Newly built basement smells musty

Hello everyone,

Our new building has a basement as a white tank. It has been in the ground for a year, appears tight and dry. It is basically in shell condition, as we want to paint it and lay the floor later. I have the impression that it smells a bit musty, but I don’t feel that it is unnatural moisture. Could it simply be due to the shell and screed floor that it smells a little? Or does this shell need to be 100% odorless? What do you think? Thanks and regards, Franz

Hello,

Could it simply be due to the shell construction and screed floor that it smells a bit?

That may be subjective, but personally I always have the feeling that I can "smell concrete." Concrete continues to cure and therefore keeps off-gassing. This then gives a typically concrete-like smell in unventilated rooms in my opinion.

Have you tried ventilating and measuring the humidity and air temperature?

Best regards,
Andreas

That is true, concrete and mortar smell if not completely cured. They also produce heat and moisture. Karsten

If it is still in the shell construction state, can we then assume that it is not being ventilated?
Best regards briefly

So the house is finished for the most part, the upper floors will be occupied soon. The basement has not been painted yet, no flooring, etc. It could of course also be the smell from the building materials. There are three basement windows with [lichtschacht].. we ventilate regularly here.

What do you consider regular ventilation?
The windows in front of the light wells tilted open for 10 minutes?

I am not familiar with drying basements, but if you limit the use of construction dryers mainly to the ground and upper floors, and the basement lacks underfloor heating and the corresponding screed program, I can imagine that there will still be considerable residual moisture causing a musty/moldy smell.

Regards, Yvonne