Exposed old brick and now left with ammonia smell
#1
07-26-12, 01:31 PM
Join Date: Jul 2012
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Exposed old brick and now left with ammonia smell
I just took down old plaster covering a chimmey (there had been a leak) and now a terrible ammonia smell is coming from the brick/morter. I haven't finished scraping or cleaning the bricks but now I wonder if I should not keep the exposed brick and cover it up with drywall again. I like the exposed brick but the smell is terrible. It's been 2 days and it still remains. Any advice/thoughts about getting rid of the smell?
#2
07-26-12, 01:58 PM
Welcome to the forums!
Has the brick dried out yet after you fixed the leak? Fresh air ventilation is usually the best way to get rid of an odor. Sometimes it's best to seal and odor with a good fluid coat of pigmented shellac [sometimes oil base primer is enough]
Has the brick dried out yet after you fixed the leak? Fresh air ventilation is usually the best way to get rid of an odor. Sometimes it's best to seal and odor with a good fluid coat of pigmented shellac [sometimes oil base primer is enough]
#3
07-26-12, 05:40 PM
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Yes, I think the brick has dried. The leak happened over time and it took months for me to be able to get to the project. I'm wondering if after scraping off all the old plaster and then washing the bricks this might help. The smell is very strong! I've had a fan on tying ot draw out the smell but it doesn't seem to lessen. Have you or anyone experienced this ammonia smell?
#5
07-27-12, 05:20 AM
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Assuming the chimney is in the middle of your home, where exactly was the leak coming from?
Visually follow the path the (assuming) water took and see if there is anything that could be the source of that smell. Not knowing the setup, a little cridder could have also gotten in there with the water.
Visually follow the path the (assuming) water took and see if there is anything that could be the source of that smell. Not knowing the setup, a little cridder could have also gotten in there with the water.
