# Mold under sink **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 27, 2015, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mold-under-sink/741449 "2015-12-27T04:40:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mold-under-sink/741449/21 "2015-12-31T02:50:06Z")
> [@guestchaz](#): > > mmmaybe, maybe not, it sort of depends on the type of floor in the kitchen, is it linoleum, laminate/pergo, tile etc. Does the flooring go clear under the cabinet/counter or just the underlayment? Again, this is just speculation, the possibility exists far as I can tell from over here that they may replace the entire floor as a necessary part of the over-all repair. This, in turn, may or may not involve moving the counter to replace any flooring or underlayment for the flooring that goes under it. > > As far as the roof and ceiling, I dunno, can’t tell without getting up there and looking at what is between the ceiling and roof. Why would there be a water line up there if you are on the top level? Is there a fire suppression system in this building? Solar panels for heating water perhaps? But my first wag is either an improperly done re-roof or roof repair. Possibly combined with a flat or very gently sloped roof over some portion of the building? Something that has some sort of façade or lip that would allow some water to collect? > > I’ve hogged the convo here, but I’m pretty sure FluffyBob has actually better info, since it sounds like he’s still doing that sort of work and repair work and I’m not. Don’t worry about hoggin the conv. You are quite welcome and encouraged to post. Hmm. I’m not sure I’m understanding you. About the floor. It seems to me the under sink damage has nothing to do with the floor. Unless there’s something I don’t know. The sink/counter area is against the wall. I don’t know how to access damaged areas behind but I don’t see how the linoleum floor walking area is affected. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mold-under-sink/741449/22 "2015-12-31T12:47:11Z")
water travels, sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly. A dishwasher with a leak can destroy a kitchen floor. Depending on a variety of factors it may take only a few days or weeks, or it may take a few months or a year but the water can and if left alone will travel under the flooring and underlayment throughout the entire room, under walls into adjacent rooms, down through the floor etc. That’s a big part of why I’m so vague about the ceiling also, perhaps the roof was repaired over the living room or bathroom or somewhere you wouldn’t think would affect your bedroom, but water might run along a truss before finally coming through into your room. I had a job that required the demolition of 1/3 of a living room because of a ceiling leak over the kitchen. the water traveled along a truss and left the kitchen unaffected. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mold-under-sink/741449/23 "2015-12-31T13:00:42Z")
missed the edit again dang it. Fluffybob mentioned taking off the toe-kick but didn’t really go into detail. I will post again later when I have more time unless he comes by and explains it. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mold-under-sink/741449/24 "2015-12-31T19:32:22Z")
I’m taking it that for you it’s a no-brainer that given a stain in your top floor ceiling you would not just get it painted. You would look into any recent roof repairs, call the city, condo assoc etc.? ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mold-under-sink/741449/25 "2015-12-31T22:09:06Z")
Sorry been working a lot this week. The toe kick is the part under the cabinet at the floor. Usually there is a rough kick or plinth that the cabinet sits on. After flooring is installed the finished toe kick is installed. Often this is just 1/8 or 1/4" material glued on. Sometimes it’s 5/8" particle board nailed on with brads. I use a glazing bar to carefully pry the kick off. Usually there is a gap at the top of it that you can get the bar into. If it is the thin material it is probably going to come off in pieces and will have to be replaced. Once you have it off you can cut or drill an access hole. You can sometimes just break out pull off the rough kick. Post a picture of you can ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2016, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mold-under-sink/741449/26 "2016-01-01T02:22:58Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > I’m taking it that for you it’s a no-brainer that given a stain in your top floor ceiling you would not just get it painted. You would look into any recent roof repairs, call the city, condo assoc etc.? Yes, I would start with the condo assoc to find out about the repair and replacement history of the roof. No matter what the source of the water you definitely want to find out where and what it is and has it been stopped before starting any sort of repair of the ceiling. Then, I would consider having the attic space inspected just to be sure the water intrusion is not ongoing, then paint, then watch for further signs of moisture as some leaks can be difficult to find and may be intermittent. If you do decide to have the attic space inspected, please consider having a specialist in water damage/mold remediation do the job. OH, something I didn’t make clear when talking about flooring and underlayment under the counters, sometimes the counters are set down on the subfloor and the underlayment and flooring butts up against the base of the counter. this however is not the usual, but seems like it was common enough that I wonder if at one time it was a standard practice. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mold-under-sink/741449.md?page=1)