I recently moved into a older home. This bathroom was not used very much until I had a few visitors. I started noticing the hard wood florring around the bottom of my toilet was wet and it seemed to spread fast. We turned the water off, pulled the toilet up, and popped the flooring up and the ring seems fine but the concrete around the toilet is very soft. I also noticed very small "fluke like" black parasites under the wood. What do you think is going on and how much do you think this will cost? Thank you!

Hello there! This is a good question. The black parasites could be formed from bacteria. The water that comes out of your toilet comes from the sewer line - yuck! The bacteria can form parasites such as the ones you are seeing. You're going to need to dry the floor, and also clean it with a disinfectant. Then you can reseal.

Here is a nice article that explains the process of how to dry and how to disinfect the floor.

How to dry and disinfect your hardwood & solid wood flooring (http://www.flooringprocess.com/water-damaged-floor-how-to-clean-disinfect-remove-water.php)

Thank you!

Then reinstall with a NEW wax ring.

Never heard of bacteria turning to either parasites or insects. Disinfect and kill the bacteria and the insects, regardless of what they are, with bleach.

I'm more interested in the "soft concrete". Is this a basement toilet? No toilet is going to stay sealed long if the floor flange is not secured to the floor, and the toilet secured to the flange.

If those black parasites take off and fly you have a drain fly infestation. Brain's correct. Reinstall with a new wax ring. Good luck, Tom

I think we have 3 guys giving great answers and one making stuff up faster than heck. Carlann, you are saying you have an older home with hardwood on concrete, right? Any chance of a picture and is the toilet bend cast or PVC and is it set in the concrete?