I tore off a final small 5 cm piece of floor molding in a corner. To my surprise, I discovered it was moisture-damaged on the back (slightly discolored). The drywall behind the molding was also porous. When I started picking at the drywall, I discovered it was slightly yellowed and a stench spread.
It smells somewhat like a poorly cleaned public toilet. A slightly sweet smell, what I perceive as the smell of really old urine. The wood behind was discolored but not rotten.
Now my question is, could this be a "typical" moisture damage, which in that case I have no idea where it comes from, it is an interior wall, admittedly only about 30 cm from an inward corner on the outer wall. Or is it just what the smell indicates, old urine. According to reports, the previous owner was a bit bohemian, had about ten cats and one or more dogs, much to the neighbors' chagrin. The previous owner talked about having to decontaminate certain rooms from the smell of cat urine.
The bohemian owner moved out 23 years ago. The molding I removed has probably been there since a comprehensive renovation in 1960.
Can an ordinary water damage combined with decay (although it wasn't decayed) create such a smell, anyone know? And is it reasonable that old urine could still smell after almost 25 years?
If it seems likely that it's a typical water damage, I should investigate how it came about, so it's not something that needs to be addressed.
In connection with demolition work, I've found quite a serious moisture damage at the other end of the room; water from the kitchen's fridge and freezer had destroyed the sill on an interior wall. From there to this damage, it's 4 meters under a marble floor; that damage was very localized, affecting no more than about 50 cm away from the fridge and freezer. And above all, it didn't smell, even though the joist could be torn apart with fingers.
It smells somewhat like a poorly cleaned public toilet. A slightly sweet smell, what I perceive as the smell of really old urine. The wood behind was discolored but not rotten.
Now my question is, could this be a "typical" moisture damage, which in that case I have no idea where it comes from, it is an interior wall, admittedly only about 30 cm from an inward corner on the outer wall. Or is it just what the smell indicates, old urine. According to reports, the previous owner was a bit bohemian, had about ten cats and one or more dogs, much to the neighbors' chagrin. The previous owner talked about having to decontaminate certain rooms from the smell of cat urine.
The bohemian owner moved out 23 years ago. The molding I removed has probably been there since a comprehensive renovation in 1960.
Can an ordinary water damage combined with decay (although it wasn't decayed) create such a smell, anyone know? And is it reasonable that old urine could still smell after almost 25 years?
If it seems likely that it's a typical water damage, I should investigate how it came about, so it's not something that needs to be addressed.
In connection with demolition work, I've found quite a serious moisture damage at the other end of the room; water from the kitchen's fridge and freezer had destroyed the sill on an interior wall. From there to this damage, it's 4 meters under a marble floor; that damage was very localized, affecting no more than about 50 cm away from the fridge and freezer. And above all, it didn't smell, even though the joist could be torn apart with fingers.
probably it's the previous owner's room for the kitties you're rummaging around in :-[
maybe it's not so easy being a cat, and not making it out in time ;D
But sure, it lingers, the smell of cat piss, ugh yuck.
Otherwise, certain insulation can also smell like piss.
maybe it's not so easy being a cat, and not making it out in time ;D
But sure, it lingers, the smell of cat piss, ugh yuck.
Otherwise, certain insulation can also smell like piss.