Hello,
I am new here and not sure if this is the right place to ask.
I have a big problem and am getting desperate.
Situation: A relative inherited a house and converted it into two apartments. Since we no longer got along with the previous tenants of the old apartment, we decided to move in there. Because a man with a dog had lived in the apartment before, it was in rather poor condition.
So we renovated the entire apartment together with the landlord.
Flooring:
Laminate was installed over a stone floor.
Only the kitchen has vinyl flooring.
Walls:
In the hallway, we decided to cover the walls with textured plaster.
All other rooms were freshly wallpapered.
Of course, all old wallpaper was carefully removed beforehand and the new wallpaper was professionally installed.
We only painted the ceiling.
There was no moisture in the apartment, and it was ventilated well throughout the summer.
The electrical wiring was also newly installed beforehand.
Now, the problem. After moving in, we started noticing an unpleasant smell in the apartment.
The first thought was, of course, that it’s a new place and everything still smells new. But after about six weeks, the same smell is still there or maybe even worse.
When you stay in the apartment for about five minutes, you no longer notice the smell — it becomes familiar.
But when you leave the building, the clothes smell strongly, musty. We all have office jobs and have already been addressed by friends about the strange odor on our clothes. Sometimes the smell is even noticeable on newspaper left on the table for a day.
It feels like the smell is everywhere in the apartment.
Of course, moisture measurements have already been taken, but all results were fine.
We have tried vinegar, coffee, and various air fresheners, but without any success.
P.S.: The apartment is ventilated well every day.
Maybe someone with expertise can help me here...
Thanks in advance for any answers!
Best regards, Manu
I am new here and not sure if this is the right place to ask.
I have a big problem and am getting desperate.
Situation: A relative inherited a house and converted it into two apartments. Since we no longer got along with the previous tenants of the old apartment, we decided to move in there. Because a man with a dog had lived in the apartment before, it was in rather poor condition.
So we renovated the entire apartment together with the landlord.
Flooring:
Laminate was installed over a stone floor.
Only the kitchen has vinyl flooring.
Walls:
In the hallway, we decided to cover the walls with textured plaster.
All other rooms were freshly wallpapered.
Of course, all old wallpaper was carefully removed beforehand and the new wallpaper was professionally installed.
We only painted the ceiling.
There was no moisture in the apartment, and it was ventilated well throughout the summer.
The electrical wiring was also newly installed beforehand.
Now, the problem. After moving in, we started noticing an unpleasant smell in the apartment.
The first thought was, of course, that it’s a new place and everything still smells new. But after about six weeks, the same smell is still there or maybe even worse.
When you stay in the apartment for about five minutes, you no longer notice the smell — it becomes familiar.
But when you leave the building, the clothes smell strongly, musty. We all have office jobs and have already been addressed by friends about the strange odor on our clothes. Sometimes the smell is even noticeable on newspaper left on the table for a day.
It feels like the smell is everywhere in the apartment.
Of course, moisture measurements have already been taken, but all results were fine.
We have tried vinegar, coffee, and various air fresheners, but without any success.
P.S.: The apartment is ventilated well every day.
Maybe someone with expertise can help me here...
Thanks in advance for any answers!
Best regards, Manu
S
Schestak9815 Nov 2017 12:10All doors are clean, and we also cleaned them again before moving in due to dust and such.
I would say I have a good sense of smell and cannot identify the window as the source of the odor... that is actually the problem everywhere, you can't find a spot where the smell is strong.
I would say I have a good sense of smell and cannot identify the window as the source of the odor... that is actually the problem everywhere, you can't find a spot where the smell is strong.
hanse987 schrieb:
Could it be that mice have hidden somewhere? Due to your renovation work, they can’t get out and are now slowly decaying?But that would have to be quite a large nest if the whole apartment smells. What about the heating system? Are all the pipes sealed? Could there be a leak? Heating water can also smell terrible if it escapes.
Schestak98 schrieb:
Flooring:
Laminate was installed over a stone floor.
Only vinyl in the kitchen.
Was a vapor barrier installed underneath?
If not, the laminate might be absorbing moisture from below (otherwise, you would probably notice swelling damage on the surface first).
Or could it be a marten / raccoon and its "prey" in the attic? (you would likely hear noises at night... if it’s still alive).
Or: a defective silicone seal on a shower tray (possibly above you?) and water is finding its way through...
G
garfunkel15 Nov 2017 14:23A vapor barrier is only necessary if the screed is not yet fully dried. Therefore, in most older houses, a vapor barrier can generally be omitted.
It is possible, however, that cleaning introduced so much water into the screed, or even underneath it, that it now causes odors.
How was the floor cleaned, and when was it installed?
I don’t think it’s dead animals; that usually smells different and much stronger.
A silicone seal on the shower tray could also be a source, but in that case, the smell would primarily occur in the bathroom.
I would recommend checking these two points carefully.
It is possible, however, that cleaning introduced so much water into the screed, or even underneath it, that it now causes odors.
How was the floor cleaned, and when was it installed?
I don’t think it’s dead animals; that usually smells different and much stronger.
A silicone seal on the shower tray could also be a source, but in that case, the smell would primarily occur in the bathroom.
Schestak98 schrieb:
We feel that when we turn on the heating, it gets worse.
The same with clothes: when it’s cool, they smell less than when you’re in a warm room.
Schestak98 schrieb:
The house had problems with the wastewater, but everything was supposedly cleared by the drain cleaner.
The smell is musty, old, simply put, I don’t know how to describe it... damp, like sometimes in old grandmothers’ houses if the apartment isn’t well ventilated.
I would recommend checking these two points carefully.
B
bierkuh8315 Nov 2017 22:02Is this an old house with a cesspool for wastewater? Maybe a ventilation valve is missing? I would look in that direction, especially since you say there is a smell coming from there.
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