I get wanting to tear stuff out fast, but sometimes it’s worth holding off a bit if you’re not sure how deep the damage goes. I’ve seen people rip up floors or walls right away, only to find out later the leak was isolated and they could’ve saved a ton on repairs. Moisture meters are great, but even those can give false positives if the humidity’s still high after a storm. Sometimes a little patience and targeted demo ends up being less expensive than going full gut right away... just depends on what you find.
I totally get the urge to just start ripping stuff out—after our basement flooded last year, I was ready to go full demo mode. My neighbor talked me down, though, and I’m glad he did. Turned out only a small section of drywall was actually soaked. We used a dehumidifier for a few days and it dried out way better than I expected. Saved us a bunch of money (and stress). Sometimes waiting a bit really does pay off... even if it’s hard to be patient when you just want things fixed.
Patience definitely pays off, but I’ve learned to check a few things before assuming it’s just surface damage. First step, I always pull back baseboards and check insulation—found hidden mold once that would’ve been a nightmare later. Did you have to replace any flooring, or did it all dry out okay? Sometimes that’s where the real cost sneaks in.
Did you have to replace any flooring, or did it all dry out okay? Sometimes that’s where the real cost sneaks in.
That’s a good point—flooring is sneaky expensive. Curious, did you notice any issues with the subfloor warping, or was it just surface level? I’ve seen people miss water under the laminate and end up with soft spots months later. Ever had to deal with that kind of hidden damage?
I’ve seen people miss water under the laminate and end up with soft spots months later.
Yep, that’s the sneaky part—water loves to hang out under laminate like it’s paying rent. I had to pull up a section once and found the subfloor looked like a potato chip. If it smells musty or feels bouncy, you’re probably in for a surprise. Honestly, sometimes it’s cheaper to just yank it all and start fresh rather than play whack-a-mole with soft spots.
