Quoted:
Any tips for restoring a flooded basement, DIY style?
Non-sewage drainage backed up into my basement (I live in downtown Louisville) to the tune of 5+ feet of water at its peak. The sump pump is removing the water as I type this, but other than calling someone like ServPro, what are my options?
My insurance has a $10k limit on water damages such as this, so the more work I can do myself the more I can use toward new A/C, water heater, and refrigerator (Which were all completely submerged).
I was thinking a pressure washer on a low setting? The walls of the basement are some kind of porous stone (limestone, I think). Maybe a mild bleach solution to head off any mold or mildew.
Anybody have an experience with these sorts of things?
Well, I'd start with at least a medium duty dehumidifier.
Set it at it's lowest % setting, turn the fan to high, and let it run full time.
Make sure to attach the hose to drain into the sump.That will dry it out very well, but beyond that I don't know. I guess the question becomes "Is there any growth?"
If there isn't then there isn't, and by removing the moisture condition I would think that there wouldn't be.
Hit the walls with Lysol perhaps? Or "seal" them with a DryLok paint or similar.
You can wash the floor and walls, but bear in mind that you're going to make it wet
again and also may remove mortar and shit like that.
A rubber floor squeegee to get the water to the sump is also necessary IMO.
And I'm not sure running bleach through a pressure washer would be conducive to it's longevity.
Not sure, but bleach is corrosive and seals don't tend to like it much.