Question:
I have an area of plywood (I know, sorry, not real wood) that has been soaked due to a slow plumbing leak. How do I dry it up?
Many thanks
Answer:
Dear Jeanette
Plywood is real wood. And to dry it you must expose as many sides as you can to moving, dry air. The heating season we are now in will help a lot. But put fans on it, and under the area in the basement too. This will prevent mold from growing. It will take several weeks to a month to fully dry. After it has dried out you may find that the plywood has delaminated, and may need a piece of it replaced. You can tell if it has delaminated when you push hard on the surface and the plywood feels spongy. This is a simple project anyone with basic carpentry skill can do.