Hi. I have a question about dealing with a “musty odor” left over from some interior water damage. My daughter’s house had a exterior balcony that had age-related damage that resulted in leakage during heavy rains that flooded some interior rooms. After professional water removal, drying, removal of wood floors installed on slab, etc…there is a musty odor wafting from the floor area. They are going to remove the remaining baseboards and maybe sheetrock up to above the base plate lines to check for anything left in the wall cavities.
Lets say it continues to smell musty in the wall cavities. What is the best way to neutralize the wood in there, and/or the best way to seal the wood so old odors will not keep seeping out? Also, what about the slab? The new wood flooring installers don’t want the slab sealed with anything because they are afraid that a sealer will interfere with the glues they use. Any advice on that?
Thanks. Jerry G
Replies
Jerry
Check the Bostic adhesive site for something that is compatible with your flooring and the concrete below. Possibility that they have something that will seal out moisture migration ( and odor ).
What is the flooring?
Odor Problem
Thanks Calvin. They have eliminated the slab as the odor source. So they are concentrating on the wall cavities...baseboard, lower part of studs, lower sheetrock, etc. What will neutralize the wood in there, and what will best seal the wood in there to trap any residual musty smell, so they can close it up with new sheetrock, and baseboard, etc? Thanks, Jerry G.
The problem is that even if the slab is not the odor source, it is a moisture source, and on-going moisture "feeds" the musty smell.
Jerry,
Unscented Febreze works great to destroy odor enzymes. Baking soda helps to absorb them also. We did an Under ground shooting tunnel that was flooded and these two things got rid of most of the odor. We ran a dehumidifier also.
Painting with either shellac or a shellac based primer like Zinnser Bin seals the mold spores in after treatment with a moldicide. Boracare with Moldcare would be one solution.
http://www.solutionsstores.com/Boracare_with_Mold_Care_p/nisu002.htm
KK
Odor Problem
Thank all of you for the good advice. I have a lot to work with now. The rooms are still open and airing for a while longer. So, there is time to seal the slab and neutralize and seal the wood. No one found anything on the sheetrock. Bless you all for sharing your knowledge and skills. Jerry G
Get a commercial ozone
Consider a commercial ozone generator (available to rent) if it has been determined that the this is a legacy problem. There may be mildew problems behind the walls causing the odors, and that will need to be rectified before any good results will happen. The wood should be treated with a mildew destroying solution (not standard household bleach).
Before you recommend ozone generation please read this.
http://www.michaelandson.com/plumbing_services.html
Sorry, I don't see anything about ozone on that site. Ozone isnt a panacea, but it is effective, with some negatives.