by lindylu »
Thu Apr 06, 2017 8:01 am
The smell is driving me crazy. I had my living room decorated in September 16. This included new gas fire, surround, new wallpaper (then two coats of Dulux trade emulsion) etc. Crown trade on the ceiling. The smell of gas was overpowering and I assumed it was a faulty fire. Several visits by the fitters and one by the gas board and I was assured there was no gas leak. All paint was purchased by the decorator (with almost thirty years in the trade)
November I had the dining room decorated, same thing, honk of gas. Gas board out, gas fitters, and again, told no hint of a gas leak.
I am away from home a lot, thank heavens. February 28th saw the start of painting the bedroom, ensuite, hall, stairs, landing and kitchen. I came home after three weeks to an overpowering smell of gas. Again, gas board out, fitters and this time they cut the gas off as I insisted there was a gas leak (despite all fitters saying there was no leak). I had to pay to be reconnected. All the fitters said it is a well known phenomenon, and the gas board fitters told me the gas board had written to Crown and Dulux about it. I googled then found masses of pages on this topic.
The smell is most definitely brought on by opening windows, no doubt about it. I was away a week and there was no smell, as soon as I opened windows, the gas smell was overpowering. My bedroom is in the shade until late afternoon, so gets little sunlight, but the smell is there from opening the window. Sadly, I love windows open, even in winter, so the house has a permanent smell. Summer is coming and my windows will be open from morning until evening, I am dreading it.
Both Dulux (walls) and Crown (ceilings) admitted they are aware of the problem but only Crown is interested in trying to help. A rep has been out, but sadly didn't take any notes. The living room is new wallpaper so has never been painted on before, it isn't paint on top of paint. At this point we have no idea if it is the Crown ceilings or Dulux walls causing the problem.
Two rooms we had painted earlier last year have no smell.
Crown will look at providing neutraliser for the ceiling in the bedroom and ensuite first to see if that solves the problem, if not it is probably the Dulux walls. It is the labour costs, we have spent over two thousand having the house painted, and seven weeks of upheaval.
Dulux have been unhelpful and rude. Blame the customer attitude. They deny all knowledge of the need for the neutraliser, even though the paint research association said Dulux is well aware of the need for it.
I have a permanent headache and I blame this smell, it is disgusting. Sadly, most of the house is affected and is a major job to resolve.
We are waiting to hear back from Crown. They didn't take the empty paint tub away with them, just merely the batch number.
The mind boggles, they both say it isn't the paint, but why are all the rooms that have been painted since September affected, but the two earlier ones not affected. I have no idea what paint was used in those two rooms.
