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So, I recently moved in to my new shop. I thought it would be great, but it stinks so badly, I don't like spending time in it. The shop used be used as a mechanic shop and the walls are fiber board. I have a friend that thinks it is the walls themselves. Has anyone else had this sort of problem? Any suggestions as to how to get the stink out without ripping off the wall surfaces and refacing them?

Any help is much appreciated.

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ELEVATE || Next Level Lutherie
http://elevatelutherie.com
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http://ensorguitars.com

In addition to the above questions -

Are you allowed to paint the walls ?
If so I would suggest Kills 123 sealer/primer - should cover everything - then repaint -

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It's this new idea from recent decades that everyone gets a participation award. - MUX

I second Kilz. If you use it, use a brush that you won't mind tossing. You aren't going to be able to clean it.

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Aoibeann

Is it just a general stinky smell or is it a smell that is typical of a mechanics shop?

Could be the oils, etc, in the cement of the floor.

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

The real Killz. The one that requies ventilation while applying. Contractors use it to seal houses damaged by fire. It works.

I got seriousy stoned on Kilz fumes once... So be sure to vent... The buzz is cool but the hangover sux

Turn on a large an ozone generator for a week.
Keep the doors and windows closed.
Don't go breathen the stuff.
Then air it out and see if it still needs the kilz treatment.


be
Padma

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Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


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Eggs, beanz'n'beer for breakfast should cover that up no problem, also gives greater incentive to wear a respirator when you should and that can only be a good thing.

Cheers

Kim

I hate that smell as well. I would think most of the problem is from the floor. If you think of all the times gas, oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, solvent has been spilled on it you can get an idea of how much hydrocarbon is still there. If it was really making me crazy I might rent a powerful steam cleaner and go at it with the steam cleaner and a wet shopvac. After I did that I would drum sand a bag of incense cedar and cover the floor with it while still damp. If that didn't work I would epoxy paint the floor. You may be getting some from the walls but that should air out fairly quickly.

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http://goatrockukulele.com

Thanks for all the help guys. Let's see if I can address some of the questions:

1. The smell is that of a musty oil, engine grease- but very strong.
2. As far as I can tell, the whole place smells. It may be just the walls or the floor, but at this point it is so strong, I can't differentiate.
3. The shop is on my property (my wife and I just bought the place), so it used to be a residential home hobbyist mechanics shop- the guy did everything from weld to replace axels and rebuild cars.
4. Since I own the place, I can do whatever I want to it.

Thanks for the help. I think this weekend I will try to power wash the floors and possibly kilz the walls- then maybe I will tie-die paint over that. Just kidding.

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ELEVATE || Next Level Lutherie
http://elevatelutherie.com
&
http://ensorguitars.com

The full monty on the floor would be to have it shotblasted then resurfaced with a thin concrete overlay. The shotblasting can remove up to like 1/2" of the surface. A muriatic etch might do fine though, so certainly try that before shotblasting.

For the walls, I would get some Jomax. It's a concentrate that you mix with bleach and water. A good spray down with this can do wonders. It may not specifically address much of the old oil smell, but will at least kill mold and mildew and make things as fresh as they can be before painting over with Killz (great stuff as others have said). On a couple remodels I did it was the Jomax that really made the place turn the corner from feeling like "nasty rat hole" to just "construction site". All manner of insects flee from their crevices in it's presence as well.

Peace,
Sanaka

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...imagine there were no hypothetical situations...

Most property managers don't waste time trying to remove smells. It's just too time consuming to try to get smells out of walls. They use a special paint to seal it in.

Call Lowes or Home Depot. They'll know the kind of paint.

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I read Emerson on the can. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...true...but a consistent reading of Emerson has its uses nevertheless.

StuMusic

Like Stuart said removing the smells will probably be close to impossible, but sealing them in should work. Kilz for the walls(and ceilings). Pressure wash the floor and paint it with epoxy paint. Ozone treatment like the Padma mentioned might help too. Around here car dealers use ozone to get cigarette smell out of cars.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Ahh the smell of old oil, reminds me of when I worked in a mechanics garage as a teenager.

Everyone has given you tips which should help. When I moved into a new workshop when I was a teenager we has the same issue. We used a steam cleaner and absorbent granules to clean the floor then painted it with that rubberised floor paint. Looks great and the stains and smells were gone.