help! bad smell after leveling compound

[daniel76]

Hello all knowledgeable people!
I have removed a plastic mat but the underlay remained glued. I then floated twice to get the right level (blame the inexperience). Unfortunately, the filler was a bit expired, so it took some time but eventually cured.

The problem now is that a week later there is a sharp pungent smell that bothers me enormously. I've ventilated a lot, but as soon as I close, it smells again. So now I want to know if this might just be like this and will stop after a while, or have I made a blunder? How can this be remedied in the smoothest way? I least of all want to chisel it up again. ALL suggestions appreciated!

 

[Locke]

Some spackling paste can very easily harbor bacteria. That might be what smells.

How to get rid of it, I don't know.

 

[vem_jag]

could the smell be coming from the drain. If you have removed, for example, the toilet, you no longer have a water seal and all the lovely aroma from the drain comes up into the room.

 

[daniel76]

no, there is no drainage so that is not the case. Regarding bacterial growth in the filler, it's obviously difficult to assess. I have a concrete slab, so there's no guess of mold growth in a wooden structure either. However, I have laid down floor plastic and a new wooden floor, and maybe I should have waited even longer for this?? However, it seems that people in general don't. I have installed the bed there now, but it doesn't feel completely okay with this smell.... what are the odds that it will just disappear?

 

[Bagarn1]

Leveling compound smells bad sometimes.. Some brands.

 

[daniel76]

the question is, in that case, how long is reasonable in these cases?

 

[jonegustafsson]

Moved a couple of rooms recently, it smelled strange for almost 3 weeks. Completely normal according to the tiler, whom I've known for 20 years...

 

[daniel76]

Thank you! Then I'll keep my fingers crossed that it disappears.

 

[Francisco Rubiano]

Hi Daniel
How did it go? Did the smell disappear? How long did it take?
I have the same problem - it's been 4 days now and I'm afraid to proceed to the next step until the smell stops. I'm worried that the smell will "get trapped" and won't disappear then....

 

[daniel76]

Hello Francisco Rubiano!

I was worried for a long time and also afraid to keep it inside
It took about three weeks before it completely disappeared
So apparently completely normal.

 

[kladde]

Should one wait to install the flooring until the smell disappears? Or is it okay to lay the flooring as soon as the filler has dried?

 

[SBH]

as soon as it has dried according to the putty's instructions, you can continue.

 

[AndersMalmgren]

Stay away from normal-drying leveling compounds and it will be done in a few days (i.e. use self-drying).