I had some work done on a small foyer (6' x 8') that included
replacing worn vinyl flooring with vinyl tiles. The old flooring was
laid over particle board with glue, so left a rough surface when
scraped up. The new tiles were self-stick, but the old surface was too
rough, so the contractor used mastic over the self-stick adhesive.
When he was done, the foyer stunk of rotten fish. Honest to god, it
smells like bad sardines. I brought it to his attention, but he blew
it off as if it were nothing unusual and I was just complaining about
the smells of paint and turpentine. I've been doing, or having done,
home repairs for over forty years, and believe me when i say I have
never smelled anything remotely like this.

It's been three days with a fan circulating air through the foyer, but
it still stinks. I'm beginning to suspect one of the workmen left a
tuna sandwich in the air duct as a prank

Anyone ever experienced anything like this?

Richard Evans wrote:

I had some work done on a small foyer (6' x 8') that included
replacing worn vinyl flooring with vinyl tiles. The old flooring was
laid over particle board with glue, so left a rough surface when
scraped up. The new tiles were self-stick, but the old surface was too
rough, so the contractor used mastic over the self-stick adhesive.
When he was done, the foyer stunk of rotten fish. Honest to god, it
smells like bad sardines. I brought it to his attention, but he blew
it off as if it were nothing unusual and I was just complaining about
the smells of paint and turpentine. I've been doing, or having done,
home repairs for over forty years, and believe me when i say I have
never smelled anything remotely like this.

It's been three days with a fan circulating air through the foyer, but
it still stinks. I'm beginning to suspect one of the workmen left a
tuna sandwich in the air duct as a prank

Anyone ever experienced anything like this?

I don't know what product he used, but some of them are pungent. Also,
things smell different to different people--my wife complains bitterly
about things that don't bother me or I can't smell at all. If the
contractor didn't think there was a problem, then there probably isn't,
(as long as he's honest). You might simply be sensitive to a chemical
that other people can't smell.

That doesn't help you with your problem, though. Since the floor is
down, you have no choice but to air it out until the smell abates.
Since it's covered up, it will take much longer to cure. I would give
it a couple of weeks. I can smell oil paint curing for a couple of
months.

If the problem doesn't get gradually better, call the contractor back
and ask him to fix it.

--
Steve Bell
New Life Home Improvement
Arlington, TX

"SteveBell" wrote:

Richard Evans wrote:

I had some work done on a small foyer (6' x 8') that included
replacing worn vinyl flooring with vinyl tiles. The old flooring was
laid over particle board with glue, so left a rough surface when
scraped up. The new tiles were self-stick, but the old surface was too
rough, so the contractor used mastic over the self-stick adhesive.
When he was done, the foyer stunk of rotten fish. Honest to god, it
smells like bad sardines. I brought it to his attention, but he blew
it off as if it were nothing unusual and I was just complaining about
the smells of paint and turpentine. I've been doing, or having done,
home repairs for over forty years, and believe me when i say I have
never smelled anything remotely like this.

It's been three days with a fan circulating air through the foyer, but
it still stinks. I'm beginning to suspect one of the workmen left a
tuna sandwich in the air duct as a prank

Anyone ever experienced anything like this?

I don't know what product he used, but some of them are pungent. Also,
things smell different to different people--my wife complains bitterly
about things that don't bother me or I can't smell at all. If the
contractor didn't think there was a problem, then there probably isn't,
(as long as he's honest). You might simply be sensitive to a chemical
that other people can't smell.

If so, my wife has the same sensitivity. Maybe I'll have a couple of
the neighbors come over for a sniff test.

On Sat, 23 Aug 2008 13:07:20 -0400, Richard Evans
wrote:

"SteveBell" wrote:

Richard Evans wrote:

I had some work done on a small foyer (6' x 8') that included
replacing worn vinyl flooring with vinyl tiles. The old flooring was
laid over particle board with glue, so left a rough surface when
scraped up. The new tiles were self-stick, but the old surface was too
rough, so the contractor used mastic over the self-stick adhesive.
When he was done, the foyer stunk of rotten fish. Honest to god, it
smells like bad sardines. I brought it to his attention, but he blew
it off as if it were nothing unusual and I was just complaining about
the smells of paint and turpentine. I've been doing, or having done,
home repairs for over forty years, and believe me when i say I have
never smelled anything remotely like this.

It's been three days with a fan circulating air through the foyer, but
it still stinks. I'm beginning to suspect one of the workmen left a
tuna sandwich in the air duct as a prank

Anyone ever experienced anything like this?

I don't know what product he used, but some of them are pungent. Also,
things smell different to different people--my wife complains bitterly
about things that don't bother me or I can't smell at all. If the
contractor didn't think there was a problem, then there probably isn't,
(as long as he's honest). You might simply be sensitive to a chemical
that other people can't smell.

If so, my wife has the same sensitivity. Maybe I'll have a couple of
the neighbors come over for a sniff test.


Don't give any suggestions to them. See if they come up with "rotten
fish" smell.

Richard Evans wrote:
"SteveBell" wrote:

Richard Evans wrote:

I had some work done on a small foyer (6' x 8') that included
replacing worn vinyl flooring with vinyl tiles. The old flooring was
laid over particle board with glue, so left a rough surface when
scraped up. The new tiles were self-stick, but the old surface was too
rough, so the contractor used mastic over the self-stick adhesive.
When he was done, the foyer stunk of rotten fish. Honest to god, it
smells like bad sardines. I brought it to his attention, but he blew
it off as if it were nothing unusual and I was just complaining about
the smells of paint and turpentine. I've been doing, or having done,
home repairs for over forty years, and believe me when i say I have
never smelled anything remotely like this.

