wood providing strength to the wood. I have used it to fix the rotted floor of my cousins travel trailer, it worked surprisingly well. 

daeman
daeman Dork
8/31/19 7:54 a.m.

As suggested, use a liquid leveler and then you've got a way better base to lay your lvp on than you otherwise would have had

914Driver
914Driver MegaDork
8/31/19 2:19 p.m.

I'm with JohninKansas, Where's the water coming from?  Before you spend time and money, fix that first.  This is the first story?  Is there a second floor?  Condensation from the chimney brick vs outside / inside temps?  Caulking around the chimney-roof failed (mine did) . 

Rebuild the floor and you're treating the symptoms, not the disease.

My house was built in 1894, I feel your pain.

RevRico
RevRico PowerDork
8/31/19 3:42 p.m.

Here's where we decided to call it a day today. 6mil plastic, 2x2s that went in the stupid channels, then 3/4"sheeting.

Treating the cause... We can't afford it. There's 6 grand left for spending for the year, and the roofers are expecting 3 of it. To rent a machine, dig a French drain around the house and hope the foundation/footing/whatever isn't just gone just isn't cost feasible. When the money is gone, is gone, and its better suited going for food and utilities while pretending the house isn't ready to collapse. 

Now next year, or when I have some business credit built up and buy a machine of my own, sure that's something that will be attacked. 

There's still work to be done tomorrow, that hole at the foot of the stair, and there's more that needs cut from the living room and replaced to tie to the dining room, there's just no energy or patience left to do it today. 

 

SVreX
SVreX MegaDork
9/1/19 11:43 a.m.

The 2x2’s were pressure treated, right?

You should be able to do a band aid treatment on the cause that won’t cost much. If it’s chimney flashing, a heck of a lot of caulk. If it’s foundation, perhaps a tarp to redirect the water...

You still need to know the cause, or you may be redoing the same work you are doing now next year.  Or worse. 

RevRico
RevRico PowerDork
9/1/19 2:08 p.m.

Well, there's a new steel roof with new gutters and flashing going up so if it's that, should square it away.

The carpet went down in 86. No idea how long this hardwood and slab has been on top of another hardwood and assuming slab, but there was never a vapor barrier and its lasted this long. Now, with a vapor barrier we're taking great care not to puncture, unless the termites all flock to the new wood, I think we'll be ok for a while. At least I'm telling myself we will.

The dining room could be foundation, or could just be trapped water from one of the times the well pump had died, as it's very near that location. We're taking about major site work to get a machine behind the house to clean up anything though. Like cutting out a hill just to get a machine back there kind of work. 

I don't want you to think I'm blowing off your input, I'm just frustrated with this damn house. Everything that should be easy to moderate is always around painstakingly impossible, even little things like changing outlets or fixtures. 

SVreX
SVreX MegaDork
9/1/19 2:36 p.m.

I understand you are frustrated.   I’m trying to highlight that you may be getting a few priorities out of order. 

Vapor barriers are almost never put on top of concrete. There shouldn’t be a problem, but there are some scenarios that could be a big problem. 

For example, if the water source is above the new vapor barrier, the water will pool on top of the barrier (it would have sponged through the concrete without the vapor barrier). If you installed new 2x2 sleepers on top of the barrier that were not pressure treated and did not treat for termites, it’s unlikely that floor will last very long at all. You will trap the moisture on top of the vapor barrier, and just give the termites a new food source. 

Don't let your frustration lead you to making bad decisions. 

NermalSnert
NermalSnert Reader
9/1/19 3:03 p.m.

I hate to ask after all you've been through but, starting with the earth the house is sitting on, can you describe what the floor is made of up to what the pics show? I'm confused.

RevRico
RevRico PowerDork
9/1/19 8:59 p.m.
NermalSnert said:

I hate to ask after all you've been through but, starting with the earth the house is sitting on, can you describe what the floor is made of up to what the pics show? I'm confused.

From what we've seen so far, there is an original slab, might even be dirt, with wood on it. Then there is the concrete that's been pictured, which had hardwood on it. Hardwood that is UNDER my steps, the arch way in the dining room, basically the whole thing. That had masonite and then carpet on top of it. 

Now on top of the weird concrete is plastic, firting strips, and plywood that is going to get treated with something then covered in LVP. 

I threw everybody, including my help, out about 4 hours ago. I'm pissed off, in excruciating pain, dehydrated, and frustrated. And what's worse is that no matter how far I get tonight, I can't lift the pellet stove by myself to put it back, so I won't even get to finish. 

I berkeleying hate this house. I see tornadoes and hurricanes hurting so many people, and I just wish one would come and take this house away. Even the berkeleying trees can't fall through it right, the branches were resting on the roof, couldn't have just come through and made a big berkeleying hole that insurance would pay for. 

T.J.
T.J. MegaDork
9/2/19 5:25 a.m.

In reply to RevRico :

Hang in there Rev. I felt the same way last year for Hurricane Florence. I hoped for zero damage to the house or to have it totally destroyed. I got the dreaded compromise, where I had relatively minor damage that has been nothing but a pain in the ass. 

RevRico
RevRico PowerDork
9/2/19 5:22 p.m.

5 days, 45 hours, $1325, there's a berkeleying floor the whole way across my first floor again. I have bled, sweat, cried, sustained multiple injuries, contemplated arson and suicide, scared my workers away, found hate fueled strength I never knew I had, but it's down. 

I have gaps to fill, plastic to trim, and barn paint to put down. Finally got replacement lights for both living and dining room that need assembled and installed, but for all intents and purposes, this nightmare is over.

 

NermalSnert
NermalSnert Reader
9/2/19 6:23 p.m.

Great news!

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