World Traveling Military Family

There's a Whole Lotta Rotting Going On

Something smells funny around here....

I am sure y'all are surprised that we've had a 'break' from the housing woes...I mean I'm a bit surprised myself after our run the first year (1 year as of Feb 2011).  No, the A/C issue never really got resolved but after a creative suggestion from a friend we've 'fixed' the problem so we're now comfortable, which is always good.  This new issue doesn't even involve the A/C, which is a good thing.

It all started last Friday night when the tub in the master bath would not stop leaking.  I'm not talking about the usual 'drip, drip, drip' kinda issue, I'm referring to a constant small stream of very hot water continually splashing into the tub.  This was compounded by the fact that it's literally feet away from our bed and the noise was driving us crazy and keeping us up at night!!  I tried putting a towel down for it to splash on, but even that attempt couldn't muffle the sound.  Then I tried using a sponge, still no relief.  Finally Saturday night in desperation I put a pillowcase over the whole faucet and it finally muffled the sound some by letting the water run down the pillowcase instead of splashing, it was still noisy but much more tolerable for sleeping.  I called it in first thing Monday morning to housing to get maintenance out here.

As I was over next to the tub trying desperately to find a way to stop the leaking I noticed that when I stepped next to the toilet, the floor gave a little and felt squishy.  This was a weird feeling so I was concerned. I got down next to the tub and looked at the linoleum (which is horrendously UGLY) in the corner and noticed I could lift it right up, what I seen was NOT pretty!!! The wooden floor was soaked and rotten, and it even looked moldy!  This was not from a few days of water...this is some years of damage!  Mac, who's breed is referred to an 'earth dog' and LOVES the smell of soil, dirt, grass, ect. is going crazy trying to get under the linoleum and smell it!!

I immediately called housing back and put in the new work order.  Which of course if you know about military housing and work orders you know that there is always some drama with getting it completed...we finally had someone come out this morning (Wed) and he will be back Monday to tear up the bathroom and figure out the issue and fix the problem.  Not sure how long it will take to fix but during that time we'll all be using 1 bathroom to bathe in, although I am thankful that we also have a 1/2 bath downstairs because 1 bathroom with 5 people is just down right inconvenient.

When Mr. B came home that night I showed him the floor and he touched it with a butter knife and it sunk in a good ways.  Then he tried it near the tub and it whole butter knife went through, scary!!  I'm assuming it's safe enough that we won't fall through the floor anytime in the near future, but Monday can't get here soon enough!  Sure with the 'average' family it would be fine but with my accident prone one it makes me a bit concerned, LOL.

A friend made a good point the other day when I told her about the situation and she told me not to let Boo anywhere near the bathroom, and of course she's right, all we need is for him to fall through the floor!! Thankfully Boo uses the hall bathroom (aka the 'kids bathroom') but even if he didn't he would be during this...I'm not about to take any chances as he's gimpy enough as it is right now!! Now all I need is some yellow caution tape to tape off the area, LOL!

Here are a few pictures:

The ugly floor before being exposed

Ewww,  what used to be the sub floor...and no I didn't tear up the floor, the maintiance guys must have been messing with it to see the extent of the damage

Even the bottom of the ugly linoleum looks gross!

posted by Mrs. B @ 9:38 AM