House treated for woodworm and now unliveable due to the chemical smell

Joedavis

I bought a house a few months ago and there were some signs of woodworm in the floorboards. Woodworm specialist companies recommended spraying all of the floorboards. I went along with it on the understanding that it was necessary and would only disrupt things for a few days. Now, a week after it was done, there’s a really strong pesticide smell in the house and I’m unable to spend any time there as I find mucous gathers in my throat and I feel ill. 

I’m not sure what to do about this. I have since read about the treatment and I regret not having read more before agreeing to it as I now feel the chemical spraying is heavy handed and unnecessary.

Is this smell likely to ever go away? I’m thinking of replacing the floorboards in one room at a time. This will be extremely costly but I feel like it might be the only way to get the house liveable again. I also thought that perhaps I should complain to the company that did it as I was told the house would be safe to return to after four hours. I don’t think it’ll be safe to return to after four months, personally. 

WIAWSNB

Has it dried? If so, I'd hope that under-carpet lining paper - I think designed to cut down draughts and dust - laid tight against the skirtings, and then underlay and carpet - or whatever your chosen flooring - should sort it.
Was it water or spirit based insecticide? The former often just has a light soapy smell, not unpleasant. The latter will smell more strongly and be far less pleasant, but should largely dissipate once it dries.

marcia_

Joedavis said:

I bought a house a few months ago and there were some signs of woodworm in the floorboards. My father (ex-builder) got several woodworm specialist companies to inspect and they recommended spraying all of the floorboards. I went along with it on the understanding that it was necessary and would only disrupt things for a few days. Now, a week after it was done, there’s a really strong pesticide smell in the house and I’m unable to spend any time there as I find mucous gathers in my throat and I feel ill. 

I’m not sure what to do about this. I have since read about the treatment and I regret not having read more before agreeing to it as I now feel the chemical spraying is heavy handed and unnecessary. And I now feel less keen on the house as it’s been doused in harmful chemicals. 

Is this smell likely to ever go away? I’m thinking of replacing the floorboards in one room at a time. This will be extremely costly but I feel like it might be the only way to get the house liveable again. I also thought that perhaps I should complain to the company that did it as I was told the house would be safe to return to after four hours. I don’t think it’ll be safe to return to after four months, personally. 

 Because you feel uncomfortable after the treatment is not an indication it is not safe. Being there and airing the house out will help. An empty house with all windows closed will extend your discomfort 

Joedavis

WIAWSNB said:

Has it dried? If so, I'd hope that under-carpet lining paper - I think designed to cut down draughts and dust - laid tight against the skirtings, and then underlay and carpet - or whatever your chosen flooring - should sort it.
Was it water or spirit based insecticide? The former often just has a light soapy smell, not unpleasant. The latter will smell more strongly and be far less pleasant, but should largely dissipate once it dries.

I won’t be laying carpets or flooring. The intention was to sand and oil the boards. I realise this may not be possible now after the chemical drenching. So I’m unsure what will be the best next move. 

It has dried but still smells very strong. I think perhaps the company went a bit overboard with the treatment on this occasion so I may speak to them. I’m living in an Airbnb at the moment as the house smells so strong and I can’t see that smell lifting anytime soon. 

Joedavis

marcia_ said:

Joedavis said:

I bought a house a few months ago and there were some signs of woodworm in the floorboards. My father (ex-builder) got several woodworm specialist companies to inspect and they recommended spraying all of the floorboards. I went along with it on the understanding that it was necessary and would only disrupt things for a few days. Now, a week after it was done, there’s a really strong pesticide smell in the house and I’m unable to spend any time there as I find mucous gathers in my throat and I feel ill. 

I’m not sure what to do about this. I have since read about the treatment and I regret not having read more before agreeing to it as I now feel the chemical spraying is heavy handed and unnecessary. And I now feel less keen on the house as it’s been doused in harmful chemicals. 

Is this smell likely to ever go away? I’m thinking of replacing the floorboards in one room at a time. This will be extremely costly but I feel like it might be the only way to get the house liveable again. I also thought that perhaps I should complain to the company that did it as I was told the house would be safe to return to after four hours. I don’t think it’ll be safe to return to after four months, personally. 

 Because you feel uncomfortable after the treatment is not an indication it is not safe. Being there and airing the house out will help. An empty house with all windows closed will extend your discomfort 

I can’t be there because it irritates my throat and gives me headaches. That’s why I wrote this post. I go round each morning to open all the windows. I came on here for advise because the smell isn’t going away. 

Albermarle

 And I now feel less keen on the house as it’s been doused in harmful chemicals. 

You are jumping to the assumption that the chemicals are harmful. It seems highly unlikely that a wood treatment for domestic use, is going to contain some deadly poisons.
Of course if it smells a bit and it makes you feel a bit uncomfortable, that is not great, but very very unlikely it will cause any long term issue.

Pretty much everything in the home will have had contact with various chemical processes at some point in its life.

Joedavis

Albermarle said:

 And I now feel less keen on the house as it’s been doused in harmful chemicals. 

You are jumping to the assumption that the chemicals are harmful. It seems highly unlikely that a wood treatment for domestic use, is going to contain some deadly poisons.
Of course if it smells a bit and it makes you feel a bit uncomfortable, that is not great, but very very unlikely it will cause any long term issue.

