Teragren flooring ODOR

13 years ago

I hope someone can help. I have 400 sq feet of unboxed (just removed plastic on outside of the boxes) in my livingroom and just sitting in the boxes it's smelling up my entire house!

I'm of course concerned. I specifically chose Teragren based on their Floorscore certification, low emissions, etc. Can I trust that this smell I'm smelling isn't toxic?

I called the company and they just kind of acted perplexed, said there should only be a slight 'sweet' odor. The smell isn't a pleasant sweet smell to me - smells more like chemicals.

I seriously want to have it independently tested! I can hardly 'return' it at this point. The installer is coming tomorrow. We'll see what kind of headache (literally) the smell gives him and what he says.

I'm having a 'slumber party' with my kids and my niece tonight, and normally when she sleeps over we sleep out in our dining room (because living room has the flooring) and it smells so bad out here, we're camping out in the bedroom.

UGH! Please someone tell me that this flooring smells but what I'm smelling isn't TOXIC. I hope once it's installed it might go away? (If it doesn't I don't know what I'll do - I can't stand it right now - and it's still in the BOXES)

This isn't Lumber Liquidators junk. This is Teragren. I paid a lot for this floor!

Featured Answer

Vith

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

If the odor is very strong from the box, you should return it. I have noticed a particular area of flooring at my work place they installed over a year ago and there is still an odor. Some product just puts off worse VOCs. A definite odor is not something to ignore, it smells for a reason, and it might not go away. A lot of products do smell out of the box and is normal, but if it is very strong and does not dissipate by airing out the room over a week then you have a problem and are possibly being exposed to high levels of formaldehyde.

Comments (10)

Floortech
13 years ago
How did you buy it..? Will the retailer come and visit. Please don't tell me you bought it off the internet...it will probably go away..but have the retailer come to your home...
MongoCT
13 years ago
I have never had a problem with Teragren, even back when they were TimberGrass. No QC issues, no finish issues, to cupping, no noxious odors. Nothing.

Teragren normally requires the product to be in site 3 days prior to installation for acclimation.

If the odor is that severe it doesn't make sens to install it. You're tossing your warranty protection away right there, as you'll be installing a material you already consider suspect.

So if it really is that bad, and the odor continues to linger, then have them send you new product.
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wijody
Original Author
13 years ago
No I did not buy it online. I will talk to the installer tomorrow, call the store and Teragren again. Thanks.
Floortech
13 years ago
Great..then tell that store your concerns and how are they going to handle them. I would not call the manufacturer as of yet...
wijody
Original Author
13 years ago
I told the store - they said they often get complaints of odors, that new floors have a 'smell', and that I should crack a window when it gets bad.

The installers agree it smells. I'm probably making a mistake by letting them put it in.
boxers
13 years ago
new unfinished, untreated, unstained wood has a 'smell'. So do carpeting and most mfctrd products. If your highly sensitive the advice to let them 'air' out for a bit is good. It doesn't mean its 'toxic'.
glennsfc
13 years ago
Hope the 'smell' disappated.
Bradley11
12 years ago
Any updates on the odor from your flooring? I know it has been a year since you posted, but any info would be greatly appreciated.
Like you, wijody, we just had our Teragren Strand Bamboo flooring delivered, and the odor from the boxes (not even opened) is very strong. Did you end up installing? How fast/slow did the smell dissipate? The installers are coming in a few days, and we'd love to hear your story (hopefully to put our minds at ease!).
carolynscuts
8 years ago
Sorry to bring up an old thread... Bradley11, did anyone respond back to you?
Did you install it? If so did it dissipate?