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05-16-2009, 02:37 PM
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#1
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Home Depot aisle walker
Trade:
home remodeling
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Tulsa OK
Posts: 906
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That old house smell
Any product out there to put in crawlspace etc that gets rid of it? Just bought an old fixer-upper, crawlspace is dry now but there is rot here and there, just getting the nasty out of the house for now.
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05-16-2009, 02:52 PM
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#2
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Handle It!
Trade:
Everything The Union Guys Do Not Want To Do
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Brooklyn, NY ~ Haverford, PA
Posts: 7,901
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Camphor and/or Sodium Bicarbonate should help.
Thymol if you can get it in quantity.
" The Ancient Egyptians used thymol and carvacrol in the form of a preparation from the thyme plant (a member of the mint family), because of their ability to conserve mummies. Thymol and carvacrol are now known to kill bacteria
fungi, and having made thyme well suited for such purposes. "
WIKI
Last edited by MALCO.New.York; 05-16-2009 at 08:22 PM.
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The Following User Says Thank You to MALCO.New.York For This Useful Post:
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05-16-2009, 03:06 PM
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#3
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Home Depot aisle walker
Trade:
home remodeling
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Tulsa OK
Posts: 906
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Thanks, I guess I'll get some Costco size boxes of baking soda and go nuts.
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05-16-2009, 07:39 PM
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#4
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The Duke
Trade:
Framing, Custom Carpentry, Architectural Design
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Maine
Posts: 3,778
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Quote:
Originally Posted by willworkforbeer
Any product out there to put in crawlspace etc that gets rid of it? Just bought an old fixer-upper, crawlspace is dry now but there is rot here and there, just getting the nasty out of the house for now.
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That's cat pee you smell.
__________________
If one advances confidently in the direction of one's dreams,
and endeavors to live the life which one has imagined,
one will meet with a success unexpected in common hours
~Henry David Thoreau
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05-16-2009, 08:13 PM
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#5
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Pro
Trade:
Sure, what you got?
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Auburn Indiana
Posts: 3,886
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I always thought the old house smell, smelled like money.
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05-18-2009, 06:44 AM
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#6
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ampman
Trade:
providing pathways for electrons and protons
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: central florida
Posts: 733
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MALCO.New.York
Camphor and/or Sodium Bicarbonate should help.
Thymol if you can get it in quantity.
" The Ancient Egyptians used thymol and carvacrol in the form of a preparation from the thyme plant (a member of the mint family), because of their ability to conserve mummies. Thymol and carvacrol are now known to kill bacteria
fungi, and having made thyme well suited for such purposes. "
WIKI
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conserve a mummy???
__________________
T.Boone Pickens " by buying foreign oil we are funding both sides of the war "
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05-18-2009, 09:42 AM
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#7
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Home Depot aisle walker
Trade:
home remodeling
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Tulsa OK
Posts: 906
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I guess I should have titled this thread, how much would it cost to get rid of old house smell.
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05-18-2009, 10:01 AM
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#8
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Pro
Trade:
Remodeling general
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Annapolis Md
Posts: 1,499
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Quote:
Originally Posted by willworkforbeer
I guess I should have titled this thread, how much would it cost to get rid of old house smell.
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treefiddy
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05-18-2009, 10:01 AM
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#9
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strat hd
Trade:
framing contractor , remodeler , GC occasionally
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 1,680
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Quote:
Originally Posted by willworkforbeer
I guess I should have titled this thread, how much would it cost to get rid of old house smell.
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Do it! do it! do it!
__________________
STRAT HD
Disgruntled citizen of North Mexico !! 
(Formerly the USA)
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05-28-2009, 11:51 PM
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#10
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Member
Trade:
Remodeling & Custom homes
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Hayward, CA
Posts: 41
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Hello everyone.
First off, thank you for all the info I've learned from this forum. I've spent the last 2 weeks just to read, read, & read, and still reading. So much useful info.   
Back to the old house smell. I'm actually living in one right now. I just bought it (60 years old) 5 months back. Moved in 4 months ago (no choice but).
