My Stone and Tile Floor Has Flooded, Now What?

 

My Stone and Tile Floor Has Flooded, Now What?

By Frederick M. Hueston, www.stoneforensics.com

 

Flooding that accompanies hurricanes and other storms can potentially ruin stone, tile, wood, and other types of flooring. The most pressing concern home and property owners have after a flood is whether the floor can be saved. Answering this question can be tricky, because it depends on a variety of factors, including the source of the water, how long the water remained on the surface, and the environment. Let’s look at each of these factors, as well as actions to take immediately following a flood.

Water Source

Is the flood water source fresh water or salt water? If the property is near an ocean or a saltwater source, the salts contained in the water can dry and cause stone, tile, grout, and concrete to pit and fall apart. If the flood water contains sewage, contaminants may be introduced into the pores of the surface material and harbor harmful bacteria. Any type of water can cause a wood floor to warp.

Dwell Time

How long has the water remained on the surface? The longer water sits, the more it can seep into the floor, including the slab or wood substructure under the flooring. The longer water sits, the greater chance for mold and mildew to develop. It only takes 24 to 48 hours after a flood for mold and mildew to start growing. As long as moisture remains, these fungi will continue to grow.

Temperature

Hot and humid climates can also increase the damage to many flooring types. Without air conditioning, flooring materials can expand, which causes stress to the material. Expansion joints can mitigate this stress, but if the floor was installed without proper expansion joints, stone and tile may tent or crack.

Floor types that generally can’t be saved or repaired include wood, certain laminates, vinyl, linoleum, and carpeting. Stone, tile, terrazzo, and other hard surfaces can often be saved.

Preparing for Cleaning Up

Before removing debris, do the following.

1. Make sure the flood has receded. There is no sense in cleaning up if additional flooding will occur.

2. Wear protective gloves and goggles. Flood water may contain some nasty contaminants. For anyone concerned about getting sick, consider wearing a Tyvek suit, which provides protection against a wide range of chemical threats and hazards.

3. Turn off the power. Water can easily seep into outlets and cause electrocution.

4. Take plenty of photos for the insurance company. This is something that many people forget to do, but documenting the damage can be very helpful, especially if you have expensive furnishings. Call your insurance company to report the damage.

Removing Debris

Next, remove any furniture or other items that may have been soaked. After the area is cleared, remove any mud or muck with a shovel.

Remove the Water

Remove the water with a wet vacuum. If there is a lot of water, rent a commercial wet vac. If the flood is minor, soak up the water with towels or a mop and bucket. Vacuum out floor heating or air conditioning registers, as well.

Sanitize the Floor

After the water is removed, clean the floor with soap water. Mix 1/4 cup mild dish soap and 3 cups warm water for marble and limestone flooring. Mix 1/4 cup dish soap, 2 cups vinegar, 2 cups warm water, and 1/2 cup lemon juice for other types of hard flooring.

In a large bucket, combine 5 gallons of water and 1 cup of bleach. Spread the bleach mixture on the floor with a mop or squeegee to sterilize the area. Do not rinse the floor with water. Allowing the bleach to dwell will help facilitate the sanitization process.

Here is a bleach-free alternative formula for sanitizing. Fill a spray bottle with hydrogen peroxide that has a 3% concentration. Spray the surface until it is completely saturated with the hydrogen peroxide.

After the floor surface has dried, clean the area with the previously mentioned dish detergent mixture. A good store-bought, pH-neutral cleaner can also be used in place of the dish detergent formula.

Dry the Floor

Place dehumidifiers in the flooded area or use fans to move the air. This will help accelerate the evaporation of water and moisture. Turn on the air conditioner, as well, because it will function as a dehumidifier.

Monitor the moisture of the floor with an inexpensive moisture meter, available at any big box store or online.

Carefully watch the floor for any color changes over the next few days or weeks. Some flooring types can yellow, change color, or fade.

Do not apply any sealers to the floor if it is not completely dry.

Call a Professional

If the floor is turning color or appears to be deteriorating, consult with the property’s insurance company and a professional flooring inspector.

It may take months to properly clean and make the required repairs after a flood. If the humidity level in the flood area is high, be prepared to wait at least 6 months after a flood before starting the remodeling process.

