Replies

1. GBA Editor
   Martin Holladay | Dec 01, 2012 10:50am | #1

   Louie,
   I can't think of any reason why stains matter on a subfloor. The flooring will cover the stains.

   If you Google "pet odor remover," you will find dozens of cleaning products offered by manufacturers.

2. 
   user-981606 | Dec 01, 2012 12:34pm | #2

   thanks martin, Its great to be able to ask and get a straight forward response. Have a good one!

3. 
   user-1087436 | Dec 01, 2012 05:20pm | #3

   Louie,
   A friend of ours, the late Jane Powell, a bungalow restoration expert in Oakland, CA, and author of many books on bungalows, advocated shellac or varnish as a means of containing the odors. As a cat owner and restorer of many old houses, she had a lot of experience at this.

4. 
   user-1140531 | Dec 01, 2012 06:36pm | #4

   The problem I have noticed with odor removers is that you never know if they will do what they claim to do. If I had this issue with say just a localized area of the subfloor having been heavily affected, I would replace it. It would all depend on the size and degree of the problem. Possibly there are odor removers that have been widely used and proven to be 100% effective. If so, it might be fine to just go ahead and solve the problem with a proven product.

5. 
   BrianJohnston | Dec 01, 2012 06:42pm | #5

   After cleaning the sub-floor, if the odor still persists I recommend using non toxic, fast drying, water based finish. The residential grade version of these products can easily be purchased by homeowners without the need for a contractors license. I've been refinishing and installing hardwood floors for 17 years and that's my preferred method. Best of luck! :)

6. 
   user-981606 | Dec 01, 2012 08:02pm | #6

   Great feedback, many thanks to you all!

7. 
   wjrobinson | Dec 02, 2012 12:11am | #7

   BIN is used too.

8. 
   mrbreadpuddin | Dec 04, 2012 06:35am | #8

   I have used BIN which is shellac based and it works, but sometimes you need to bite the bullet and rip out the subfloor.