Hello
In our 50s house, we have torn out the old tension paper that was on the walls and ceiling in a built-in closet. Before, it smelled quite musty, dusty, and slightly sweet in the closet. Instead, we put up white masonite boards on the walls and MDF panel on the ceiling. The air became much better, but now I notice another smell that I can mostly liken to metal or iron. And it appeared after the masonite... It's driving me crazy as I don't know where the smell is coming from! Ideas?
In our 50s house, we have torn out the old tension paper that was on the walls and ceiling in a built-in closet. Before, it smelled quite musty, dusty, and slightly sweet in the closet. Instead, we put up white masonite boards on the walls and MDF panel on the ceiling. The air became much better, but now I notice another smell that I can mostly liken to metal or iron. And it appeared after the masonite... It's driving me crazy as I don't know where the smell is coming from! Ideas?
I had masonite as a protection for my wooden floors during renovation. Noticed clearly when I removed them that the masonite smell disappeared. However, I have masonite on the walls in several rooms with wallpaper on, and it doesn't smell like the ones on the floors.
Really? Should I try them then? Wallpaper them in the closet... Yeah, because they still smell. But when I smell the boards on the wall, it doesn't seem like they smell. But it must be them because it started when we put them in.Torpälskare said:
You can always try, I was also thinking a lot about the smell but couldn't imagine it was the discs. But as I said, it disappeared when I took them out.
D DorisDoris said:
Or paint!
Did you think like me that they smelled like iron? I might have to try that.Torpälskare said:
Is bad at pinpointing exactly what it smelled like.
It seems more likely that you changed things in the closet that was previously airtight, and now it is not, allowing air/smell to penetrate from the floor/wall/ceiling. I have never felt that masonite smells of anything in particular. MDF, on the other hand, and especially if it is melanin-covered.
Previously, there was old stretched paper on the wall. But the closet stood for 2 days without the stretched paper before we put in the masonite. Then, there was no smell. But the smell came already the morning after we put in the masonite. Yeah... Sounds crazy but... must be that.Oldboy said:
Hm, Masonite boards, real original Masonite boards consist solely of pressed wood fibers held together by the wood's own lignin. Nothing that can smell. Nowadays, the industry manages to degrade most things, and probably even Masonite. I wouldn't be surprised if it's actually not Masonite but HDF, i.e., wood fiber/chips glued with synthetic glue. It's a faster and cheaper process.
I googled Masonite boards, and according to Beijer*, their "Masonite boards" are indeed glued with formaldehyde phenol. Just like most wood boards.
Boards sold in Sweden have a limit value, they must not emit more than 0.124 mg of formaldehyde/m3 of air, but that only applies to untreated boards. Treated boards, such as those coated with any surface, have no limit values. They are allowed to off-gas as much as they want. Formaldehyde can cause cancer and allergies.
This does not necessarily mean that it is actually the "Masonite" that smells, but it becomes infinitely more probable.
*Chose Beijer because they are reputable and you can quickly and easily find this type of information.
Edit:
Checked Tretex/porous board while I was at it. It is glued with lignin, which is the wood's own natural adhesive.
I googled Masonite boards, and according to Beijer*, their "Masonite boards" are indeed glued with formaldehyde phenol. Just like most wood boards.
Boards sold in Sweden have a limit value, they must not emit more than 0.124 mg of formaldehyde/m3 of air, but that only applies to untreated boards. Treated boards, such as those coated with any surface, have no limit values. They are allowed to off-gas as much as they want. Formaldehyde can cause cancer and allergies.
This does not necessarily mean that it is actually the "Masonite" that smells, but it becomes infinitely more probable.
*Chose Beijer because they are reputable and you can quickly and easily find this type of information.
Edit:
Checked Tretex/porous board while I was at it. It is glued with lignin, which is the wood's own natural adhesive.
It's not like you've bought oil-tempered board? It's the most common type in the market among the sheets that resemble masonite.
The smell of metal is often the smell of (metal) oxidized fat. And the oil-tempered board is treated with pine oil.
The smell of metal is often the smell of (metal) oxidized fat. And the oil-tempered board is treated with pine oil.
Last time I bought masonite from the local sawmill, it was Finnish, probably this one https://finnishfibreboard.com/technical/. It says it is made without additives.
Doesn't smell despite being oil-tempered and is much lighter in color than others I've seen (of the oil-tempered kind). I have it, among other things, loosely placed as a base for a cat tower in the bedroom, so I would have noticed any smell immediately.
Doesn't smell despite being oil-tempered and is much lighter in color than others I've seen (of the oil-tempered kind). I have it, among other things, loosely placed as a base for a cat tower in the bedroom, so I would have noticed any smell immediately.
No idea? Bought from the local carpentry shop.Claes Sörmland said:
Oh really.. Well, I don't know. Pretty strange. However, I might be oversensitive. Because no one else finds it smells remarkable. But I detect a distinct odor.MultiMan said: