I just moved into a house that was previously a rental, and it seems the owners didn't take care of it fully. I've noticed a lingering smell of urine in the bathroom, which I recently found out is due to old urine that has soaked into the subfloor beneath the vinyl flooring. We haven't pulled up the vinyl yet, but I suspect there might be some damage to the subfloor itself. I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed and would like advice on how to tackle this issue without spending a fortune. Is it possible to salvage the subfloor, or will it need to be replaced entirely? I have no experience with flooring repairs, so any tips on where to start would be super helpful!
3 Answers
Replacing a section of subfloor isn't too hard if you're somewhat handy. Just make sure to cut out the bad area cleanly—take your time to assess how much needs replacing. Most importantly, be sure to dry everything thoroughly after removing the vinyl before you put in the new subfloor.
Exactly! And I recommend using shellac primer on the new subfloor to seal it. I've done this a few times and it works great to keep odors from creeping back in.
I'd suggest peeling back the vinyl to see how bad the damage is before diving into significant repairs. Sometimes, if the subfloor is still solid, all you need to do is clean and treat it. You can get enzyme cleaners specifically designed for pet odors that could help with the smell too.
Yes, and if you can manage it, a humidifier in the bathroom while it’s open could help dry things out faster!
Great idea! I think I’ll start with that and see what I’m dealing with before I make any big decisions.
First thing to check is the wax seal on the toilet. If it's leaking, that could definitely be contributing to the smell. Make sure to fix that before you invest time replacing the subfloor!
Thanks for the tip! I didn’t think about the toilet seal, but I'll definitely check that out first.
Absolutely! We had a similar situation where a toilet leak caused a ceiling collapse in another room. Fixing any leaks should be your priority!
Sounds manageable! Thanks for the encouragement. I appreciate the advice on sealing too!