EastBay1907
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- Joined
- Jul 15, 2008
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We own/live in the downstairs apartment of a 1907 duplex on the Berkeley/Oakland (Northern CA) area. We call the duplex a "working man's" Craftsman as it was built after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake for "refugee" housing. It has a few nice details, like a few curved ceilings and some nice old wood, but isn't the real deal.
My problem is that the apartment has a distinct odor which is driving me crazy and I'm hoping some of you smart folks can help me figure out what's causing it and how to get rid of it!
Here's what I know:
- the upstairs apartment does not have the smell
- the downstairs apartment had the smell when the previous tenant lived there, when it was totally empty, after the walls were painted & floors refinished, and still now that we've been living there for over two years with all of our stuff.
- there's a crawl space under our apartment, which:
--- is well ventilated (many openings with screen coverings)
--- is uncovered clay soil
--- is not insulated
--- does not have a strong smell
--- does not have any evidence of mold or decay or water or pests (I've crawled all around it and removed all debris).
- we occasionally get a bit of mold growth on a piece of furniture near the wall during the rainy season in one corner of the house that has a window over the garden (and no heat), but otherwise no mold issues inside.
- when I walk out of the apartment and on to the back and front porches, I still smell the odor, but it changes slightly (and once I'm off the porches it's gone)
- the only descriptions of the smell we've come up with are "stuffy" or "natural" smell, and it has a hint of high/sweet smell (it does not smell like mold).
ANY advice, guidance or referrals to professionals are VERY much appreciated!
(anyone know of a " smell /odor expert"?!?!?)
Thanks!
My problem is that the apartment has a distinct odor which is driving me crazy and I'm hoping some of you smart folks can help me figure out what's causing it and how to get rid of it!
Here's what I know:
- the upstairs apartment does not have the smell
- the downstairs apartment had the smell when the previous tenant lived there, when it was totally empty, after the walls were painted & floors refinished, and still now that we've been living there for over two years with all of our stuff.
- there's a crawl space under our apartment, which:
--- is well ventilated (many openings with screen coverings)
--- is uncovered clay soil
--- is not insulated
--- does not have a strong smell
--- does not have any evidence of mold or decay or water or pests (I've crawled all around it and removed all debris).
- we occasionally get a bit of mold growth on a piece of furniture near the wall during the rainy season in one corner of the house that has a window over the garden (and no heat), but otherwise no mold issues inside.
- when I walk out of the apartment and on to the back and front porches, I still smell the odor, but it changes slightly (and once I'm off the porches it's gone)
- the only descriptions of the smell we've come up with are "stuffy" or "natural" smell, and it has a hint of high/sweet smell (it does not smell like mold).
ANY advice, guidance or referrals to professionals are VERY much appreciated!
(anyone know of a " smell /odor expert"?!?!?)
Thanks!