Getting rid of the stink of Wood Preserver

Nov 26, 2013 3 Replies

Just redoing the bathroom and discovered that there must have been a small leak down the back of the bath at some point as the last two foot of a joist showed some minor signs of rot.



I scraped the rot away (really very minor) and, in the mistaken notion that I was doing the job properly, painted on a couple of coats of Cuprinol 5 Star Complete Wood Treatment.



It's this one, although the half-used can I had in the garage had been there a few years so may have a different formulation:



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Four days later the stink of solvents is permeating the house. I've flung the window open but as soon as you close it, the room smells like a cross between a petrol station forecourt and the Coalite plant in Bolsover.



Considering the tiny amount I used -- and that it's recommended for "floorboards and joinery", "roof timbers before laying loft insulation" and "buildings inhabited by bats" -- I'm amazed at the pervasiveness and persistence of the stench.



Anyone got any suggestions for getting rid of or minimising / masking the smell?



Thanks in advance.



I've not BTDT, but expect the one thing that would work would be heat. Maybe a hair dryer

NT

I've used it liberally when replacing facias, etc, although not directly inside habitable parts of the house, and I don't recall any strong smell. You probably just have to give it time.

It does smell pretty bad indoors for a day or two in summer when used on exterior woodwork. Never used it indoors and in winter, but I expect it might take quite a while for the solvents to evaporate completely (and I suspect the least volatile ones will be the smelliest).

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