Can a bad smell get embedded in wood??

[yell01]

I had this bad smell under our raised bar that had been going on for years. The old owner allegedly tried to find the problem but couldn't. The smell would get pulled along a the metal studs under the bar and out openings at the far end. If the exhaust fans in the kitchen were off or the back door was open it was o.k. but if the door was closed it was terrible.

Yesterday it was so bad I got head cook who used to do hardwood flooring and his friend to come in after we closed and open the floor to see what we could find. Eventually we found an open p-trap under the bar. We opened the floor above it and it was bone dry. Had it capped this morning and the smell seemed to be gone even with the back door closed.

There is one area where to two low walls meet and the top caps butt up to each other and there is a slight gap between them. I don't notice the smell anywhere in the bar but if I get right down to the gap I can smell it a little bit but nothing even remotely close to what it was

Is it possible that the smell could've permeated the wood and will take a few days to completely clear up??

[CertInsaneC5]

Yup. Should be gone after awhile. :cert:

How's business been so far Frank? Been awhile since I have seen you post up.

[mrvette]

Yup. Should be gone after awhile. :cert:

How's business been so far Frank? Been awhile since I have seen you post up.

UHHH, lemme guess, buzzy trying to run a buzziness.....:shots::shots::cert::lol:

[yell01]

Yup. Should be gone after awhile. :cert:

How's business been so far Frank? Been awhile since I have seen you post up.

Cool, wasn't sure but was hoping that was the case.

It's going great! I have been really busy but not necessarily the working AT the restaurant part but the working ON the business. Getting to a point now though that it's much calmer and steamlined. :cert:

[DAB]

Wood can hold odors.

Vinegar might help kill the smell. Also can rub with salt.

That's how you get smells out of wood cutting boards.

[CertInsaneC5]

Wood can hold odors.

Vinegar might help kill the smell. Also can rub with salt.

That's how you get smells out of wood cutting boards.

But would they absorb gases from the pee trap like the bacteria you can get in cutting boards? Does not sound like there was any moisture involved here. :island14:

[yell01]

But would they absorb gases from the pee trap like the bacteria you can get in cutting boards? Does not sound like there was any moisture involved here. :island14:

No moisture. Just the smell getting pulled under the floor between the metal floor joists and out through trim pieces and this cap rail.

Would I just put some in a bottle and spray it??

[DAB]

There is humidity in the air. That's sufficient.

Yes, I'd try spraying some vinegar and see if that helps.

Also get a little fan to move the air around. Turn it on at night. Check next morning. Also, put out a box of arm and hammer baking soda. That will help absorb odors too.

[yell01]

There is humidity in the air. That's sufficient.

Yes, I'd try spraying some vinegar and see if that helps.

Also get a little fan to move the air around. Turn it on at night. Check next morning. Also, put out a box of arm and hammer baking soda. That will help absorb odors too.

Actually the fans in the kitchen keep the air moving beneath the floor but maybe I'll put a box by where the p-trap is. The rest of the floor is sealed back up.

[63C2splitter]

My brother bought a house that had once had a fire in the kitchen wall. On humid days, you could get a smell of the burnt wood. He finally tore out the sheet rock during a remodel, and replaced the scorched 2X4s that ,next to where the fire was (the burnt boards were replaced, but the scorched ones left). There is a sealer that is supposed to block the smell from burnt wood, but he didn't want to go back in if it didn't work.

[yell01]

Ozone bomb it. It's unsafe to be around but it works incredibly well if you can stay away a few hours for it to dissipate.

Interesting. Are there companies that do this??

[Grey Ghost]

Interesting. Are there companies that do this??

Machine. I have one and used it in a car interior.

[Sea Six]

I had a bad smell embedded in my wood once. I'm not saying how it got in there, but it was in there... deeply and permanently. Reeeeallly got worked in but good.

Imagine onions gone bad. :ack:




I just kept washing it, alternating one hand for the other when the one got tired. Kind of a soapy, kneading motion. Lotsa hot water.


Eventually the natural odor of my wood took over the foreign odor (maybe Mexican or some kinda Spanish I think).


:)

[Sea Six]

Also, my balls itched.

:yesnod:

[Sea Six]

:funny:

[Ol Timer]

I had a bad smell imbedded in my wood once.

Imagine onions gone bad. :ack:




I just kept washing it, alternating one hand for the other when the one got tired. Kind of a soapy, kneading motion. Lotsa hot water.


Eventually the natural odor of my wood took over the foreign odor (maybe Mexican or some kinda Spanish I think).


:)

:funny:

You are one severely twisted amigo. :needcoffee:

[JRD77VET]

You are one severely twisted amigo. :needcoffee:

Dain bramage :yesnod:

[yell01]

Machine. I have one and used it in a car interior.

You are one severely twisted amigo. :needcoffee:

He smelled the toxic p-trap for too long. :slap:

[Dave]

Is it visible? You can always seal that wood with something like Kilz

[Aerovette]

Buy a can of coffee and pour it on the spot and leave it for a while.

[Sea Six]

Dain bramage :yesnod:

Actually it's Tanqueray tonight. :funny:

+1 on the use of a commercial ozonator. It's a property manager's best friend.