Concrete Under Carpet Smells

Positive results from a mold testing kit.

Concrete under carpet smells.

Concrete isn t a material that you associate with absorbing smells but it can happen occasionally. You can use a mold testing kit to test the airflow across a carpet. Look for any musty odors or discolored patches on the underside of the carpet which are definite signs of mold growth. Concrete s porous nature means that water from under your home can seep up through your concrete floor making it damp.

Sweep off the scrapings and ensure the surface is tidy before starting. We removed all the tiles and this seemed to remove the smell. Concrete floor carpet that is attached to a concrete floor is usually held down by adhesive. It is important to remove the damp smell and prevent it from coming back.

Concrete absorbs spills animal urine odors even mcocs or vocs other concrete odors may be traced not to the concrete itself but to substances that have been absorbed into the concrete such as animal urine chemical spills or cleaning products. Since concrete isn t really an absorbent material removing the smell is generally as easy as cleaning its cause. We washed the floor and aired the room again for a long time and then put down a carpet with underlay. Because when you put carpet which is largely an organic material against those damp moist concrete slabs bad things happen.

Often found in basements and garages the unpleasant floor smell can emit throughout the entire house. If it has been damp the concrete may have a musty mildewy smell. Moisture in a concrete subfloor for moisture to accumulate between the concrete slab and the flooring it needs to find its way to that middle layer. Lift your carpet and thoroughly examine the floor under it.

So we really don t like carpet on concrete slabs. The floor itself is concrete and had tiles on top of it apparently the original ones from when the bungalow was built it is a 1960s bungalow. The mold spores if any will land on the testing kit and multiply. You get mold and mildew growth you get allergens that form you re going to get dust mites things like that.

This can cause issues with mold and mildew especially if you have carpet or. This makes the home feel unclean and uninviting. If gasoline or oil spill they can leave an odor as well. Remove any resinous substances stuck on the floor surface such as the previous carpet glue by scraping.

Unfortunately when you remove the carpeting to replace it the adhesive usually does not come off with the carpet in all areas.