Wood flooring + animal excretement? - DIY Chatroom

annie68164 · 08-23-2008, 04:19 PM

We have some oak flooring in an abandoned house that I was hoping to lay in our kitchen. When we went to get it, it has areas that are rotten with mold and a pile of animal feces on it as well (and probably urine too I'd imagine) anyway the moldy sections could be cut away and all of it would be sanded, stained and polyurathaned. The question I have- if the racoon or whatever urinated on this wood and it was absorbed (which I'm sure it would have been) would the 3-4 coats of poly prevent odor from occuring-like seal it in? I'm scared to go thru all the effort of laying and refinishing this floor only to have past animal excrements smell it up or discolor later. Dont' know what to do. Anyone know about this? Thanks!

KHouse75 · 08-23-2008, 05:38 PM

Don't use the sections of wood that are damaged. Cut those sections out and use the cut ends along the walls.

I think, once you sand it down with a floor sander, the stained sections will be gone anyway. I don't think the sains and odor would go that deep into the wood. When you finish wood flooring with stain, it doesn't absorb in far enough where the sander doesn't get it all out.

08-23-2008, 07:00 PM

Just in case you might want to thin some clear shellac and use it as a sealer before applying the Polyurethane. Shellac is about the only thing that will seal the odor if it's still present.

Janet · 08-23-2008, 08:57 PM

Tread carefully...having moved into a condo where the dog urine penetrated the substrate and into the OSB subfloor, I've done a lot of research on the dreaded odour problem. If I were you, I'd conduct a 'test' of the remedial measures you're considering before committing to laying the entire floor. I'd also consider how long the house had been abandoned and subject to the urine--->1 week versus 10 years makes a big difference. Finally, put your nose to the floor. You didn't say whether it currently had an odour? I had my face in the floor for weeks before I considered it 'safe"

annie68164 · 08-24-2008, 04:23 PM

thanks for the good advice. the floor is very old maybe at least 60+ years. it's in OK shape (according to my not-so-picky hubby) except for the forementioned problems. to be honest I have not looked at it all. it's in a big pile and I know I saw racoon excrement on it. I just walked away thinking there's no hope but thought I'd ask. You're right I need to lay it out and estimate the total damage before getting too serious about it. I'm sure it will be a TON of work whatever the case may be.