Sorry if this is considered inappropriate, but I asked this question in the flooring forum but noone has come up with any ideas, so I hope you may be able to help more.
The problem is how to dry wet floorboards which extend under other flooring.
In more detail, I have a shower room, in which vinyl flooring has been laid on 6mm plywood (I think - this predates our getting the house) on top of the floorboards, which are suspended on joists about 15in above ground level. This vinyl and ply goes around the shower tray base surrounds. I've just had to get under the shower tray, and on removing the tray surrounds, it seems the seal between the base and the surrounds has failed some time ago, with the result that the bit of the floorboards in the gap is soaking with damp. I don't know how far it has spead under the ply, but it doesn't seem to have spread past the batten used to brace the surround. So:
any advice on the best way of drying out these floorboards?
If I can't dry them out is there any wood preservative I can use to soak into the damp boards to stop any rot starting?
Any other suggestions?
Note the shower is out of use until I can get the floorboards dry, put the base surrounds back and seal it properly this time.
I don't want to have to remove the vinyl flooring and hardboard and then have them reinstalled if it isn't necessary.
The problem is how to dry wet floorboards which extend under other flooring.
In more detail, I have a shower room, in which vinyl flooring has been laid on 6mm plywood (I think - this predates our getting the house) on top of the floorboards, which are suspended on joists about 15in above ground level. This vinyl and ply goes around the shower tray base surrounds. I've just had to get under the shower tray, and on removing the tray surrounds, it seems the seal between the base and the surrounds has failed some time ago, with the result that the bit of the floorboards in the gap is soaking with damp. I don't know how far it has spead under the ply, but it doesn't seem to have spread past the batten used to brace the surround. So:
any advice on the best way of drying out these floorboards?
If I can't dry them out is there any wood preservative I can use to soak into the damp boards to stop any rot starting?
Any other suggestions?
Note the shower is out of use until I can get the floorboards dry, put the base surrounds back and seal it properly this time.
I don't want to have to remove the vinyl flooring and hardboard and then have them reinstalled if it isn't necessary.