Solvent-based adhesive off gassing
We are installing wool carpet in our basement to minimize VOCs from synthetic carpets. Unfortunately, the installer used a solvent-based adhesive, Powerhold 100 Carpet Pad Cement. The adhesive is 25-50% n-hexane and 5-20% toluene. It also contains naphthalene. The SDS is here (https://www.powerhold.com/sheets/Adhesives-PH100-MSDS.pdf).
Will this product be toxic after it cures? Roughly how long will it take to cure if it was used between a concrete subfloor and a wool carpet pad (with a wool carpet on top)? We live in Colorado and opened all of the windows so it is currently dry and cool in the basement (about 55 degrees and 20% humidity).
Thank you!
GBA Detail Library
A collection of one thousand construction details organized by climate and house part
Replies
You’ll need to air things out for a while, but you should find things will eventually stabilize. The entire point of the solvent in adhesives is to keep the “glue stuff” in the adhesive in suspension, and then to evaporate away when the solvent is applied. It will take at least a few days, and probably a week or two to really stop being smelly — and thar assumes you have good crossflow ventilation (air comes in on one side of the space and exits out the other side).
Note that your bigger problem is likely to be mold growing in the carpet since you applied it to a basement slab. It’s generally not a good idea to use carpet in a basement for this reason. Natural fiber carpets are more likely to grow stuff too compared with synthetic materials, since natural materials are more likely to be able to be used as food for things. I’d be careful of mold with your new carpet.
Bill