I recently painted a new wall with a 5 year old latex primer followed by 2 coats of paint. A very disagreeable odor emanates from the wall. I have never had this problem with "old" paint before. Where is the odor coming from?
By George from Port St Lucie, FL
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It could be your sheet-rock. Since 1997, many houses were built with Chinese sheet rock and they emit a "rotten egg" smell from the sulfur. This sheet-rock was recently recalled because it causes the wiring to tarnish and corrode quickly. If this is your problem, you will have to remove the sheet-rock! The sheetrock has been a real problem in Florida and the South due to the high humidity. The moisture in the paint also could have made the sheet-rock smell.
If it's just the paint, you can cover the wall with one or 2 coats of Zinsser shellac and alcohol based primer (read the back of all the Zinsser primers) it's one of the lower cost primers that Zinsser makes. They use this to prime and seal hospitals, kitchens and schools. They use it because it's low odor. This primer will help seal in the odor of the paint, but won't help if bad sheet rock is your problem.
Google: "Chinese sheetrock" or "Chineese wallboard" for more info.
If the smell is really disagreeable you may have to remove the wall entirely and sheet rock a new one. Maybe an animal like a squirrel or mouse died in between the walls.
If the paint was 'old' it may have mildewed. Try eliminating the odor with white vinegar (diluted in a spray bottle). Another possible reason - is it possible something has crawled into the wall & died?
Definitely reprime the walls. Latex paint can go bad. The smell will continue to worsen. Hopefully reprinting will zap it. Do not repaint until you are sure the smell is gone.
Definitely reprime the walls. Latex paint can go bad. The smell will continue to worsen. Hopefully reprinting will zap it. Do not repaint until you are sure the smell is gone.
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