The Advanced Buildings Queensland team were asked to attend a unit in Kangaroo Point, Brisbane. The unit had suffered water damage through the ceiling. Though the original damage had been dried using air fans and a heat drying system, the property owner had concerns about sour residual odours in their unit.

The Damage

After inspection, we noted that the plasterboard used on the floor was stuck directly to a concrete block. The parquetry timber floor in the lounge and hall area was also adhered directly to the underlying concrete in the lounge and hall area.

Using a combination of thermal imaging and moisture meters we found that the concrete floor slab underneath the parquetry floor was still saturated. The timber flooring, previously dried from the top down using a heat drying process, was now picking up the moisture in the slab.

The trapped moisture was also affecting plasterboard walls that had been treated in the original reinstatement. This resulted in mould growth behind part of the wall construction.

 The Challenges

Persistent mould in hard to reach areas

To repair the damage and reach the damaging mould, we removed the skirting boards and stripped the timber floor and glue from the concrete floor slab.

Remove all traces of moisture

Inadequate water damage restoration can add unnecessary cost for insurers and inconvenience for property owners. We removed the mould-affected wall, and cleaned and sanitised the remaining walls. We installed drying equipment to remove any moisture from the walls and floors. We recorded accurate moisture readings to ensure the moisture levels complied with Australian standards. An independent hygienist carried out clearance testing.

Quote from the apartment owner:

From start to finish; the respect for my circumstances, communication and co-ordination, immense background work to minimise impact on myself, accurate planning, level of trades sourced, standard of workmanship expected, and attention to detail across all levels.

“Steve and the Advanced Buildings Team never let me down”.