Re-doing kitchen floor
 

Hi,
Recently I tore up the kitchen floor (vinyl) due to the fact that some
of the underlayment was buckeling by the sink (Seems the previous owner
had a water issue and didn't tear it up). So I sprayed the plywood
underneath with a bleach water solution and let it set for a day or so,
and it seems ok now (going to re-tile soon).

As we were tearing the rest of the kitchen floor up I discovered that
there seems to be some mildew that's been under various sections of the
plywood floor.

Now, probably the best thing to do would be replace the plywood, but I
don't really have the time, energy, or money to get that in depth.

What are people's thoughts on scraping the mildew off, spraying down the
floor with a bleach solution and letting it sit for a few days to kill/dry?

~ Matt

Dont even bother to scrape it you will be breathing it ,just use cheap
bleach. If the floor is sound dont tear it up. They obviously has a leak
at one time and flooded it and the vinyl trapped the moisture.

"Matt" wrote in message
...
Hi,
Recently I tore up the kitchen floor (vinyl) due to the fact that some
of the underlayment was buckeling by the sink (Seems the previous owner
had a water issue and didn't tear it up). So I sprayed the plywood
underneath with a bleach water solution and let it set for a day or so,
and it seems ok now (going to re-tile soon).

As we were tearing the rest of the kitchen floor up I discovered that
there seems to be some mildew that's been under various sections of the
plywood floor.

Now, probably the best thing to do would be replace the plywood, but I
don't really have the time, energy, or money to get that in depth.

What are people's thoughts on scraping the mildew off, spraying down the
floor with a bleach solution and letting it sit for a few days to
kill/dry?

~ Matt

I would wait a couple of weeks to be sure that the stuff is gone. Just to be
safe. Mold sometimes needs more than one treatment

Actualy bleach kills by removing the oxygen in the plant, you can see it
dying within minutes. If the area is dry and im sure it is, one good
aplication is all you need, unless it is 1/4 of an inch thick, which I
dought.

Ok.. yes the wood is sound.. other then the mildew in a few areas.. I
can run a screw driver at it and it stops at the top.. there is some
stuff that I can peel off.. but I did that just a very small layer, and
it becomes sound again. I will spray it down with a bleach mixture
then, let it sit for a few weeks, and see how things go!

yeah they had some questionable plumbing in the kitchen that I've since
fixed :)

m Ransley wrote:
Dont even bother to scrape it you will be breathing it ,just use cheap
bleach. If the floor is sound dont tear it up. They obviously has a leak
at one time and flooded it and the vinyl trapped the moisture.

Matt wrote in message ...
Hi,
Recently I tore up the kitchen floor (vinyl) due to the fact that some
of the underlayment was buckeling by the sink (Seems the previous owner
had a water issue and didn't tear it up). So I sprayed the plywood
underneath with a bleach water solution and let it set for a day or so,
and it seems ok now (going to re-tile soon).

As we were tearing the rest of the kitchen floor up I discovered that
there seems to be some mildew that's been under various sections of the
plywood floor.

Now, probably the best thing to do would be replace the plywood, but I
don't really have the time, energy, or money to get that in depth.

What are people's thoughts on scraping the mildew off, spraying down the
floor with a bleach solution and letting it sit for a few days to kill/dry?

~ Matt


A better question would be how spraying buckled plywood with bleach
will result in a sound underlayment for a new floor. If it's just
mildew, not rotted, and otherwise sound, then cleaning it with bleach
should be fine.

I like to use copper napthanate in these situations. I keep a stainless pump
canister (the kind used by professional exterminators) filled with the stuff
(sold as buried wood post preservative) and just spray the plywood to kill
bacteria and leave a lasting preservative effect.

Of course, use good ventilation and breathing protection.

--
Take care,

Mark & Mary Ann Weiss

VIDEO PRODUCTION . FILM SCANNING . DVD MASTERING . AUDIO RESTORATION
Hear my Kurzweil Creations at: http://www.dv-clips.com/theater.htm
Business sites at:
www.dv-clips.com
www.mwcomms.com
www.adventuresinanimemusic.com
-



What are people's thoughts on scraping the mildew off, spraying down the
floor with a bleach solution and letting it sit for a few days to
kill/dry?

~ Matt

Very good question! The plywood is not buckled.. just slightly mildewy
in places.. but otherwise level and good.

A better question would be how spraying buckled plywood with bleach
will result in a sound underlayment for a new floor. If it's just
mildew, not rotted, and otherwise sound, then cleaning it with bleach
should be fine.