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bjmny
West Orange, NJ
December 20, 2007
6:58 PM | Considering buying an apartment that had an electrical fire and serious water damage about 5 years ago. Apartment was painted, rewired and, and new wood floors installed. However, I noticed face nails - staple shape - in many of the boards, especially in the straight boards where the herringbone from the living room and dining room meet as well as some of the herringbone in that area. I asked listing broker about it. After many back and forths, finally found out that the subfloor was not replaced at the time that the wood floor was replaced because it was in "fine condition." Yet water damage from the firefighting had been so bad that the apartment below had to be completely renovated as water soaked through. Am I right to be concerned that this 5 year old wood floor was not installed properly and that the subfloor should have been replaced? | BackyardZoo
Poquoson, VA
Zone 7b
December 22, 2007
5:55 PM | Water damage to wood is usually because of standing or continuous water. If they let the subfloors dry out thoroughly before putting down the new flooring, then there probably isn't a serious problem - the subfloors are probably ugly with water stains, but you don't see them anyway. Water probably leaked around the edges of the sheets making up the subfloor & that's how the apartment below got soaked.
But, of course, don't take my word as 'final' - I'm not even a contractor (I've just done a good bit of construction for myself). If you want to be more certain, call in the local building inspector for his/her opinion. |
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