Sealing joists after mold & cat urine removal
Hi all…
I purchased a 1926 Farmhouse and the previous owners (and family) were cousins of Noah. Mutlple cats, dogs, rabbits, ferrets..none of whom, I think, ever saw the light of day. Which resulted in a horrendously smelly (even thorugh NIOSH respirator fitted with organic cartridges) and slightly moldy house. I’ve already removed the HWF and subfloor 🙁 but I want to keep the framing. The mold removal company will be wire-brushing the 100 years of animal leftovers off the joists (see attachment) then treating them with mold disinfectants & kennel deodorizers. They have already done one pass, and it smells better already.
However, when they are done, I’d like to seal the joists so that any residual animal smells are locked in, and any ambient moisture is kept out. What is the best stuff for the job? Happy to pay whatever it takes to make the house liveable. And, if it helps (for distribution of niche products) I live in Boston.
I thank you dearly for any advice.
Jen
Replies
Cat pee my (expletitive deleted). I'm tired of cats taking the blame. Ever notice it's never dog pee, or bird poop, or people stink?
Well, there's a reason. Maybe there are errant felines out there ... but dig deeper, and it's amazing how often the REAL culprit was a little home brewing of recreational chemicals. If you find a propane tank with green 'rust' on the brass, there's no doubt- the bedroom chemists were there.
Once the place is cleaned, there's nothing like a good coat of Kilz to seal things up.