I am interested in a house which needs renovating and has been derelict for some time (squatters). There has been a blockage in the drains at the rear of the house. This has caused water to seep in and flood the interior utility floor this causing the walls to grow mould to a point where it has turned black and smells like someone died.

Can these walls be saved? I'm not aware of the damaging effects that mould and flooding can have on a property. Once I have unblocked the drain and removed the cause can the walls be dried out and treated?

Any help would be appreciated as I'm totally in the dark on this subject.

Also there is an external vertical crack (not stepped or very wide) running from the base of the wall to the top where the kitchen would start at the back (not a new extension). There are no signs of it showing inside but is this reason enough to run as fast as I can away from the house?

You don't say what materials the floors and walls are make of.
If you are dealing with wood frame and gypsum board, I'd dispose of
them.
If you are dealing with concrete slab and block walls, a complete
drying and removal of paint or sealer, then refinishing might work.

If it is a single crack with no echoing crack, it might be the result
of shrinkage and not a worry.

In the end, it would be worth having a pro look at the conditions,
rather than taking the opinion of strangers.

TB

wrote:

Good advice.


You don't say what materials the floors and walls are make of.
If you are dealing with wood frame and gypsum board, I'd dispose of
them.


I would guess tbasc meant to dispose of the gypsum board. The framing
normally can be saved, but it needs to be cleaned and treated.

If you are dealing with concrete slab and block walls, a complete
drying and removal of paint or sealer, then refinishing might work.

If it is a single crack with no echoing crack, it might be the result
of shrinkage and not a worry.

In the end, it would be worth having a pro look at the conditions,
rather than taking the opinion of strangers.

TB

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit

Chlorine or hypochlorite usually does the job..


- = -
Vasos-Peter John Panagiotopoulos II, Columbia'81+, Bio$trategist
BachMozart ReaganQuayle EvrytanoKastorian
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/vjp2/vasos.htm
---{Nothing herein constitutes advice. Everything fully disclaimed.}---
[Homeland Security means private firearms not lazy obstructive guards]
[Fooey on GIU,{MS,X}Windows 4 Bimbos] [Cigar smoke belongs in veg food group]

For concrete, use lime.. add a whiskey glass of mineral oil for every
gallon of water.. just the same old lawn lime powder.. it has been
dequenched and isn't the (ideal) quicklime.. cement is made partly
from lime, so the lime sticks pretty well.. you can even add some ash
to make the lime gray.. cement is ash, lime and sand.. quicklime (over
brick & mortar) is what makes all those Greek villages look so white..
if you don't use enough oil, it rubs off on your clothing if you touch it..


- = -
Vasos-Peter John Panagiotopoulos II, Columbia'81+, Bio$trategist
BachMozart ReaganQuayle EvrytanoKastorian
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/vjp2/vasos.htm
---{Nothing herein constitutes advice. Everything fully disclaimed.}---
[Homeland Security means private firearms not lazy obstructive guards]
[Fooey on GIU,{MS,X}Windows 4 Bimbos] [Cigar smoke belongs in veg food group]

I've rarely had mould go beneath the paint to
even the cardboard of the gypsumboard/sheetrock..

but beware of regional differnces.. even climate..
eg my bathroom mold problem only takes place in the summer months


- = -
Vasos-Peter John Panagiotopoulos II, Columbia'81+, Bio$trategist
BachMozart ReaganQuayle EvrytanoKastorian
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/vjp2/vasos.htm
---{Nothing herein constitutes advice. Everything fully disclaimed.}---
[Homeland Security means private firearms not lazy obstructive guards]
[Fooey on GIU,{MS,X}Windows 4 Bimbos] [Cigar smoke belongs in veg food group]