A Funky Smell

I didn't notice it before we closed on the house, nor did the husband. But there is a strange smell emanating from our half bath on the first floor. I first noticed it early in September, when the husband and his friends painted the ceiling. I went into the bathroom and just thought, "Damn! I wonder what they ate!"

Since then the smell has gotten stronger. The husband removed the first layer of linoleum and discovered that the original layer surrounding the toilet was all black! Ewwwwww!!!! He also removed all the baseboards. The smell has gotten worse since.



I called a place on Sunday that specializes in locating odors and repairing and/or deodorizing. The guy asked me what the odor smelled like. Normally I would say it smells like old man. However, not wanting to discriminate I told the guy, "It smells like old people." Afterwards, I immediately realized that that might have been offensive. So I said, "Or like a bum." There, redemption. I felt better now.

Anyway, the guy comes out tomorrow morning to take a look. I do not envy him one bit.

UPDATE - 10/08/08

I spoke to the husband who was there when the guy came. The guy thinks it's water damage. He said we can remove the drywall, then he'll spray something, and the drywall can go back up. Somehow that seems a little toooooo easy. However, the husband said he had to go because he needed to open the back gate for something and I heard another guy's voice in the background.

UPDATE - 10/09/08

Okay, well apparently the guy thinks it water damage from super gross overflow toilet water! Okay, he didn't say super gross, that was from me. He thinks the smell is from the bacteria that has been growing or spreading or doing whatever bacteria does, which is why we didn't smell it at first. The husband thought that we might be able to remove the drywall ourselves, but I would rather pass and have someone else do it. The thought of touching feces bacteria ridden walls just doesn't sound too appealing to me. I'm thinking I should go out and buy the movie The Money Pit and watch it a million times to make myself feel better.