 

About the Author

Fred Hueston, aka, “Dr Fred” has been a floor professional for over 40 years. To read more about him and his company visit StoneForensics.com.

MOLD & MARBLE- WHATS IT ALL ABOUT

 

Mold & Marble- whats it all about

by Frederick M. Hueston, stoneforensics.com

Mold Oh My!  I can’t tell you how many calls I have received over the years with homeowners worried about mold. This concern usually happens after a flood.  Should you be worried, Is marble or any other stone for that matter prone to the growth of mold.  Fortunately, In addition to being an expert on stone I am also a degreed biologist so let me solve this concern:

Let’s first look at what mold needs to grow. Mold in general needs six things to grow and thrive. Without these molds cannot develop.

Moisture- Being a living thing mold needs moisture to thrive. Of course, to prevent mold all you need to do is eliminate the water source. But what about a shower or wet area? Yes, this area can be prone to mold, etc. but it is only one thing that mold requires.  What if I have a flood or leak on my marble floor other than the wet area. Again, moisture can contribute to the problem, but it is not the only factor required for it to grow and thrive.

Tip: To prevent mold from growing in your shower simply take a squeegee and remove the water from the walls after every use. You can also use towels to dry the floor.

Oxygen- Mold and every living thing needs oxygen to survive. Or more technically air. If you remember your grammar school biology air contains 78% nitrogen and only 21% oxygen so I guess, we can say that mold needs air not just oxygen. So, if air cant get behind your marble floors or walls than mold cannot grow. But don’t be fooled, air can find its way into the tiniest of spaces so don’t assume your walls or floors are airtight.

Food- Mold also get hungry and with a food source it cannot survive. So what does mold eat. A nice cheeseburger perhaps. Mold is not a picky eater, and it can survive an almost anything organic which can include the food we eat but also drywall, wood and other building materials that contain organic materials. Yes, even cheeseburgers.

 

Light- No, mold hates the light, especially UV light. However, it loves the dark. Therefore you will find mold in dark corners or areas where no light can shine. This is one of the reason molds does not grow outdoors in direct sunlight. Sunlight has strong UV(ultra violet) light and will kill mold. As a matter of fact, UV lights are used by professional mold remediators to kill mold.  So, you could put UV lights all through your house but only if you want a good tan. No, NO, No. just kidding. UV light can cause skin cancer so please don’t do that.

 

Temperature- Have you ever noticed that mold does not grow on your food in the freezer but does in the refrigerator. The reason is that mold needs a warm temperature. Anything over 32 degrees F and mold can grow but the ideal temperature for most mold is above 60 degrees Fahrenheit or for your metric people out there 16 degrees centigrade. As the temperature rises so does the mold growth. Summer can be a real mold producer since its not only warm but there tends to be more mold spores in the air. More on this next.

 

Spores- Mold spores are everywhere. The air you are breathing right now contains mold spores. So don’t run for the mouthwash, it can’t be prevented unless you are breathing through a filter. So, why doesn’t these spores cause mold to grow everywhere. The answer is simply they need someplace to attach and all the requirements about are met, then and only than can mold take root and start to grow and thrive.  Now if your really grossed out you can always install an air purifier in your home, but this won’t eliminate 100% of the spores.

 

Marble and Mold- So to answer the question can marble contain or harbor mold? The simple answer is yes, if it has moisture, air, food, warmth and a dark place.  In many cases once the marble is dried and cleaned mold is not going to be a concern on marble or any other stone surface. However, if the proper environment is present, it can be a place for it to grow and thrive. In most cases this is rare but not impossible. The reason is that most marble installations do not have enough of a food source for the mold to thrive. Without food or any of the other factors described above, mold will surely die.

Become a Stone and Tile Consultant and Earn Over $250 per Hour

 

Become a Stone and Tile Consultant and Earn Over $250 per Hour

By Frederick M. Hueston

 

Are you a tile installer, stone restoration contractor or someone that provides physically demanding stone and tile services? Is your back giving out? Do your knees hurt? Do you have trouble getting up? Are you concerned about of all those aches and pains now and in your future? Or maybe you are just looking for new ways to capitalize on your hard-earned years of experience.

Become a forensic stone and tile inspector and expert witness and make as much as $250/hr or more sharing your knowledge and experience. The number of failures, poor installations and other issues with stone and tile flooring are on the rise and the demand for experts is greater now than ever.

