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Crumbly floor under bath...

6 replies

MattBerrysHair · 19/08/2017 12:10

The sealant failed around the bath/shower and water has damaged the floor beneath. It seems to have been a slow leak over the course of years and the ply floor and a small area of floorboard beneath that is flakey and crumbly. Im worried the joists are also damaged but I can't see in without first removing the bath. Who do I call to have a proper look? A plumber or joiner? The insurance doesn't cover it unfortunately.

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MattBerrysHair · 19/08/2017 12:31

Hopeful bump

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PigletJohn · 19/08/2017 14:24

you mention ply. Are you sure it isn't chipboard? Post some pics please. Put a coin on the floor to show scale.

MattBerrysHair · 19/08/2017 14:59

It's definitely plywood.

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MattBerrysHair · 19/08/2017 15:01

It's all dry now. On the first picture, the dark area in front of the torch has some sort of fungus growing on it, and the hole under the pipes is where I've scratched the ply and the floorboards. It's so flakey and comes away very easily.

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PigletJohn · 19/08/2017 15:45

it might possibly be expanding foam rather than fungus (light yellow, rigid, and needs a serrated knife to cut it. Sometimes people use it to block draughts, but it can hold damp). If it is weak and gives way to a pencil (possibly issuing a fine dust of spores) you have a much more serious problem.

the floor is badly damaged and needs to be replaced. perhaps woodlice have eaten it away, or woodworm.

I'd suggest a carpenter to take up and replace the floor and examine the joists. S/he might know a local plumber who can remove the bath. Most of the work will be in smashing carefully removing tiles round the rim, so plan to renew at least the bottom row.

Dealing with the floor, the carpenter should be able to identify and cut out/sister damaged joists. If it was me I would always treat joists and wallplates in a bathroom with a wood preserver that kills rots and insects. 5 litres will be plenty and might cost about £30. The modern water-based ones don't smell as bad as the older spirit based ones. If you have a choice of colours, get a green one. Cuprinol is the market lerader and makes "5-star" Screwfix sell an import which is probably similar. Sweep and hoover up all dust before applying it, or you will waste it treating the dust and dirt.

A suitable material for a bathroom floor is 18mm WBP (now called category 4) Ply. Or 25mm if you want to tile it or match the floor height in an adjacent room. 25mm is much more expensive. Some people will tell you it's marine ply, but it isn't really.

suitable

some Homebase offer a cutting service

B&Q ply was I found poor quality.

the full-size sheets are best value but very heavy.

very good

another brand

cheap one

you need plastic gloves, eye protection, overalls. They are intentionally poisonous.

If your carpenter will allow you the time, it is best to treat all edges of the ply with a few coats of varnish or paint to prevent damp getting in. I use a water based diamond floor varnish which is fast drying.

Without wishing to be impertinent, if you can afford it, this is a good time to treat and renew the whole bathroom floor, and put in a new bath, taps and waste. You'll need a plumber anyway to take out/put back the old bath.

Here's one I did this month. You may find it hard to believe it is made of 18mm WBP hardwood faced ply, and I have done the plank effect with wood dyes. Satin varnish. If you get a professional in they will not want you getting in their way so you would have to do it after they'd finished (or perhaps overnight)

Crumbly floor under bath...
Crumbly floor under bath...
MattBerrysHair · 19/08/2017 17:53

That's a lot of work and disruption Sad

Thanks for the advice, it's much appreciated. I'm a bit gutted about it as money is really tight. I'm pretty sure the damage to the floor is due to wet rot rather than insects as once it dried out it was very crumbly and I made the hole myself.

There is expanding foam in the wall but not in the area of floor I mentioned previously. It's definitely fungal fruiting bodies consistent with wet rot.

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