I recently bought a house that's had quite a bit of pet damage, specifically from dogs and cats peeing inside. Things have improved somewhat, but the odor still lingers. I applied Killz Restoration on the tile floors with three or four coats and sealed the walls with two or three coats as well. While it does seem a little better, the smell is definitely still there. I've done some digging after spending over $1,000 on the paint, and I've come across suggestions for BIN, Coverstain, or Killz oil-based options. What should I use to effectively eliminate or seal in this smell before I paint the walls and install new flooring?
3 Answers
It sounds like the smell has seeped into the subfloor, which is a common issue with pet stains. Painting over it won't help much— you might need to tear out the flooring. I also recommend running an ozone generator and cleaning out the ducts; it'll help get rid of any lingering scents in your home. As for the walls, if they haven't soaked up the urine, you might not need to replace the drywall.
Honestly, the best bet for you is to do a full restoration. That means ripping out both the drywall and flooring since the urine has likely been absorbed for years. After that, you can start fresh. Sure, it's a hassle, but it beats trying to mask the smell with paints that won't cut it in the long run.
Be careful with the products you choose! If you're tackling those odors, oil-based paints like Killz oil will be more effective than water-based options. Trust me, if the urine has soaked in deeply, even BIN might not cut it completely.