Many years ago, I fell into the stone and tile consulting business by accident. One day I received a call from someone who wanted me to look at a stone tile installation that was failing. The tile was popping up all over the place. They told me they needed someone to do an inspection of the problem and find a cause for the failure. I told them I could take a look at it, but in my mind, I had no idea what to charge. After some research I told them I could look at it and provide an opinion for about $500. They didn’t hesitate. I drove about 30 minutes out of town, and it took me less than 30 minutes to identify what the problem was. It was just a poor installation. I spent a total of and hour and half and made the most money I had ever made in that amount of time. Suddenly, a light bulb went off and I thought, I wonder if I can do this for a living? Well 20 years later I am making a good living doing just that. No more painful time on my knees, no employees, no payroll, and the only equipment I need is testing meters. Now I am consistently earning over $250 per hour—and many times as much as $3500—for one single inspection.

After providing inspections for the last twenty years, I have come up with a comprehensive course that can teach you the same thing that has taken me nearly all my life to learn.

Stone Forensics’ Stone and Tile Troubleshooting and Inspection Workshop will teach you about stone and tile failures, how to troubleshoot, and how to leverage your expertise to offer consultation, professional troubleshooting and inspection, as well as expert witness services and soon you too can be generating a great income just for your knowledge.

All you need to qualify is to have experience in the stone and tile industry and willingness to learn. For more info check out https://stoneforensics.com/em_event/stone-and-tile-troubleshooting-and-inspection-workshop/

Is Acid Rain Ruining my Stone

 

Is Acid Rain Ruining my Stone

By Frederick M. Hueston

 

Many of us have heard the stories on the news about how acid rain can affect our waterways, potentially killing fish and plants and destroying the environment. But what about your exterior stone surfaces? Are Pool decks, sidewalks and buildings made of stone affected by acid rain. The simple answer is yes but let’s explore a little deeper.

 

What is acid rain?

Any type of precipitation that contains acidic elements, such as sulfuric or nitric acid, that falls to the ground from the atmosphere in wet or dry forms is referred to as acid rain, also known as acid deposition. Rain, snow, fog, hail, and even acidic dust might fall under this category

When sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) are released into the atmosphere and carried by wind and air currents, acid rain is the result. Nitric and sulfuric acids are created when the SO2 and NOX react with water, oxygen, and other substances. Then, before hitting the ground, they combine with water and other substances.

So, what causes acid rain?

fossil fuels are burned to produce electricity. Electric power generators are responsible for two thirds of the SO2 and one fourth of the NOX in the environment.

vehicles and large machinery.

businesses like manufacturing and oil refineries.

Acid rain is an issue for everyone, not just those who live close to these sources because winds can carry SO2 and NOX over large distances and across borders.

 

How does acid rain affect stone surfaces

First you need to know that marble and limestone and the most susceptible to acid rain. Granite and sandstone are resistant. Marble and limestone are made up primarily of calcium carbonate. This mineral easily dissolves in acid solutions. So, you can imagine if the rainwater that is exposed to these surfaces would dissolve the calcium carbonate. The result produces a rough surface on the stone and over time can even cause the stone to break apart and even turn to powder.

You could anticipate that acid precipitation wouldn't harm protected sections of stone home and buildings. However, protected portions of limestone and marble exhibit blackened crusts that, in some locations, have spalled (peeled off), exposing deteriorating stone beneath. Gypsum, a mineral created by the interaction of calcite, water, and sulfuric acid, makes up the majority of this black crust. Gypsum can form anywhere on carbonate stone surfaces that are exposed to sulfur dioxide gas (SO2) and is soluble in water; however, it is typically washed away. It only persists on covered areas that are not directly wet by rain. Gypsum is white, but the networks that form between the crystals capture dirt and impurities, giving the crust a black appearance. What this means is that even exterior stone not directly exposed to the weather can also be affected.

How do I protect Marble and Limestone from Acid Rain?

 

The answer is not that simple. There is protective coating that can be applied that will resist the acidity however coating any stone in an exterior can cause other problems.  See my article on how sealing exterior stone can be detrimental. If you suspect acid rain maybe the cause of your stone deterioration, then a stone consultant should be called in to evaluate the installation and possibly suggest a remedy. Don’t be surprised if that remedy is to replace the stone.