Help... There's "stuff" coming up through the slats in my hardwood floors.

odusgolp
odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
edited November 2024 in Chit-Chat
I have old hardwood floors from the 60's. They've been refinished, but aren't all as "tight" between planks as more contemporary floors might be.

Well, my old dog has a potty problem and designated an area in the dining room to pee when she can't hold it. I clean it (with vinegar & water) when I get home when this happens. Now, it hasn't happened in months, she has been good lately. The boards in this area are warped now, and some dark areas, but... whatcha gonna do.

Anyhow, that's not my question, and perhaps unrelated. I've notice that there's *kitten* creeping up between planks... a brown to white crusty uneven ... stuff. Mold?? Dirt?? I have no idea. When I wash it, it seems to appear a week later. It's clearly something "coming up" or "growing."

Anyone ever experienced such a thing? Ideas on how to stop it?

Replies

  • CallMeCupcakeDammit
    CallMeCupcakeDammit Posts: 9,377 Member
    I think your house is haunted.
  • BadassSavageVix
    BadassSavageVix Posts: 432 Member
    It sounds like some form of fungus. Whilst cleaning it will get rid of it the problem would appear to be below the level of the boards. The best option would probably be to take the boards up and treat whatever is underneath properly.
  • SwannySez
    SwannySez Posts: 5,860 Member
    So you have white crusty stuff in the gap on your hardwood floor? Maybe it would be helpful if you posted a photo.
  • Of_Monsters_and_Meat
    Of_Monsters_and_Meat Posts: 1,022 Member
    I'd vote for fungus as well.
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    I shall have to take a photo, Swanny.

    Vixen, Sadly, that's so not in the budget. If the floorboards have to come up, I will replace the whole floors with wood looking tile and... yeah... money.


    Damn lottery keeps evading me :(
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    Fungus does make sense. I hadn't thought of that.
  • deathninja82
    deathninja82 Posts: 108 Member
    Sounds like mould, any chance of a photo? Also what's under there, a void or foundation?
  • SwannySez
    SwannySez Posts: 5,860 Member
    edited April 2015
    Holy crap! There's another vixen on here besides @SuperVixen2B ? This does not bode well for MFP. Or UnderArmour. Or Louis Armour.
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    deathninja82 wrote: »
    Sounds like mould, any chance of a photo? Also what's under there, a void or foundation?

    It's laid atop a subfloor - basement joists beneath. If that answers the question. I will have to take a photo when I get home. I can't find anything on the internet that looks similar.
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  • MiloBloom83
    MiloBloom83 Posts: 2,724 Member
    What does it taste like?
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    BFDeal wrote: »
    Perhaps contact a licensed general contractor instead of asking members of a fitness website?

    Really? I'd NEVER thought of that. Thanks!

  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    MiloBloom83 wrote: »
    What does it taste like?

    The stuff that SkullShank used to stick El on me like a papoose....
  • melduf
    melduf Posts: 468 Member
    CallMeCupcakeDammit wrote: »
    I think your house is haunted.

    tumblr_mgjwn3nzYk1qki2c1o1_500.gif
  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    Probably a fungus of sorts. I'd call a cleaner like Blackmon Mooring or Stanley Steamer to take a look at it in case it's anything dangerous you shouldn't be touching yourself.
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    Its most likely wood decay fungus.
    And yes, the pH from dog urine probably helped.

    rotting-zombie.gif
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    hollydubs85 wrote: »
    Probably a fungus of sorts. I'd call a cleaner like Blackmon Mooring or Stanley Steamer to take a look at it in case it's anything dangerous you shouldn't be touching yourself.

    Right? We've already learned fungus loves me. Damnit.
  • SwannySez
    SwannySez Posts: 5,860 Member
    odusgolp wrote: »
    hollydubs85 wrote: »
    Probably a fungus of sorts. I'd call a cleaner like Blackmon Mooring or Stanley Steamer to take a look at it in case it's anything dangerous you shouldn't be touching yourself.

    Right? We've already learned fungus loves me. Damnit.

    This could, uh, explain a few things...
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    EvgeniZyntx wrote: »
    Its most likely wood decay fungus.
    And yes, the pH from dog urine probably helped.

    rotting-zombie.gif

    Now I'm going to have nightmares. Thank you.

    54388732.jpg

  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    I've made an appt. w/ Stanley Steamer. Maybe they can fix it...
  • deathninja82
    deathninja82 Posts: 108 Member
    These things can go either way, hope it's a quick, cheap fix for you.
  • SwannySez
    SwannySez Posts: 5,860 Member
    Steaming your hardwood floor. Good luck, Ms. Paltrow.
  • skullshank
    skullshank Posts: 4,323 Member
    odusgolp wrote: »
    MiloBloom83 wrote: »
    What does it taste like?

    The stuff that SkullShank used to stick El on me like a papoose....

    oh, so it's sweet with a tangy bite.

    get a spray bottle that has a "mist" setting. add one part chlorine bleach to one part ammonia.
    mist the areas and let it sit.
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    skullshank wrote: »
    odusgolp wrote: »
    MiloBloom83 wrote: »
    What does it taste like?

    The stuff that SkullShank used to stick El on me like a papoose....

    oh, so it's sweet with a tangy bite.

    get a spray bottle that has a "mist" setting. add one part chlorine bleach to one part ammonia.
    mist the areas and let it sit.

    Really? Cause I have that *kitten* sitting in my house right now and will gladly steam my... floors with it. I mean... mist them.
  • madmags
    madmags Posts: 1,340 Member
    10/1 water and bleach. Mist the area next time you clean it and whipe off the exess that is on the boards. If it is a mold or fungus, it will kill or inhibit it.
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    odusgolp wrote: »
    EvgeniZyntx wrote: »
    Its most likely wood decay fungus.
    And yes, the pH from dog urine probably helped.

    rotting-zombie.gif

    Now I'm going to have nightmares. Thank you.

    54388732.jpg


    tumblr_lns6e79ovp1ql39y3o1_500.gif

    tumblr_mxkx7hXAju1qes458o2_r1_500.gif
  • skullshank
    skullshank Posts: 4,323 Member
    madmags wrote: »
    10/1 water and bleach. Mist the area next time you clean it and whipe off the exess that is on the boards. If it is a mold or fungus, it will kill or inhibit it.

    what are you mixing, a cocktail?

    my recipe or gtfo.
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    odusgolp wrote: »
    skullshank wrote: »
    odusgolp wrote: »
    MiloBloom83 wrote: »
    What does it taste like?

    The stuff that SkullShank used to stick El on me like a papoose....

    oh, so it's sweet with a tangy bite.

    get a spray bottle that has a "mist" setting. add one part chlorine bleach to one part ammonia.
    mist the areas and let it sit.

    Really? Cause I have that *kitten* sitting in my house right now and will gladly steam my... floors with it. I mean... mist them.

    DO NOT DO THAT.
    TOXIC!!!!!

    http://chemistry.about.com/od/toxicchemicals/a/Mixing-Bleach-And-Ammonia.htm
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