Basement wet 5 years: how cleanup?
#1
06-18-02, 06:18 AM
Basement wet 5 years: how cleanup?
We bought a house in Maine. The lower level is a concrete basement with concrete floors and walls. THe basement was half
finished (fiberglass insulation on walls and sheetrock , aluminum studs) About 5 years ago water entered the basment through an open window and a now replaced leaky hot water heater. THe end result was the floor had water on it and a mattress and box spring (full size) were soaking wet for five years. We removed all the furniture after the 5 years and the water. THe walls were
now drying out but covered with balck mold. We cleaned this and the walls seemed to come clean and dryed with the help of a fiery wood stove. THe ceiling is a drop ceiling.
My question is should I remove all the sheet rock and insulation from the walls and ceiling, spray with a disinfectant or bleach and then replace all the insulation walls and ceiling?
We don't want any lingering mold or what not.
Thanks!
finished (fiberglass insulation on walls and sheetrock , aluminum studs) About 5 years ago water entered the basment through an open window and a now replaced leaky hot water heater. THe end result was the floor had water on it and a mattress and box spring (full size) were soaking wet for five years. We removed all the furniture after the 5 years and the water. THe walls were
now drying out but covered with balck mold. We cleaned this and the walls seemed to come clean and dryed with the help of a fiery wood stove. THe ceiling is a drop ceiling.
My question is should I remove all the sheet rock and insulation from the walls and ceiling, spray with a disinfectant or bleach and then replace all the insulation walls and ceiling?
We don't want any lingering mold or what not.
Thanks!
#2
06-20-02, 08:59 AM
You may be able to salvage the metal studs, but the sheetrock and insulation should come out. Scrubbing the remaining concrete walls with bleach will help. . I remodeled a damp basement years back. I had to remove all the paneling and wood studs to get rid of the mildew.
The ceiling may be ok, unless the mold go there also. In that case, you could salvage the metal rails and drop in new tiles.
The ceiling may be ok, unless the mold go there also. In that case, you could salvage the metal rails and drop in new tiles.
