Moisture Resistant Chipboard Flooring Fumes

Joined
15 Aug 2005
Messages
1,630
Reaction score
6
Country
United Kingdom
Recently replaced the old damaged floorboards in a bedroom with this stuff. Haven't carpeted it yet as it was just going to be a "chill room" for me. Problem is, the stuff stinks. Have put air fresheners in the room to mask the smell but I can still feel and taste the effects of the "fumes". Any ideas how long this is likely to last? Any chance I could seal the surface with paint or emulsion. Don't really want to be pulling out for carpets just yet if I can help it.

TIA
 
Sponsored Links
Yeah, that's the stuff.

I think it doesn't half pong. Maybe it's just a natural chipboard smell? Either way, it doesn't agree with me.
 
Any chance I could seal the surface with paint or emulsion. Don't really want to be pulling out for carpets just yet if I can help it.

TIA
Yes you can seal it with one of the Zinsser products. I did the same to a whole room of T+G flooring with a damp problem affecting the boards.(y) Not emulsion !
 
Sponsored Links
Hi Nige F. I've got some Bullseye 123. It says primer sealer on the tin. I'll give that a go. Cheers.
 
maybe it's something in the glue? chipboard is basically sawdust glued together. You would't expect something nasty in flooring nowadays, but anything's possible.

Although on that note, for around than twice the price, you can get plywood flooring sheets which are a million times better than chipboard, the only downside is they're not t&g so you have to cut them a bit to join over a joist. But that is a good thing anyway.
 
The issue is at least partly ventilation. Vent the room out for a few weeks (as would happen on a new build) and the smell will go. Using air freshener sprays, etc to mask the smell doesn't really get rid of the resin smell from the chipboard. As said above, if you can't ventilate (and it is winter so I can understand that) then sealing with any form of oil-based finish or a shellac sealant will be the next best thing

BTW John, I can assure you that plywood also smells - albeit not as much as chipboard, costs at least 3 times as much as chipboard and for several years now hardwood plywood for sub-flooring has been coming in with 1 to 3mm difference in thickness (seems that 18mm varies a bit in China), so you invariably end-up having to put a layer of SLC/latex on top to get a nice flat floor for carpeting. Not a problem for commercial floorers, but elsewhere? Go to Brazilian plywood and that's a lot more consistent - but at 4 to 5 times the price of chipboard
 
Last edited by a moderator:
John and JobAndKnock

Just read a couple of interesting articles concerning off/out gassing of particle board products.

Looks like ventilation might be the way forward for now.

This was supposed to be my bolt hole away from the missus and her TV programmes. At least someone gave me wireless headphones for Xmas. Spotify, here I come.
 

DIYnot Local

Staff member

If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.

Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.


Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local

 
Sponsored Links
Back
Top