Stinking intermediate ceiling, ceiling of hoarders, mold, mustiness

Hello forum,


Unfortunately, I just had to register here.

I urgently need tips/expertise.


My problem:

My father bought a farm where hoarders had lived. During the viewing, it really smelled beastly.

Now I have pretty much gutted my apartment. Meaning all the wallpaper and floors and so on are removed. In the bedroom, I have already installed the new insulation with drywall.

In the last few days, I have spent time applying textured plaster to the wall.


BUT, yesterday I wanted to change the recessed lights. The suspended ceiling was nicely installed and insulated with a kind of wool that is between two black foils. (At least it is not glass wool). After the six holes had been open for several hours, the room now smells just as beastly again. The apartment still smells somewhat because the remaining walls are bare.


Now I face the problem: I know if I do it right, I would have to take down the entire ceiling and replace the insulation, then the last few weeks would have been for nothing.

The question is if anyone has any idea how to eliminate the smell? Ozone treatment? Installing new insulation is also difficult because I only have six holes. They are, by the way, 22 cm wide.

Or seal with primer and seal around the new LED lamps all around with silicone?


Please, tips are appreciated and many thanks!

Best regards, Queiser

There was a similar thread here recently... some prefabricated house that smelled bad. You should take a look. It was apparently mice and rats that had lived in the formwork. The smell of the excrement lingers. That is also likely in your case. A job for the pest control guy ;)

There was a similar thread here recently... some prefabricated house that smelled bad. You should have a look.
Apparently, mice and rats had lived in the cladding. The smell of the excrement lingers. That seems likely in your case, too.
A job for the pest control guy ;)

Thanks for the quick reply!!
Thanks for the tip. Do you happen to still remember the title?

Unfortunately, I don't think it's rats.... More likely just the typical smell of hoarders.

Thanks for the tip. By any chance, do you still have the title in mind?

The "residential smell," especially in the intermediate ceiling, could also come from liquids that have leaked from the scattered household items or the residents, which found their way from the upper floor into the intermediate ceiling and whose organic components are now slowly being broken down there.

The "living smell," especially in the cavity ceiling, can also come from fluids that have leaked from the surrounding household items or the residents, which have made their way from the upper floor into the cavity ceiling and whose organic components are now slowly decomposing there.

That would be possible, however, there is an empty attic above.

Thank you for the link!