mold and water infiltration

[miamiparis]

I own a house in Florida. I was absent for 4 months and half. When I came back, I saw some mold in my car. The car is in my garage. In the garage, close to the back door, there is water infiltration on the floor. There is also some black mold on this back door.

To see pictures of all that, click on https://photos.app.goo.gl/eE1HhLuatj5LwHj68

I have a home insurance but it doesn’t have flood insurance.
A friend advised me to see a mold remediation specialist. Does this specialist fix the water infiltration in the floor also or do I have to see another kind of specialist?
The mold is not big and removing it won't fix the problem, that's why I want someone to stop the water infiltration.

 

[The Cobbler]

I'd say it depends on who you get, some may be connected to get the whole job done, others not.
That's a question to ask whomever you talk to about the job(s)

 

[nadogail]

There should be a lot of mold and mildew companies in Florida.

You might try X-14 sold by the WD-40 Company.

 

[Andamo]

It's not a 100% solution but see about using a ceiling fan, if you have the room, or mounting a box fan and let it run when you're away.

 

[mike93lx]

What does "water infiltration on the floor" mean? Is it coming through the floor, through a wall onto the floor, something else?

Where is the water coming from? The issue is likely external and probably outside of the scope of a mold remidiation company. I don't think I would expect them to do much beyond caulking gaps.

You could need a landscaper, a drainage guy, a foundation guy, a Mason, or someone else, all depending on where the water is coming from.

At a minimum, a good dehumidifier, like an aprilaire or Santa Fe would probably be prudent

 

[miamiparis]

Removing the mold is nice, but if water comes back, I'm not going to call another time someone to remove the mold, so that's why I need someone to stop the water infiltration. The first and 2nd picture show the water. Before the water, I saw some cracks on the floor, close to the back door. I was looking for the correct word for the specialist that would fix that. You said landscaper, a drainage guy, a foundation guy, a Mason. That's probably one of them.

 

[kd3pc]

water is going to head down hill, one needs to discover where the water is coming from in the first place. Once that is known you can try things to divert the water to a different down hill location.

It appears that the garage may need some drying, and something done with the pad that appears to extend beyond the walls and allows water to run under the doors. You will need to remove the interior walls cut and expose the area until you have no more moisture or mold. Remove the mold and dry the wall - else you will have mold for the next decade or next hurricane. Look for a high water mark to see what kinds of water level you get when the storms come through.

Remove wet and moldy stuff
divert the water elsewhere
redo the interior and replace doors, walls and so on.

car is a different beast that will need to be completely dried out or it will be moldy for some time and only get worse, it may not be healthy to drive it. Totaled by insurance? Chances are the damage has already been done, if it has been sitting, closed up for 4 months.

 

[jkuro]

It's been leaking for a long time. Bottom of door is rotted or damaged, concrete is wet or damp, and bottom of drywall looks wet. I would start by cutting open the drywall along the sill plate and see what's going on in there. You may find more problems.

 

[miamiparis]

I used a broom to clean out. Here are new better pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/XWSxciPado6SCuNc6
I cannot do this work by myself. What is the name of the specialist fixing the concrete so I can search for one online?
The water appears every time there is a strong rain.

 

[Youngandfree]

Have you been able to determine if water is coming up through the concrete? Or is it seeping under the door and the bottom of the wall?

 

[Youngandfree]

I'd cut the drywall out 12" above the floor and see what's behind it before calling anyone. Likely just needs a carpenter.

 

[thunderalley3]

If it is like most older Florida block construction there will be 3/4" x 1 1/2" furring on the inside of the exterior block wall that the drywall is on and then it has been plastered over. As suggested I would cut up about 2' near the door to determine if it is coming in through the wall or just through the damaged door.

My guess is the door, but if you find it is coming in the wall it has stucco on the outside as well. I would look for areas of the stucco popping off the wall also.

Not sure where you are located but are you sure the water did not get up to the door during the two hurricanes? There was flooding everywhere.

 

[BillK]

I would fix the door problems which I bet is where the water is coming in from. The rest of it will go away once it is dry. The stuff in the car is from the humidity. The suggestion for a dehumidifier makes sense to me.

 

[miamiparis]

It happened even before the hurricane. Whenever it rains, there is water on the floor. The water doesn't come from the door I think. I think it's more from cracks on the floor. Anyway, I contacted my home insurance. The deductible is high: $2500.

 

[miamiparis]

The insurance said that they don't cover it because it's not storm related. Here are better pictures of the problem: https://photos.app.goo.gl/xXiW1UyMv7FWrEJQ8
After looking at them, what should I do? Do you think that it comes from the door or from some cracks on the right of the door?

 

[jkuro]

After looking at them, what should I do? Do you think that it comes from the door or from some cracks on the right of the door?

Don't you read the replies? Start by doing what I said in post #8 or what Youngandfree said in post #11.

 

[nadogail]

Sometimes digging the soil away from a wall, applying waterproofing followed by a waterproof foam board to keep the water away from the foundation and a drain pipe to carry away any standing water will be enough.

It worked for me at my Condominium unit.

 

[miamiparis]

Don't you read the replies? Start by doing what I said in post #8 or what Youngandfree said in post #11.

I am not in the house right now, I am in France and will be back there in easter. For memory, the wall is very hard, it doesn't seem to be drywall, but a kind of cement, so it would be hard to cut inside. In the mean time, I left a small window open so the mold doesn't expand.

 

[miamiparis]

Sometimes digging the soil away from a wall, applying waterproofing followed by a waterproof foam board to keep the water away from the foundation and a drain pipe to carry away any standing water will be enough.

It worked for me at my Condominium unit.

Thanks. What is the specialty name of a worker or company that does that? Mason? something else?