After noticing a leak around the base of my toilet I removed the toilet and found considerable damage to the floor. I remove two layers of tile (easily). The underlayment (particleboard with some kind of paper underneath) was soaked and stunk to high heaven. I gutted to bathroom of all fixtures and completely removed the deteriorated underlayment. The subfloor (5" tongue and grove) was also saturated. Currently I'm letting it dry out. However, it stinks! Will I have to replace the subfloor? If not, can the wood be cleaned and the oder removed in any way?

 

I would replace the 2X6 subflooring that has gotten wet. Since you are this close, it's not that big of a job. You will probably only have to span 4' with the new subflooring. Should find 4X6 girders 48" O.C. under the 2X6. Just make sure the joints between the old flooring and the new are well supported.

 

My mother-in-law had a similar problem about 3 years ago. You did not mention if you have a crawl space or a basement. She had a crawl space, but also had 6" concrete slab under ceramic tile, so there was a "jack-hammer" involved in the repair (I may have a nightmare tonite remembering this!).

You need to examine the floor joists. In her case, I had to replace 3 floor joists. Take an awl, and poke on them to see if they are wet rotted also.

I would remove the subfloor back to a clean joist, and replace it with 3/4" plywood. You did not mention if it was ceramic tile, but if so, you need to go with a cement backer board, Wonder Board, Hardi-Backer, etc. as the underlayment for new ceramic tile. If it is ceramic, post back or go to the tile forum and look for John Nelson. He has a website that is excellent for reference and how-to instructions.

Let us know what you find on the floor joists, and we will see if we can help.

Good Luck,

Rick

 

Thanks for the two very prompt replies. I would like to replace the damaged subfloor but it could be difficult. There is a basement under this 5'x5'bathroom. The joists (2 1/2"x9")are 44" o.c. One joist runs under the wall opposite the toilet - no problem. The wall behind the toilet is between joists and contains the water lines for the toilet and sink. This area is "full" of pipes (the main outlet for the whole house, the vent stack, etc.)and heating ducts. How am I going to support this side of the replacement subfloor? Do I have to remove and then rebuild the wall behind the toilet?

 

A basement sure beats a crawl space. Are you familiar with the term "sistering"? I would sister in replacement floor joists, by cutting new 2X10's so they overlap the existing floor joists by at least 3 feet if possible. I'd put new 2X10's on both sides of the old floor joists (like a sandwich) and bolt thru all three boards with 3/8" galvanized carriage bolts. The key here is to get the new boards back to "good wood", before bolting the new joists in place. You are only talking about a 5-foot span, so if you cannot get 3' of overlap, take what you can get, as long as it is thru good wood.

I would not consider removing walls, based on what you have said, but I have not seen it either.

Good Luck,

Rick

 

lefty and Rick are right on, as usual.
My 2c is that I always use pressure-treated lumber and plywood when repairing flooring under anywhere with water (baths, kitchen, laundry room, etc.).
Good Luck!

 

Thanks again for the replies. Perhaps I didn't explain my problem well enough. I'm inclined to replace the subfloor after it dries our. The joists are in good shape. The problem is access to the two joists between which sits the toilet. Cutting out the flooring aound all four walls leaves me with no nailing support for the wall behind the toilet. Below the floor and under this wall and between the two joists are drain pipes, water pipes and heating ducts. The does not appear to be a way to put a nailing brace between the two joists due to all these pipes.

 

Can you nail a 2X flat between joists (flush with their top)for nailing? Is there enough room above the plumbing and ducts?

 

Thanks again. Yes, I may be able to nail them in that way. I just had the adjuster out who told me that subfloor would be OK once it dried out completely. So this leads me to the following question: How do I neutralized the oder and the contamination to the wood?

 

I'm fairly sure there is a way to add nailers and/or supports between the existing joists to clear the ducts, pipes, and the toilet drain that are in this area. But not being able to actually SEE it makes it difficult (or impossible) to suggest them. It could be that using 2x's flat (as suggested by Old Guy) is one possible solution. Or it may be that you will need to reroute a couple of the pipes or ducts. (Moving the waste line and it's vent is not going to work.) But whatever it takes, you don't want to just cover up the existing subfloor, especially since it has been soaked and now has an odor to it. It will rot out in a few years and you'll be in there going through all of this again, and will probably have even more rot to deal with.

 

Again, I agree with lefty.
Do NOT let that adjuster off so easy. Replace that soaked, smelly subfloor NOW, with an insurance claim.
It may not be rotted now, but it will be brittle after it dries out (not to mention the smell), and will eventually need to be replaced.
Good Luck!