I ripped a tile kitchen floor last week after the ice maker had been leaking for a while. The 3/8″ particle board underlayment was soaked and the plywood subfloor was wet. I’ve been running fans for the last two days and the subfloor has dried out and looks like it’s going to be ok. It’s water stained, but there’s no delamination and it feels solid.
My problem is what to do about the smell of the wet particle board. It’s all in the dumpster, but there’s a damp, moldy smell in the house and I don’t want to start rebuilding until I get rid of it. What’s a good way to get rid of that oder?
Thanks
Replies
Tie a string around the neck of a skunk.
Lead the skunk inside.
Now sling said skunk around a few times.
There you go. Wet, moldy smell all gone !!
Hey, it was better than just posting "bump" wasn't it ?
; )
Are we there yet ?
Have you updated your forum profile lately? Please Do!To set your email address, click on your own name on the screen. In the pop-up window, choose "My Prefs". At the very top of the window, you will then see the place to change your email address. Please make sure that you enter a current viable email address. Otherwise you will lose your current history when you re-register.
Or get a cat with an attitude ( don't ask). Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
What are dreadlocks made from?
Won't work, Sphere. She has one of those obnoxious, yippy, little dogs and a cat would probably eat it - lol.
I did, however, mention the skunk option someone else suggested. She gave me the weirdest look............. If we hadn't been neighbors for over 20 years, I suspect tht she would have given be the old heave-ho. - lol
There are several enzyme products available in pet stores and at vet clinics that will destroy animal by product smells. These products actually attack the residue----cat urine in concrete/dog urine in wood sub floors/etc.----and destroy it.
They are fairly inexpensive and might be worth trying for your problem.
IF you KNOW it's dry,I'd paint some poly over it. Both sides if possible. It will encapsulate the plywood. Just make sure it's dry or you got worse problems...
I'd try a bleach mixture in a spray bottle to kill any mold and then when that's thoroughly dry, paint with shellac (also is available in spray cans). Shellac is known for ability to encapsulate odors (used a lot where there've been fires and things smell of smoke).
Thanks, Danno. That's what I got from another forum. I'll probably spray the bleach solution today and paint the water stained area on the floor with a shellac based primer tomorrow.
Looks like this job is going to be a good one. The HO is my next door neighbor and (since her kitchen is blown up already), she's working up a list of other stuff she wants to do "while we're at it" - lol. We're going shopping today so she can pick out tile, hardwood flooring, new interior doors, etc.
I think I'm about to get spoiled. I have another job for the neighbor across the street (bathroom floor, new vanity, replacement windows and patio door). I'll be walking to work for the next few weeks and NOT burning a lot of $2.50/gal gasoline. Ahhh, life is good - lol.
That's what I got from another forum.
Traitor. Blasphemy. Sacrelige.
Do they use a better provider than prospero?
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
WebX.........
Joe H
After I said what I said, I read something else here about treating stuff with borates and such and someone mentioned that bleach won't kill mold spores. But it always makes me feel better--like I've done something, and the mold shouldn't be able to grow any more now that the source of wetness has been removed. Kilz (pigmented shellac) would also work for encapsulating the odor.
I've never succeeded in getting really mouldy wood to stop smelling. Hardest problem to solve in this business, IMO.
There's an old chest of drawers sitting out on my back deck; a truly loverly piece of furiture. Solid maple thru-and-thru; hand-carved drawer fronts and legs, yadda yadda. Family heirloom, too. Put many many hours of hand-work into stripping off a gazillion layers of paint and staining it. Bought hand-made porcelain drawer pulls for it, to. It was supposed to go in Ryan's room when he was born.
But after four weeks of trying everything in the world (and then some!) to get the nasty smell outta the drawers, I hauled it outside, screwed the drawers shut, and plonked a piece of CBU on top of it. We use it to hold up the barbeque. Stinks too bad to be inside under any circumstances. (The flying squirrels don't mind; they nest in the drawers--get in from underneath the carcase....)
Let me know if the shellac idea works. That's one I didn't try....
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.