The August Flood of 2016

[HelmutVII]

It will be very hard to repair a home that all or part of it has been under water for a week. This is a life changing event for many people. Unfortunately not for the better.

[billbeck451]

the problem isn't the water, water can be dried out. The problem is the mold that grows once the air hits the wet sheetrock and insulation. Another consideration is the water line is not where the wet sheetrock and insulation stop, both absorb and pull water further up than where the actual water level stops. Another thing to consider is that wiring has insulation in it so if wiring had water on it water absorbed up along the insulation inside of the wiring and any wiring that has been wet will probably be required to be changed. So in reality even if a house had just inches of water it is very possible that several feet of sheetrock and insulation will have to be pulled. The studs will need to be cleaned with bleach and a product such as TSP, and possibly even primed and sealed to ensure that mold spores do not escape.

[cajunhawk]

It will be very hard to repair a home that all or part of it has been under water for a week. This is a life changing event for many people. Unfortunately not for the better.

Figure I'd ask the construction guru, is there anything in the pipe construction wise to use a different material than sheetrock that doesn't hold water?

[HelmutVII]

Figure I'd ask the construction guru, is there anything in the pipe construction wise to use a different material than sheetrock that doesn't hold water?

No not really. It is inexpensive and they trades like working with it because it is easy to repair.

Sheet rock is a very good material because it does act as a very good fire barrier. All sheet rock will have a certain amount of moisture in it. The sheet rock will not start to conduct heat until all the moisture in it is boiled off. Placing multiple layers (or thicker) sheet rock on a wall will give varying degrees of fire protection. There are other things to consider for a fire wall but I won't get into that right now.

While Hardee Panels will not burn, it is not a very good fire barrier because it immediately conducts heat because it is denser and has very little moisture in it.

[Boomer]

the problem isn't the water, water can be dried out. The problem is the mold that grows once the air hits the wet sheetrock and insulation. Another consideration is the water line is not where the wet sheetrock and insulation stop, both absorb and pull water further up than where the actual water level stops. Another thing to consider is that wiring has insulation in it so if wiring had water on it water absorbed up along the insulation inside of the wiring and any wiring that has been wet will probably be required to be changed. So in reality even if a house had just inches of water it is very possible that several feet of sheetrock and insulation will have to be pulled. The studs will need to be cleaned with bleach and a product such as TSP, and possibly even primed and sealed to ensure that mold spores do not escape.

---Capillary action---Guys ---- things have been Rock and Rolling at the Farm office---also many folks purchasing flood insurance---but 30 days before it gets in action!!!

[cajunhawk]

No not really. It is inexpensive and they trades like working with it because it is easy to repair.

Sheet rock is a very good material because it does act as a very good fire barrier. All sheet rock will have a certain amount of moisture in it. The sheet rock will not start to conduct heat until all the moisture in it is boiled off. Placing multiple layers (or thicker) sheet rock on a wall will give varying degrees of fire protection. There are other things to consider for a fire wall but I won't get into that right now.

While Hardee Panels will not burn, it is not a very good fire barrier because it immediately conducts heat because it is denser and has very little moisture in it.

If it ain't broke, no need to fix it. Changing panels after flooding is much better than living in a tinder box. Thanks for the info.

[BeauCajun]

While Hardee Panels will not burn, it is not a very good fire barrier because it immediately conducts heat because it is denser and has very little moisture in it.

I ended up going with the Hardie panels on the 2 foot I cut out. Wainscoated the area I am repairing. I didn't want to have to mess with the sheetrock again and heaven forbid if this happens again I'll just pop off the Hardie panel and plywood, dry out and I'm ready to go again.

Kicking myself for not removing the doors off of my cabinets in my outside entertainment area.

[Just1More]

Kicking myself for not removing the doors off of my cabinets in my outside entertainment area.

Do you mean pre-flood so they could have been saved?

[BeauCajun]

Do you mean pre-flood so they could have been saved?

Yep. I lifted all the furniture and appliances but didn't think about the doors. Now that's the only thing I'm having to replace outside. The cabinets made out great. No buckling. They were only submerged for 24 hours. Fans were drying them out pronto.

[CajunT]

Yep. I lifted all the furniture and appliances but didn't think about the doors. Now that's the only thing I'm having to replace outside. The cabinets made out great. No buckling. They were only submerged for 24 hours. Fans were drying them out pronto.

Glad you made out alright Beau.

[CajunDreDog]

Michael Vinsanau (@MVinsanau) tweeted at 10:31 AM on Thu, Aug 25, 2016:
GOHSEP estimates around 84k homes damaged in flooding. 80k in Baton Rouge area

[CajunDreDog]

Julia O'Donoghue (@JSODonoghue) tweeted at 10:21 AM on Thu, Aug 25, 2016:
On speculation that #laflood will be more expensive than Katrina/Rita. "The numbers are clearly trending that direction." - @fema #lalege