Smell in Room after Cellulose Insulation Put down in Attick

[Paul Needham]

Well, yes, I am a new member but not new to forums.
We took the offer from next step living in Massachusetts.
They sprayed in such as shown in this link:
http://www.nextstepliving.com/home-s...nsulation?zip=

However, ONE corner bedroom has become a nightmare.
It has a "sweet" smell and both my wife and I get "dizzy" when we are in there for more
than 10 minutes. It was to a be a sewing room for my wife.
Now its a toxic waste room.

We have brought in two environmental specialists at XX.00 per visit, bought an ionizing machine
and yet its still there. They can't find anything.

Our guesses are:
1. The new cellulose insulation above, some outgassing that won't stop
2. The new vinyl floor, put in for comfort but can they smell ? Click floor like laminate only thick vinyl with wood grain finish
3. The new kitchen cabinets from KD boxes from China, but have been built for a year and "aired" out.

Yet, here it is 15 months later and she can't use the room.

What we have not done:
1. had the cellulose checked for coatings and outgassing
2. had holes put in the walls to check for leakage of something toxic
3. not yet taken out the flooring or the cabinets. (I am ready to start with the flooring first, since its lumber liquidators materials)

Nothing has come out of the professional probes or analysis of cans left there.

Any clues ? Has anyone had this before ? That is why we love forums for problem solving.

Sincerely,

Paul, frustrated homeowner.

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[Brian Hannigan]

Hi Paul Needham and welcome to InspectionNews!

I'm Brian Hannigan and I created InspectionNews.

I hope you find everything you are looking for on this site.

If I can help you in any way just let me know.

As a "Thank You" for making your first post I have a gift for you. You can pick it up at:
http://www.SendYourFreeCard.com

[Jerry Peck]

Let's see:
- a) You and your wife get dizzy.
- b) That makes it a toxic waste room.
- c) We don't do toxic waste here - the EPA governs toxic wastes.

[Garry Sorrells]

Paul,
Your cabinets are made of particle board. The glue/resins used may be a source.
The flooring has various chemicals used in their construction, yet another source.
The insulation is probably the last on the list of possibilities for the smell.

You might think of reversing your installation of materials in that one room, one item at a time, with a waiting period to see if there is a change in your reaction while in the room.

Polyurethane glues, caulks and adhesives can give off a smell for quite some time. If there is a heat source near it can heighten the gassing-off of the chemicals and solvents used.

The insulation may now be trapping a smell that had not been noticed due amount of air exchange that was taking place.

If you replaced the windows the installers may have used a sealant or some type of insulation that is still gassing off.

Oddly enough the issue may be generating from some other location than that specific room.

If you ventilate the room for 24 hrs and then close it up, how long does it take before you exhibit symptoms?

Your situation is one that can generate a non ending list of possibilities and conjectures.

Develop a logical systematic plan to isolate the root cause then hope for the best.

[Raymond Wand]

http://www.healthyhouseinstitute.com...n-Installation

Search Google - Cellulose Insulation off gassing.

[Raymond Wand]

Have the insulation removed.

[Scott Patterson]

Has anyone done a simple air test? You need to test for VOC's and formaldehyde.

- - - Updated - - -

Has anyone done a simple air test? You need to test for VOC's and formaldehyde.

[Raymond Wand]

Tell us more about the house...

1. Age of house
2. Is there vapour barrier in place
3. How is the house heated
4. Drywall ceiling or wood
5. Upgraded windows, upgraded insulation in walls
6. Is the attic ventilated
7. Are you certain there are no critters in the attic area, such as squirrel, chimpmunk or mice or coons?
8. Since cellulose is shredded news paper it is possible there is something in the printing inks offgassing, has anyone analyzed the contents of the cellulose?

[Bryce Jeffrey]

Check this out.


http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/blog/is-spray-foam-safe

[Bryce Jeffrey]

Now what did that add to this thread????

[Raymond Wand]

We are dealing with cellulose, not spray foam.