It's been three days with a fan circulating air through the foyer, but
it still stinks. I'm beginning to suspect one of the workmen left a
tuna sandwich in the air duct as a prank

Anyone ever experienced anything like this?
I don't know what product he used, but some of them are pungent. Also,
things smell different to different people--my wife complains bitterly
about things that don't bother me or I can't smell at all. If the
contractor didn't think there was a problem, then there probably isn't,
(as long as he's honest). You might simply be sensitive to a chemical
that other people can't smell.

If so, my wife has the same sensitivity. Maybe I'll have a couple of
the neighbors come over for a sniff test.



More likely the contractor has been using the glop for years, and his
nose is either fried, or he is just used to the smell. (I still
remember, as a kid, thinking the guy setting bathroom tile with brown
mastic, no respirator, and not even a fan running, was just a little
'off'. All the grownups on the construction sites gave that guy a wide
berth- in retrospect, I think the fumes fried his brain.)

I'll note in passing- the self stick and standard mastic may or may not
be compatible. If old floor was too rough, particle board should have
been removed and replaced, or covered over with 1/4 luan plywood or
something. OP is braver than me- I'd never use self-stick tile next to a
weather door in a high-traffic area. A patch that small, a sheet vinyl
remnant would have been a better solution. If the new floor has to be
ripped out, they should look into that for the rework, as well as using
a different contractor.

--
aem sends...

Richard Evans wrote in
:

I had some work done on a small foyer (6' x 8') that included
replacing worn vinyl flooring with vinyl tiles. The old flooring was
laid over particle board with glue, so left a rough surface when
scraped up. The new tiles were self-stick, but the old surface was too
rough, so the contractor used mastic over the self-stick adhesive.
When he was done, the foyer stunk of rotten fish. Honest to god, it
smells like bad sardines. I brought it to his attention, but he blew
it off as if it were nothing unusual and I was just complaining about
the smells of paint and turpentine. I've been doing, or having done,
home repairs for over forty years, and believe me when i say I have
never smelled anything remotely like this.

It's been three days with a fan circulating air through the foyer, but
it still stinks. I'm beginning to suspect one of the workmen left a
tuna sandwich in the air duct as a prank

Anyone ever experienced anything like this?


Just your luck! Previous Chinese ship cargo must have been fish.

aemeijers wrote in
:

Richard Evans wrote:
"SteveBell" wrote:

Richard Evans wrote:

I had some work done on a small foyer (6' x 8') that included
replacing worn vinyl flooring with vinyl tiles. The old flooring
was laid over particle board with glue, so left a rough surface
when scraped up. The new tiles were self-stick, but the old surface
was too rough, so the contractor used mastic over the self-stick
adhesive. When he was done, the foyer stunk of rotten fish. Honest
to god, it smells like bad sardines. I brought it to his attention,
but he blew it off as if it were nothing unusual and I was just
complaining about the smells of paint and turpentine. I've been
doing, or having done, home repairs for over forty years, and
believe me when i say I have never smelled anything remotely like
this.

It's been three days with a fan circulating air through the foyer,
but it still stinks. I'm beginning to suspect one of the workmen
left a tuna sandwich in the air duct as a prank

Anyone ever experienced anything like this?
I don't know what product he used, but some of them are pungent.
Also, things smell different to different people--my wife complains
bitterly about things that don't bother me or I can't smell at all.
If the contractor didn't think there was a problem, then there
probably isn't, (as long as he's honest). You might simply be
sensitive to a chemical that other people can't smell.

If so, my wife has the same sensitivity. Maybe I'll have a couple of
the neighbors come over for a sniff test.



More likely the contractor has been using the glop for years, and his
nose is either fried,

Wonder if OP noticed a coke spoon in pencil slot of tool pouch.

or he is just used to the smell. (I still
remember, as a kid, thinking the guy setting bathroom tile with brown
mastic, no respirator, and not even a fan running, was just a little
'off'. All the grownups on the construction sites gave that guy a wide
berth- in retrospect, I think the fumes fried his brain.)

I'll note in passing- the self stick and standard mastic may or may
not be compatible. If old floor was too rough, particle board should
have been removed and replaced, or covered over with 1/4 luan plywood
or something. OP is braver than me- I'd never use self-stick tile next
to a weather door in a high-traffic area. A patch that small, a sheet
vinyl remnant would have been a better solution. If the new floor has
to be ripped out, they should look into that for the rework, as well
as using a different contractor.

--
aem sends...

Richard Evans wrote in
:

"SteveBell" wrote:

Richard Evans wrote:

I had some work done on a small foyer (6' x 8') that included
replacing worn vinyl flooring with vinyl tiles. The old flooring was
laid over particle board with glue, so left a rough surface when
scraped up. The new tiles were self-stick, but the old surface was
too rough, so the contractor used mastic over the self-stick
adhesive. When he was done, the foyer stunk of rotten fish. Honest
to god, it smells like bad sardines. I brought it to his attention,
but he blew it off as if it were nothing unusual and I was just
complaining about the smells of paint and turpentine. I've been
doing, or having done, home repairs for over forty years, and
believe me when i say I have never smelled anything remotely like
this.

It's been three days with a fan circulating air through the foyer,
but it still stinks. I'm beginning to suspect one of the workmen
left a tuna sandwich in the air duct as a prank

Anyone ever experienced anything like this?

I don't know what product he used, but some of them are pungent. Also,
things smell different to different people--my wife complains bitterly
about things that don't bother me or I can't smell at all. If the
contractor didn't think there was a problem, then there probably
isn't, (as long as he's honest). You might simply be sensitive to a
chemical that other people can't smell.

If so, my wife has the same sensitivity. Maybe I'll have a couple of
the neighbors come over for a sniff test.




I wouldn't be bringing up about rotten fish smell around women there
Richard!