bad smell under floorboads?

Question

hello there i moved in to this house in oct 2004 and to this day there has been a bad fishy like smell comin from my spare bedroom from underneath the floorboards. now i want to move my son from our room in to his own room and from cot to a bed but i just couldnt possible put him in there with that smell. i just cant think what it could be i would look in the yellow pages for someone to come and have a look but who would i be looking for (a smell detector lol) but serously what am i to do and does any one no what it could be and what i can do. and if there is someone there in the yellow pages to help me how much would it cost thanks all .

if its something that has died would the smell really last 3 years

thing is the smell is only there when ive empted the room out we keep all our stuff in there we brought this house and it would be a big cost to us we recently plasted all the walls and the wall facin the outside of the house was all damp and rotten and the plaster just crumble off when my hubby installed the central heatin it we couldnt see any thing under the floor boards then again we didnt no wot we were lookin for lo thanks all for you answers even the funny ones i always thought it was something dead but wouldnt the smell be more smelly

Answer 1

It could be dampness leading to dry rot

Answer 2

I'm surprised you haven't investigated before! 2 years is a long time. Can't you get a piece of the floor boards up and shine a torch around? It could be anything - I don't think its dry rot cos i believe that smells musty (dry rot will look like mushrooms/fungus). Other possibilities are rats or other vermin, wet rot, insects, rubbish or worse.

If money is an issue and you have looked yourself (DONT use a naked flame for investigating) then possibly the local council would come in for free/low cost. Dont even think of putting the child in the room until its sorted. Do you ventilate the room regularly even though its not used?

Get it sorted - you cant live like that!

If, as last resort, you cant locate the smell, with professional help, then get a priest or vicar in and get the house blessed.

Answer 3

Will M is right, it could be damp or rot, which can have a really awful smell - it could also be that a rat or something has died under there. Can you lift a few floor boards to have a look? If there is wet or dry rot, you will be able see it, rot must be treated very quickly or it will spread really fast. For help look in yellow pages under wet/dry rot or damp proofing specialists. Most companies will send someone out to give you a free estimate, just ask on the phone.

Answer 4

For an initial look it may just be worth getting a general handyman / builder in. I'd look for some who give free estimates...gives you the chance to have a think.
Another option is to check www.safetrade.org.uk You can look by area and all are checked.
The smell could be damp.

Answer 5

LOL Robbief 19, i was thinking the same. Maybe some guy messed his chick around and she planted some sardines under one of the floorboards. Must be awful, good luck , hope you get organised. By the way have you checked if any of the boards are loose.:)

Answer 6

Might be worth checking the wiring to the ceiling light in the room below - some older types of insulation can give off fishy smells if they get hot (and if they are getting hot, then something's wrong).

Answer 7

have 3ppl come out to give u qoutes and explain wot work is involved how long it will take etc, to help u get the best person for the job! goodluck....

Answer 8

A body??
You could try calling your local council they could put you in touch with someone.

Answer 9

maybe its a corpse. did you check yourhusbands whereabouts o n sunday arfternoon 3 pm?

Answer 10

its prob just damp, and will be quite easy to fix.

or it could be a dead body.