What's that smell?

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Author Message David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 2059 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Monday, November 13, 2023 - 02:49 pm:    My neighbor is turning his detached garage into a DADU (Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit). The garage was renovated about 20 years ago by the previous owner. The previous owner sealed up the garage door and installed French doors on the side of the building. They also installed slate tile on the concrete slab floor. I was told the previous owners used the garage as an outdoor dining room. Well, my neighbor is scraping up the slate tiles and going to polish the concrete floor. While doing demolition the neighbor noticed a really bad smell. He called me over to investigate. The smell is like rotting broccoli or a bad body odor. It does not smell like chemicals or natural gas. I have no idea what could be causing it. The tile is slate, the mortar/grout is cementitious, the slab is concrete. They did not notice the smell when the floor was down, only while it was being demolished. Do you have any ideas? David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Specifications Consultant Axt Consulting LLC Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 2334 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Monday, November 13, 2023 - 04:15 pm:    Are they simply scraping the tiles up or are they using something to soften the mortar? What about the slab edges? Are the tiles truly metamorphic rock? What about the sealer under the tiles? David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 2060 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Monday, November 13, 2023 - 04:50 pm:    They are scraping the tiles up with my rotohammer drill with chisel tip. The tiles are not coming up without a fight. The slab edges are slightly exposed and appear to be fine. The tiles are real slate, not a faux slate composite. I read online that slate may contain sulphur. My best guess is the sulfur gas is released when the tile crumbles. We will test it later. I am not sure there is a sealer under the tile. The thinset is well adhered to the slab. David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Specifications Consultant Axt Consulting LLC Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 2335 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Monday, November 13, 2023 - 04:55 pm:    That sulfur may be the culprit. There's a reason it's a smell associated with Hell. David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 2062 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Friday, November 17, 2023 - 12:45 pm:    My neighbor thinks he has isolated the source of the odor. He says there is a spot in the floor that appears to be oil. As I memntioned earlier, this building used to be a garage. The problem is the floor is already sealed and polished. David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Specifications Consultant Axt Consulting LLC