Need some advice re Zinsser BIN and Odours

Adamadam20

So my downstairs neighbour (who has recently passed) was a very heavy smoker with mental health issues. He stayed at home all day, with windows and blinds closed and unwashed. This has over the years created a disgusting smell that just started permeating my apartment above a couple of months back. A mix of stale cigarettes, body odour and god knows what else.

FYI no shared vents, pipes or cracks. Not coming through closets or other enclosed spaces.

After some extensive research a week ago I sealed the floors with 4 coats (yes, 4 coats) of Zinsser BIN with a vinyl sheet on top. It helped, but not enough for me to sleep in the most effected rooms. It is milder for sure but I want to completely eliminate all odours.

So it is now either still coming up through the floors (unlikely with the 4 coats and vinyl, right?) or through the walls. There is no other pathway for the smoke to be coming up here until his apartment is cleaned.

I am thinking to seal the walls in my bedroom and hallway with another two coats of Zinsser BIN.

Any advice?

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Emmia

Adamadam20 said:

So my downstairs neighbour (who has recently passed) was a very heavy smoker with mental health issues. He stayed at home all day, with windows and blinds closed and unwashed. This has over the years created a disgusting smell that just started permeating my apartment above a couple of months back. A mix of stale cigarettes, body odour and god knows what else.

FYI no shared vents, pipes or cracks. Not coming through closets or other enclosed spaces.

After some extensive research a week ago I sealed the floors with 4 coats (yes, 4 coats) of Zinsser BIN with a vinyl sheet on top. It helped, but not enough for me to sleep in the most effected rooms. It is milder for sure but I want to completely eliminate all odours.

So it is now either still coming up through the floors (unlikely with the 4 coats and vinyl, right?) or through the walls. There is no other pathway for the smoke to be coming up here until his apartment is cleaned.

I am thinking to seal the walls in my bedroom and hallway with another two coats of Zinsser BIN.

Any advice?

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I would (in addition to painting) seal around any corners, door frames, skirting boards (essentially any areas where two things join) with decorators caulk, before over painting the walls  with the Zinsser BIN.

You're probably a bit sensitised to the odour, so the tiniest crack will let in something you can perceive.