I hope I am in the correct spot for this because it is a how to or how to know kind of question. Our home burned severely a year ago. A coffee maker cord shorted out and caught other materials in the kitchen on fire, it was completely investigated, by everyone including the arson guy, known as the special investigator. I am also certified in UL explosion proof certification, and in the business for decades and understand what a short circuit is, why it is so possibly serious, and how it happens. What I don't know is once all that is understood, then the rebuilding process starts and once debris removed the cleaning and prep work begins. THe builder we were assigned by the insurance company had some weird ways of doing things, but I and my agent and her office Manager just happened to walk in when the builder was spraying "kilz like product" and sprayed it everywhere, attic, hardwood floors, into new and old electrical boxes, I have photos that are nothing short of shocking. Turns out after a week this massive amount of paint/primer is not drying, more months still tacky, now we suspect a big time problem. MY agent is insisting I fire this preferred service provider of theirs because of this mess and others not so bad prior, which I probably tried to give the benefit of the doubt to,. I just hated the idea of changing builders, not that I really trusted this one, but it is months, now and nothing is being done, samples are sent to the manufacturer they say stop do not install sheetrock over tacky paint for various reasons, so that is held up, and also they bring up the fact there is a possible electrical fire consideration. Which I could also see, if there were thinner in this primer sure there is a bigger chance of an electrical arc starting a fire inside a box and if you have ever been in fire you never want to be in one again. We lost our oldest pet dog, the most serious injury, very sad, but I made it out, and thankfully no on else was home by minutes. When the manufacturer of the primer gets back to us with this electrical warning, which also goes passed the possible solvent in the product, causing it to not cure or dry with months of temperatures in the hundreds, there is the tacky issue that collects particles, of all kinds some paper some easier to ignite than others but they do not dwell on that, they are more concerned with the immediate chance of solvents in the primer because it was smoke remediation they assumed as we all did, that the primer was solvent based. I do fire the builder on the advice of my agent, but no one had a resolution for this tacky primer. Upon hearing of the fire warning from the manufacturer, the fired builder tells me there is no fire potential because he used water based primer, so water no fire hazard, I know stupid but a big ole CYA. So I spend a thousand dollars and send samples to a forensic and criminology lab in Texas. They send a report back, and state Kilz only makes three choices of smoke remediation primer, the primer is tacky, not a big concern, but they were lacking some of the photos of the fuzz all in these electrical boxes. The report also states you have more problems that just the the tacky primer, which they cannot determine why it remains not drying, because they have no sample of the original container it came out of and could not be sure if we got a a container because there is no way to tell if it is or is not the REAL containter. The thousand dollar report goes on to say, your bigger problem is this is water based primer and not one of the recommended products which are oil based. Now comes the big questions, no one had any experience with smoke remediation where a water based primer was used. I am told it is the backbone of any smoke remediation process, passed cleaning and obtaining what the smoke consisted of which never happened. So now we have house with water based primer everywhere, a report from the forensic lab, that says my biggest problem is the water based product and not so much the tackiness. The second builder touches up some areas with oil based spray cans, wipes clean as they could the wires in the switch and outlets boxes and proceed to finish the home. My problem is I am being sued, because I signed the authorization to pay, the first builder, [really against my own opinion of paying anything] my attorney says to sign it, return it to the insurance but he took out the word satisfied, which is in the paragraph. Now the insurance refuses to pay the builder though I really think nothing should be paid, but agreed but because of the satisfied not being removed, no payment and now the first builder is suing me directly. So I have all this advice, but no one can tell me what will happen with this water based primer. The technical literature states it will bleed through, we have the words recommended from the lab, which if you read through the context means no warranty, but my attorney insists there is no proof of damage even though there is proof of damage. Plus I have to disclose all reports in Missouri, before selling if ever, even the lab report, with the wrong primer report. Finally my bottom line question, individually the lab and painters everywhere say and agree it is all wrong, but at the time sand or bead blasting was not a option they thought it would stick to the tacky wrong kilz, I thought of cryo blasting but I know what a mess that can be, and because they soaked the upper level of our walkout home, it is so soaked even cryo blasting could not say how much blasting would have to be done, and if even they could get to all the nooks and crannies.
