I'm ripping up old, nasty carpet in a back porch that I've discovered the cats like to "mark". What should I expect?

I'm ripping up old, nasty carpet in a back porch that I've discovered the cats like to "mark". What should I expect? I plan on ripping up the carpet, "scrubbing" the wood floor underneath, treating it with something like kilz or another sealer, and then laying down tile.

I'm sure the wood underneath has remained damp from the cat urine. That area of the carpet stinks to high heaven. Any recommendations on what to scrub the wood with to get the stain/smell out and then what to seal it with before putting down the tile?

How long should I wait between phases-scrubbing, treatment, putting down tile? Any advice would be MUCH appreciated. Asked by ~wb 44 months ago Similar questions: ripping nasty carpet back porch discovered cats mark expect Home > Home Improvement.

Similar questions: ripping nasty carpet back porch discovered cats mark expect.

Could be quite a bit of work, get ready.... My wife and I have dealt with this problem, too. It can be quite tough to get rid of the urine smell; as the cat's olfactory sense (smell) is something like 40 times more sensitive than our own. When I replaced our old living room carpet with parquet wood tile, like you I found a large and still wet mark spot, and the particle board underlayment had swelled radically.

I had to plane the affected area back to near level, then apply something like 6 coats of Varathane varnish before gluing down the parquet tile. I then varnished the entire floor to contain any further 'mistakes'. Most subfloors are either planks or plywood.

Both are fairly stable to moisture, depending on how long it's been exposed. I should think that any warping should be minimal; and could be solved with a heavy sanding. Killz is a good idea - I haven't used it myself, but I do hear good things.

I would check with your local home improvement store to see what type of sealer to use - it depends on the type of tile. Wood tiles use a mastic and will stick to pretty much any clean surface, while the mortar type of tile adhesives might not like an oil-based paint. I would most definitely seal the whole area before tiling - you don't want any smell to creep up throgh the tile!

Don't think I would scrub the floor unless there is quite a mess. Water on wood could cause the subfloor to swell, and that could make the tiles crack if ceramic, or squeak if wood. Clean with the bare minimum of water and a good cleaner - even TSP.

Let the area dry completely! If the subfloor needs to be repaired, go for it! I would then seal the floor, let everthing dry, and then install your floor.

Might be an idea to find out why the cat is marking, too.

I would say just put a new floor for several reasons... If you are going to invest in tile you best replace the old wood floor first with good seasoned hard wood planks! After all this time the old floor is more than likely rotten if not from termites and age then definitely from cat urine. Even if the wood looks to be in good shape the problem would be getting your pets smell out of the wood.

The wood floor should be solid, if at any point while walking it seems to give underweight, please don't take me wrong here, soft points, rotten points your laying tile would be a painful waste of time not to mention an expensive lesson. If your floor can in any way move or give under weight the tile mortar would soon crack and tiles start to loosen. No in this case it's best to replace the old floor with no planks!

The worst mess to clean from any material is animal waste, our next door neighbor had this problem with his male cat that sprayed everything. Being a cat and marking hit territory, their outdoor furniture had to be trashed. No matter what he did or cleaning method the smell was still there long after the cat was gone, he sanded, sealed, painted but it was still there.

He had no choice but to get rid of it and buy new! I know this is furniture that stands on is patio, well aired but the cat sprayed constantly so I can only imagine whats under your carpet! So, I suggest that you tear it all out spend a little extra cash and install a solid floor that is tight as possible.

Ensuring a strong platform for your new tile floor! Sources: PC 123 .

1 depends on the type of wood underneath. If it is saturated by urine, no amount of scrubbing will remove the odor. The strong ammonia odor will not stay sealed under the sealer, and would probably create a worse problem.

Your best bet might be to replace the wood altogether. If the wood has been damp for a long time, you may have mold and wood rot. Best bet is to take up the carpet, see what you have, and go from there.

Personally, I'd replace the wood, as damp wood will attract termites, carpenter ants and other wood eating pests, and then you'll have a REAL mess on your hands. Good luck, I don't envy you this chore one bit.

Depends on the type of wood underneath. If it is saturated by urine, no amount of scrubbing will remove the odor. The strong ammonia odor will not stay sealed under the sealer, and would probably create a worse problem.

Your best bet might be to replace the wood altogether. If the wood has been damp for a long time, you may have mold and wood rot. Best bet is to take up the carpet, see what you have, and go from there.

Personally, I'd replace the wood, as damp wood will attract termites, carpenter ants and other wood eating pests, and then you'll have a REAL mess on your hands. Good luck, I don't envy you this chore one bit.

2 If you don't need tp replace the wood, I would try Nature's Miracle. I have had great success with it. naturemakesitwork.com/catalog/prod_detai... .

If you don't need tp replace the wood, I would try Nature's Miracle. I have had great success with it. naturemakesitwork.com/catalog/prod_detai....

3 That should read " to replace the wood" .

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