Paving sealer odour inside property issue - Problem with paving sealer odour inside

[giltedge]

I recently sealed a patio using Bostik resin for blocks it's a polyurethane sealer I've used it many times without an issue. The customer was out and all windows were closed. On returning the customer opened their living room door and there was a strong odour of resin in the room, I've never seen this issue before, the customer thinks it's coming through the walls but I don't think that's remotely possible due to the amount used. I called Bostik and they've never heard of another case of this happening, it's now over a week later and every morning they open the door it's the same problem? It really doesn't make sense at all as it's only one room and I sealed 2 sides of the patio round the property. They're naturally worried about breathing it in and also the fact it may be flammable which I don't think is an issue as it's only a mild odour but enough to be annoying. I just wondered if anyone else has had a similar problem and how long it took for the odour to disappear or if there's anything other than opening the windows that would get rid of it quicker, maybe an air purifier or de-humidifier? Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks

[lutonlagerlout]

2 questions gilt edge

1 has the patio compromised any airbricks?

2 has any *bostik* ran through an airbrick into the sub floor

cheers LLL

[giltedge]

Hi, thanks for replying, no definitely no problems with air bricks. What is strange is that the side of the house with the granite wall there's no smell in that room but the side with the cavity block wall has...the wall is rendered and painted down to the paving level, not sure about below that?

[Tony McC]

The really mysterious bit is how it can still have an odour after a week. Surely the resin has cured and you'd expect the solvents to have vented.

Is there anything in the room that might absorb a solvent?

[RAPressureWashing]

In all the years of sealing paving, have never heard of this one. When were the rendered walls panted last?

[seanandruby]

Is there any factories around that could be emitting fumes?

[giltedge]

I can't believe there's still an odour as you say a day at most and it should have cured, well has cured and there should just be a residual odour outside which is the case. Been laying and sealing patios for 27years and never known a situation like this???

And no there's no Bostik factory in the neighbourhood!

[giltedge]

Think the walls are painted pretty regularly they definitely keep the property in excellent condition.

[r896neo]

Long shot here but they don't by any chance have an oil tank nearby to these walls?

I once had this on a rental I looked after and a small dripping leak from the tank (which the landlord had been warned about needing replaced) generated a solvent type smell in the neighbouring rooms.

Once this smell got into the cavity it was quite pervasive for a few weeks.

If it doesn't resolve i would suggest opening up the cavity in various places to try and let it vent. Obviously this will not work on a full fill beaded cavity.

[ResiblockBoss]

I have heard anecdotally Bostik have changed their base solvent from Xylene to BAS110, and if that is the case then it would certainly take longer for the polymers to cross-link and hence solvent to evaporate. Solvents have weird and sometimes unfathomable characteristics, and whilst rare we have heard of this sort of thing before.

Believe me I’m no flag carrier for Resin for Blocks (let’s face it they even plagiarised our name!) but I can’t envisage any health/flammability risks in this instance.
Craig