The house has concrete slab, no attic. Just that old style 2x ceiling lumbers, with thick composite plywood top (1 1/2" I think). Then rolled asphalt roof.
I think the house had leaks before since I saw a lot of water streaks from the ceiling when I bought it. But they just covered it up with one layer of new roofing cement to make it looked like newly done.
So here's the problem: I didn't notice the bad smell until I've moved in about 1 week. When it's sunny, it's even worse. I tried to cover the ceiling with sheetrock (in 2 bedrooms of out 3). Still have the garage, master bed, & living/family/kitchen as is. ==> still smells bad. It smells like ... dryrot or mold or something.
The question is: is there any other solution to cure this other than sheetrocking the whole house (which may not work)? Is there any device I can buy to test to see if the air is contaminated with lead/abesto (I have a 2 months old boy)? (I take classes & certify in lead/asbestos abatement in near future if possible, so new equipment could help prepared).
Sorry for the lenghthy post. Thank you in advance for any help.
Nhi
Last edited by unhique; 05-29-2009 at 12:33 AM.
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05-28-2009, 11:57 PM
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#11
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Slow Roller
Trade:
Fan of Bodger
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 401
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wet insulation from leaks. backside of rock prolly festering with active mold
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The Following User Says Thank You to Crock For This Useful Post:
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05-29-2009, 12:16 AM
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#12
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Member
Trade:
Remodeling & Custom homes
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Hayward, CA
Posts: 41
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I know a neighbor of mine took the whole roof out & redid his plywood & shingle & stuff. Economy is down now. I don't plan to do any major remodel until 2 years up (so I can maybe sell it without capitol gain tax) or when the house price picks up again.
So, any remedy tips?
THank you.
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05-31-2009, 08:18 PM
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#13
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Member
Trade:
Remodeling & Custom homes
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Hayward, CA
Posts: 41
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I think I'm gonna try to just sheetrock the rest of the rooms, including my garage. The smell's so bad I can't stand it any more. Hopefully that'll fix the problem.
I probably try to attach some pictures up to see if anyone here has some experience dealing with the same situation before.
Thank you.
Nhi
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05-31-2009, 08:29 PM
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#14
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Member
Trade:
Remodeling & Custom homes
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Hayward, CA
Posts: 41
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"post stealer"
Sorry, just trying to get 15 posts.
__________________
Nhi
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05-31-2009, 09:59 PM
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#15
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Member
Trade:
Remodeling & Custom homes
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Hayward, CA
Posts: 41
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Ceiling pics
Here's my ceiling. First is living room's. Second is garage's. Smell so bad.
__________________
Nhi
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06-01-2009, 03:38 PM
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#16
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Home Depot aisle walker
Trade:
home remodeling
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Tulsa OK
Posts: 906
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I threw a bunch of baking soda under the house and keep the utility door closed, no smell!!
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06-01-2009, 05:22 PM
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#17
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Official CT Greeter!
Trade:
General Construction
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Canton IL
Posts: 590
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a friend of mine does pest control and uses a product called "odor bags" I used one it works great.
you can get them at cleartheair.com
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06-01-2009, 10:32 PM
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#18
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Member
Trade:
Remodeling & Custom homes
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Hayward, CA
Posts: 41
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Thank you.
This house has concrete slab.
I'll try both to see what's going on.
__________________
Nhi
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06-02-2009, 12:54 AM
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#19
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Pro
Trade:
Painting/Framing/Drywall/Tile
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: KC
Posts: 1,669
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keep your windows/doors open as much as possible. Other than that, replace the bad, seal up the leaks and go foward. Bout all I can say.
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06-02-2009, 03:06 AM
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#20
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General Contractor
Trade:
Residential & Commercial
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 1,316
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Quote:
Originally Posted by unhique
I think I'm gonna try to just sheetrock the rest of the rooms, including my garage. The smell's so bad I can't stand it any more. Hopefully that'll fix the problem.
I probably try to attach some pictures up to see if anyone here has some experience dealing with the same situation before.
Thank you.
Nhi
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I hope you don't mean sheetrock over everything without fixing the problem?
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