So my attorney wants me to tell him what happens when water based primer is used for smoke remediation, because all the other painters and lab say it is not the right stuff, it will bleed through, it may not smell now but bet your butt it will someday. By the way this was a year ago, and it is still sticky especially on the romex. How do I tell when or what will happen with the water based primer? Is there a way to tell, measure, test, that is more layman like? I get it, but he says I must prove the damage and how much damage, and I am without a clue. I know only certain accredited people can deem a house safe to inhabit, but I have no way to know if someone with allergies moves in, and or buys this property might not have a problem. I mean I know I have to disclose the fire and have no problem with it, and no problem with disclosing the lab reports, but in the meantime what is going to happen or is there any cure sorry for that, or method to be measured on the water based kilz as far as the amount of damage? We know it is damaged but how much or what? I was told to come here because of all the experience, someone or likely more than one someone can shed some light on this water based smoke remediation that is not smoke remediation. Very tough and long question, but here I am being sued for having a bad contractor. Everyone agrees, but no one can be specific on what to tell to do now. I know I may have to pay another expert, and no problem or collect enough valid opinions or experience may work. Again the question comes up, does it smell in there? Well yes and no, I am a bad one to ask, but my wife asked me the other day if I had used the fireplace downstairs, and no I had not. I think I smell smoke and on days where it more high pressure outside than low pressure, I know to notice this because the house has always been fairly tight, and why it seems I can smell smoky on nice days versus not nice days, I do not understand. Thank you for your patience, we live in Missouri nothing says I have to be satisfied I did pay sign the release to pay but they just insist I will be satisfied, or they won't pay what turns out to be a two man band and the insurance has no idea how they ever got vetted in the first place, I asked but now that this is going on, no one replies to anything, actually no one ever has committed to much of anything, I have never been sued, my Wife is a nervous wreck, just lost her Mother, life is hell and we need guidance or how to if there is a how to in such a convoluted situation.
So my attorney wants me to tell him what happens when water based primer is used for smoke remediation, because all the other painters and lab say it is not the right stuff, it will bleed through, it may not smell now but bet your butt it will someday. By the way this was a year ago, and it is still sticky especially on the romex. How do I tell when or what will happen with the water based primer? Is there a way to tell, measure, test, that is more layman like? I get it, but he says I must prove the damage and how much damage, and I am without a clue. I know only certain accredited people can deem a house safe to inhabit, but I have no way to know if someone with allergies moves in, and or buys this property might not have a problem. I mean I know I have to disclose the fire and have no problem with it, and no problem with disclosing the lab reports, but in the meantime what is going to happen or is there any cure sorry for that, or method to be measured on the water based kilz as far as the amount of damage? We know it is damaged but how much or what? I was told to come here because of all the experience, someone or likely more than one someone can shed some light on this water based smoke remediation that is not smoke remediation. Very tough and long question, but here I am being sued for having a bad contractor. Everyone agrees, but no one can be specific on what to tell to do now. I know I may have to pay another expert, and no problem or collect enough valid opinions or experience may work. Again the question comes up, does it smell in there? Well yes and no, I am a bad one to ask, but my wife asked me the other day if I had used the fireplace downstairs, and no I had not. I think I smell smoke and on days where it more high pressure outside than low pressure, I know to notice this because the house has always been fairly tight, and why it seems I can smell smoky on nice days versus not nice days, I do not understand. Thank you for your patience, we live in Missouri nothing says I have to be satisfied I did pay sign the release to pay but they just insist I will be satisfied, or they won't pay what turns out to be a two man band and the insurance has no idea how they ever got vetted in the first place, I asked but now that this is going on, no one replies to anything, actually no one ever has committed to much of anything, I have never been sued, my Wife is a nervous wreck, just lost her Mother, life is hell and we need guidance or how to if there is a how to in such a convoluted situation.
