Purchased a rehab gone bad

[sandyriley9255]

What is the name of your state? Ohio
We bought a home that was rehabbed and had all new carpet, laminate and vinyl floors. The problem is that the floors were installed over the grime that was on the old floors and is now causing a terrible odor that I can't get rid of. I'm wondering if there is any legal course against the realtor, the person who installed the floor or the company that contracted the work . When we bought the home we thought the floors would last us at least 5 years and we have lived in the home less than 6 months and are having to install new floors. We paid fair market price for the house so it is not like we saved so much that we can afford to put all new floors in. The realtor used the new floors as a selling point and we feel we should have some legal right to expect these floors to be installed properly.

[LindaP777]

What did the flooring company say when you asked them about it?
How do you know the flooring was installed over "grime"? What kind of "grime" has an odor that appears after 6 months? Are you sure the odor is under the flooring? Was the house a foreclosure prior to the rehab? Did you check or have cleaned all the duct-work, including air returns?

[lcannister]

Originally Posted by sandyriley9255

and is now causing a terrible odor that I can't get rid of. I'm wondering if there is any legal course against the realtor, the person who installed the floor or the company that contracted the work .

How have you determined that the odor is coming from the floors instead of another source like mold somewhere? Is the odor from dog or cat urine that was just covered with the new flooring? As Linda ask what kind of "grime" has an odor you can not get rid of, seems you MIGHT be missing something here.

When did the odor start in relationship to you moving in, and do YOU have any pets?

had all new carpet, laminate and vinyl floors.

Do all the floors have an odor?

[sandyriley9255]

The house was a foreclosure and I do not have the option of speaking with the flooring company. I have heard that the people that owned the house did have dogs so I guess that could be the problem. What would suggestions be for getting rid of the odors if they are urine under the flooring? I have not had the ducts cleaned but am willing to do so but, I have heard that it is a waste of money for a home that is only 7 years old. I cleaned the ducts myself but am obviously limited to the accessable areas only. I did not expect such a great response to my post and I really appreciate help that everyone is giving.

[Accountable]

Is the odor a urine odor? If so, you can have the carpet pulled up, have the subfloor treated with bleach, then lay the same carpet back down. The vinyl, however, is probably a goner.

[LindaP777]

Originally Posted by sandyriley9255

I have not had the ducts cleaned but am willing to do so but, I have heard that it is a waste of money for a home that is only 7 years old. I cleaned the ducts myself but am obviously limited to the accessible areas only.

The reason I asked if the house was a foreclosure and if the duct work had been cleaned is because I've seen homeowners who are loosing their home do nasty things to a house ("if I can't live here no one will!"). Check to see if anything is decaying in the duct work (old chicken guts comes to mind).

The flooring questions and solutions are good. If you did not smell anything funny upon purchase (or from the time you first saw the house until closing), I don't see home the seller/investor could be held accountable.

So the "grime" is just a guess? You have no idea if there is grime, pet urine or otherwise under the flooring? The advice to remove flooring & clean sub-floors is good. But it may be an effort in futility if you really don't know what exactly is the smell.