We have a house with a slab foundation, uninsulated underneath. Studs directly on the slab with wooden shims underneath, pressure-treated sole plates (with a sill gasket between the slab and the sole plate). During the inspection, it was noted as 12% in the sole plate outside. The inspector did not notice any microbial odors or chemical scents during the check.
A few days after moving in, we noticed a strange smell near the baseboard in the ground floor bedroom. The bedroom has exterior walls on two sides. It smells mostly in a corner where the exterior and interior walls meet. We had two different moisture meter guys come over for other reasons who didn't think it smelled like mold or treated wood. They thought the smell would improve once we got our mechanical ventilation running (which it hasn't improved). One of the guys measured 9% moisture in the interior wall sole plate.
The thing is, we were stressed by the smell, so we decided to cut open a section of the floor and wall behind the baseboard. When my partner made the hole in the wall (exterior wall), he accidentally made a tear in the plastic sheeting behind the thick plywood panel (We don't have drywall...). After a few days of feeling and smelling, we concluded that we didn't see or smell anything that could be mold, everything was dry and fine, and my partner repaired the hole and floor.
Now I think it smells more sour in the room, a smell that comes and goes. I wonder if it could be because we pierced the plastic sheeting? That warm air is now meeting cold and the condensation from this is getting into the insulation... My partner thinks I'm being silly because moisture would form on the plastic sheeting anyway based on my claim... and that the plastic sheeting is only there to prevent getting fiberglass on yourself...? He also says that the plastic must have holes in several places, considering there are holes from shelves and paintings, etc. I understand it might be hard to give an answer, but from what I read about plastic sheeting in walls, holes are not good from a moisture perspective, and my partner finds it unlikely.
A few days after moving in, we noticed a strange smell near the baseboard in the ground floor bedroom. The bedroom has exterior walls on two sides. It smells mostly in a corner where the exterior and interior walls meet. We had two different moisture meter guys come over for other reasons who didn't think it smelled like mold or treated wood. They thought the smell would improve once we got our mechanical ventilation running (which it hasn't improved). One of the guys measured 9% moisture in the interior wall sole plate.
The thing is, we were stressed by the smell, so we decided to cut open a section of the floor and wall behind the baseboard. When my partner made the hole in the wall (exterior wall), he accidentally made a tear in the plastic sheeting behind the thick plywood panel (We don't have drywall...). After a few days of feeling and smelling, we concluded that we didn't see or smell anything that could be mold, everything was dry and fine, and my partner repaired the hole and floor.
Now I think it smells more sour in the room, a smell that comes and goes. I wonder if it could be because we pierced the plastic sheeting? That warm air is now meeting cold and the condensation from this is getting into the insulation... My partner thinks I'm being silly because moisture would form on the plastic sheeting anyway based on my claim... and that the plastic sheeting is only there to prevent getting fiberglass on yourself...? He also says that the plastic must have holes in several places, considering there are holes from shelves and paintings, etc. I understand it might be hard to give an answer, but from what I read about plastic sheeting in walls, holes are not good from a moisture perspective, and my partner finds it unlikely.
The plastic that is there is indeed a vapor barrier, just as you mentioned.
When reassembling the inspection hole, the damaged piece should have been taped together.
At the same time, it is just as he says, that the plastic is often punctured for various reasons.
You write that you have changed your ventilation to mechanical? What did you have before? What has been done?
When reassembling the inspection hole, the damaged piece should have been taped together.
At the same time, it is just as he says, that the plastic is often punctured for various reasons.
You write that you have changed your ventilation to mechanical? What did you have before? What has been done?
Just as GoForit writes above, your partner is wrong and the plastic is there for a reason. It should have been taped together with age-resistant tape before the wall was closed up.
However, I am quite sure you don't need to worry. Above all, there's no chance that the hole has already caused enough moisture for a microbial or chemical smell to have started already.
It sounds a bit like you are new to this whole house thing, smelling and sniffing and worrying unnecessarily. There's nothing strange about it; I think many people are like that when they move into their own house for the first time (I was the same myself).
However, I am quite sure you don't need to worry. Above all, there's no chance that the hole has already caused enough moisture for a microbial or chemical smell to have started already.
It sounds a bit like you are new to this whole house thing, smelling and sniffing and worrying unnecessarily. There's nothing strange about it; I think many people are like that when they move into their own house for the first time (I was the same myself).
Thanks for the answer! The room is used as a playroom for the children. When it comes time to use it as a bedroom, we/an expert will tear down floors and walls to ensure that nothing is affected. We've had lots of friends over who say there is no smell in the room, but if you smell down by the baseboard, it does smell... musty. So something is probably amiss, but since it hasn't affected things or clothes in the room, we hope the extent is very small. But yes, we are new to this with houses and slab on grade might not have been the smartest purchase. On the other hand, the house is from '78 and has made it this farV vectrex said:
If the house has been without ventilation at all for 10 years, it should have started to mold a long time ago. At least if you believe the experts who talk about moisture convection and the importance of negative pressure in the house.
But that works poorly...Emara said:
Ah! Okay, no they have only used natural ventilation so no supply air vents installed at all. So the smell remains a mystery for now
Then you need to install supply air vents in bedrooms and living room. Exhaust in kitchen and bathroom (+ possibly laundry room).
probably the vent pipes are a bit grimy too.
if the ventilation has been at a standstill for a long time
if the ventilation has been at a standstill for a long time
If you don't have intake vents, it's not unlikely that musty air is being drawn in through gaps between the floor and walls. You need vents to bring in fresh air to replace the air that is being ventilated out.Ah! Okay, no, they've only used natural ventilation, so no intake vents installed at all. So the smell remains a mystery for now