Pretty much everything in the home will have had contact with various chemical processes at some point in its life.

Well the house stinks of permethrin which is a chemical that causes throat irritation, nausea, vomiting and is listed as a carcinogen. So it’s not an assumption that’s it’s harmful. It is harmful. 

That’s why I’m posting on the forum as I’m thinking of ways to proceed. Currently wondering about washing the boards in the garden or looking into getting new floorboards laid in each room. 

Section62

Joedavis said:

Well the house stinks of permethrin which is a chemical that causes throat irritation, nausea, vomiting and is listed as a carcinogen. So it’s not an assumption that’s it’s harmful. It is harmful. 

...

Permethrin doesn't smell.  Whatever you are smelling will be the solvent or carrier chemical used to apply the permethrin.

Permethrin is an active ingredient in various pharmaceutical products licensed/approved for human use.  It isn't as lethally harmful as you seem to have read somewhere.

Permethrin is listed by some health agencies as a possible carcinogen by ingestion, as a result of testing on mice.  But other studies are not conclusive.  So long as you don't chew or lick the floorboards then the ingestion route is not one you need to worry about.

Find out what the product was the contractor used, and what other chemicals it contained.

Forget trying to sue them.  You won't get anywhere with that.

Joedavis

Section62 said:

Joedavis said:

Well the house stinks of permethrin which is a chemical that causes throat irritation, nausea, vomiting and is listed as a carcinogen. So it’s not an assumption that’s it’s harmful. It is harmful. 

...

Permethrin doesn't smell.  Whatever you are smelling will be the solvent or carrier chemical used to apply the permethrin.

Permethrin is an active ingredient in various pharmaceutical products licensed/approved for human use.  It isn't as lethally harmful as you seem to have read somewhere.

Permethrin is listed by some health agencies as a possible carcinogen by ingestion, as a result of testing on mice.  But other studies are not conclusive.  So long as you don't chew or lick the floorboards then the ingestion route is not one you need to worry about.

Find out what the product was the contractor used, and what other chemicals it contained.

Forget trying to sue them.  You won't get anywhere with that.

I’ve never thought of suing them. I’ve thought of asking them what went wrong as I was told the house would be fine for a family to move back into four hours after the job was complete. And a week later there’s no way on earth anyone would live or sleep in this house. 

WIAWSNB

Joedavis said:

WIAWSNB said:

Has it dried? If so, I'd hope that under-carpet lining paper - I think designed to cut down draughts and dust - laid tight against the skirtings, and then underlay and carpet - or whatever your chosen flooring - should sort it.
Was it water or spirit based insecticide? The former often just has a light soapy smell, not unpleasant. The latter will smell more strongly and be far less pleasant, but should largely dissipate once it dries.

I won’t be laying carpets or flooring. The intention was to sand and oil the boards. I realise this may not be possible now after the chemical drenching. So I’m unsure what will be the best next move. 

It has dried but still smells very strong. I think perhaps the company went a bit overboard with the treatment on this occasion so I may speak to them. I’m living in an Airbnb at the moment as the house smells so strong and I can’t see that smell lifting anytime soon. 

Did they literally spray the floorboards, or did they lift and and spray underneath?
If the upper surface had woodworm, is it suitable for keeping bare?
Anyhoo, if they soaked the upper surfaces, then I'd suggest more protection than usual could be required when sanding - an increased grade of dust mask protection, for example.
Will you be DIYing this? If not, I'd inform the sanding co that the boards have been treated, so they can take extra precautions.
Once the floor has been oiled, it'll nigh-on certainly present no more issues for you.

Joedavis

WIAWSNB said:

Joedavis said:

WIAWSNB said:

Has it dried? If so, I'd hope that under-carpet lining paper - I think designed to cut down draughts and dust - laid tight against the skirtings, and then underlay and carpet - or whatever your chosen flooring - should sort it.
Was it water or spirit based insecticide? The former often just has a light soapy smell, not unpleasant. The latter will smell more strongly and be far less pleasant, but should largely dissipate once it dries.

I won’t be laying carpets or flooring. The intention was to sand and oil the boards. I realise this may not be possible now after the chemical drenching. So I’m unsure what will be the best next move. 

It has dried but still smells very strong. I think perhaps the company went a bit overboard with the treatment on this occasion so I may speak to them. I’m living in an Airbnb at the moment as the house smells so strong and I can’t see that smell lifting anytime soon. 

Did they literally spray the floorboards, or did they lift and and spray underneath?
If the upper surface had woodworm, is it suitable for keeping bare?
Anyhoo, if they soaked the upper surfaces, then I'd suggest more protection than usual could be required when sanding - an increased grade of dust mask protection, for example.
Will you be DIYing this? If not, I'd inform the sanding co that the boards have been treated, so they can take extra precautions.
Once the floor has been oiled, it'll nigh-on certainly present no more issues for you.

Yes, they doused them top and bottom. And I don’t think there is/was woodworm. I think it was historic damage. I think what I should have done is replaced the few boards with damage and then sanded and oiled. But as you say, probably not a good idea to sand them now as it will grind up a lot of nasty chemicals. I wish I could go back in time and avoid the woodworm treatment altogether. It feels like a big mistake.