We were flooded in the recent storms. Only about 2-3 inches of clear water but it ran through the house for 2 days.
The insurance company sent a guy out with a damp meter who was registering 'very high' (ie off his damp meter scale) mositure content up to about 1.2-1.4 meters in some of the walls and only above 1.2/1.4 meters did it fall to below the 20-22% he wanted. Some walls were unaffected, posssbly because the water was running through and didn't sit against some walls.
He has suggested that all the plaster and plaster board will need to come off on the entire ground floor, the new kitchen come out and al the tiles come off the kitchen and WC walls and then dryers be brought in for 2 months as the walls are 2 foot thick and made of sandstone. They will then have to be replastered/boarded and skimmed before redecoration.
My question is about damp meter readings. They seem to be committing us to moving out for 4 months to do this work on the word of a flood recovery guy who actually speciliases in drying carpets and a damp meter. If left to dry naturally and perhaps with dehumifiers would that be enough or is the plaster really written off and will we have to move out? The insurance people seem to be taking this guys word as gospel and their next stage is to send a contractor to 'strip out'.
I wanted to be sure it was necessary before we do because living with the out-laws for 4 months is not somethijg relish!
Whjt is your ex[perience of damp meter readings and how plaster can recover from such a soaking?
The insurance company sent a guy out with a damp meter who was registering 'very high' (ie off his damp meter scale) mositure content up to about 1.2-1.4 meters in some of the walls and only above 1.2/1.4 meters did it fall to below the 20-22% he wanted. Some walls were unaffected, posssbly because the water was running through and didn't sit against some walls.
He has suggested that all the plaster and plaster board will need to come off on the entire ground floor, the new kitchen come out and al the tiles come off the kitchen and WC walls and then dryers be brought in for 2 months as the walls are 2 foot thick and made of sandstone. They will then have to be replastered/boarded and skimmed before redecoration.
My question is about damp meter readings. They seem to be committing us to moving out for 4 months to do this work on the word of a flood recovery guy who actually speciliases in drying carpets and a damp meter. If left to dry naturally and perhaps with dehumifiers would that be enough or is the plaster really written off and will we have to move out? The insurance people seem to be taking this guys word as gospel and their next stage is to send a contractor to 'strip out'.
I wanted to be sure it was necessary before we do because living with the out-laws for 4 months is not somethijg relish!
Whjt is your ex[perience of damp meter readings and how plaster can recover from such a soaking?
