Getting rid of super-strong pet odors in a rehab -your story?

Question

I'm about to rehab a property in need of odor remediation in a big way - cats. I got an estimate from Servpro, it's so bad. Every scrap of carpet and pad has to come out. Floors will be cleaned and sealed, surfaces and windows cleaned. There will be an ionization and thermal fogging. I think the ducts will need cleaning too - $$$$

I was wondering if anyone on BiggerPockets has any experience with Servpro's  odor remediation services, another company you'd recommend, or if you have a story to tell about what you did to get rid of really pungent odor in a rehab or a rental. What do you think about having the ducts cleaned as part of the cleanup? I'm in central Alabama. Thanks!

Jen R. · Answer

We rehabbed a house a couple of years ago with severe pet & smoke odor. In some rooms, we actually had to rip out drywall and subfloor because the urine had soaked through the subfloor and into the joists. Any remaining undamaged subfloor we primed with shellac (BIN) before putting new flooring down. Two years later and no issues. Good luck!

Dell Schlabach · Answer

I second Jens recommendation, definitely Bin Shellac, it is the best of the best, for sealing in blocking smells.  All the professional remediation guys I have talked to in our area use it. If is much better for sealing orders then any of the other oil base primers such as Kilz.

We have rehabbed quite a few cat peee houses where you could barely breathe when you went in, we will typically replace baseboards in problem areas and cut the drywall up about three inches or so, and then seal the areas with a couple coats of shellac.

Use your judgement on subfloor, if it is severe enough that it has soaked through it, needs  to be removed in order to get rid of the smell.

Steve R. · Answer

ducts have to be cleaned anyway since the filter is black

good idea to prime subfloor before putting new flooring

vacuum as much as possible in all little holes

all surfaces that are not being replaces wife out with 50/50 vinegar and water

ventilate as much as possible

and my favourite, look into investing into an ozone generator machine, you can get one online for 200-300 bucks,

with all that, you should have no problem

good luck

Marc Palizzolo · Answer

i rehab for a living.  most times renovation alone takes care of the problem but i had one house that was a bear.  after gallons of kills and new sheet rock and a ton of other options i was getting desperate.  my buddy sells to hotels and he gave me a box of solution that hotels put in their dumpsters to kill smell.  i thought no way will this work but i was amazed at how effective it was.

Lynn DeShazo · Answer

Thanks Marc and Steve. I may find some general labor to take out and haul off carpet and pad, since that's the biggest part of the Servpro estimate. But I would like  Servpro to do select items. I've heard thermal fogging is very effective in smoke remediation, so I think it would be worth it.

Lynn DeShazo · Answer

Thanks, Jen. I've heard about using shellac to seal subfloors, but didn't have someone's personal experience with it to go on.

Lynn DeShazo · Answer

Darryl, great advice thank you. This is a situation where cats have lived in the house - up to 3 - since 2001. The seller still lives there with one cat. I don't know how he lives there, because it'll make your eyes water. Thankfully, house is on a slab, and the vents are in the ceiling; story and a half with wood subfloor in upper level, plus bathroom tile. My question about duct cleaning is because I figured the HVAC has been circulating that odor for quite a while, and it might be an issue. The air filter looked pretty dark - lots of deferred maintenance here.

Darryl Putnam · Answer

Hi Lynn,

Servpro will be your highest dollar option. You can do much better.  Cat smells are the worse but can be dealt with.  It is good you are planning to rehab because most of what you will need to do you may have planned to do anyway.

To start the carpets and pads must go. This can be done by any demo company or day labor force.  Next you will need to look at other areas that maybe effected.  The cats like to pee in corner or up against something this usually means the walls.  Check the Sheetrock if it is soft it will have to be replaced.  If it is still firm but smells it will have to be sealed. Use a good odor blocking primer.  Zinnser makes several good products.  What I have done in the past is prime the sub floor four feet out from the walls and four feet up the Sheetrock in every effected room.

As far as the ducts if the cat have peed down the ducts that area will need to be most likely replaced. If they have not been pee in ducts just vacuum them as far as your vacuum can reach near the end of the project and they will be fine.

Good luck

Getting rid of super-strong pet odors in a rehab -your story?

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