Extreme Water Damage and Humidity Svale Eichler
Helo,
I am looking for information from anyone with experience in dealing with
water damage to floors and walls.
After leaving for a week, my dad came home to find that the hot water hose on the washing machine had a leak which sprayed water (hot) for 5 days. Needless to say, the carpets were sopped, and all the original tiles popped up. The walls have a water mark line up to 8 inshes in places.
The concrete slab is most assuredly wet (although the place was dried out wiht dehumidifiers, fans, and the heat left on over 70 degrees). And I would imagine that most of the electrical wiring has been compromised.
Has anyone replace the original paneling with sheet rock and paint? If so, how did that work out? Do you have recommendations for good contracters for the walls? This has been a devastating experience which included many belongings and family papers, photos, etc. destroyed.
Any information/advice will be most gratefully accepted.
Please check your washing machine hoses-also the ones under your sinks.
Many thanks for reading.
Monique
Sorry to hear about your water leak disaster. It's easy to forget about old hoses and connections to washing machines and sinks. It's also good practice to shut off the valves to the washing machine when not in use.
Many many Eichlers have had their paneling replaced with sheet rock. Any decent contractor can do it. Advantages are a quieter house and more fire safety. While you're at it, stuff the interior walls with R-13 fiberglass insulation for more sounds insulation.
In my current remodel I'm sheetrocking all the bedrooms and putting new mahogany paneling in the hallway and the living room, as well as adding insulation into all interior walls.
Barry
While you can replace the paneling with sheetrock, most knowlegeable realtors will tell you that the more original looking Eichlers command better prices because of the growing popularity of modernism. You can replace your panels with new mahogany panels for about $15 each. You just have to match the stain using recipes you can find in this site's archives. If you do go with drywall, you can put the mahogany panels on top of them, but you still have the problem of how to trim around the door and window openings. Most contractors will simply put up big, wide trim pieces to hide their messy work. Then you really have a non-modern looking Eichler.
