Project in Fremont, CA, March–October 2026

Water under a hardwood floor, dried and rebuilt

The floor looked fine from above. The meter said otherwise. We took the wet and moldy floor out, dried what was underneath, and laid a new hardwood floor, inlay border included.

1. First visit

   March 13, 2026

   We read moisture under the floor before touching anything. Under the boards, the meter went to the top of its scale.

2. Containment, tear-out and mold

   March 26, 2026

   Plastic walls closed off the work area from the rest of the house. The wet hardwood and the subfloor under it came out, down to the slab. There was mold under the floor; it came out with the wet wood.

3. Drying

   March 26–30, 2026

   Air movers ran over the open floor, and we kept taking readings on the slab before anything was closed up.

4. Rebuild

   August 21, 2026

   New hardwood went in with the inlay border laid again. The counter next to the floor got a new countertop and backsplash, with the cabinets wrapped while the work finished.

5. Restored

   September 2026

   Floor finished, inlay border back in place, kitchen open again.