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So I recently refinished my basement. In the process, I replaced the entire drop ceiling with new tiles. I finished that a couple of months ago.

I recall the distinct smell of the dust that these tiles create when handled or when I would drill holes in them. I am now occasionally smelling that same dust in my basement. Some days its there, others its not.

Nothing is disturbing the tiles (no, there are animals in the ceiling) and I haven't been moving them around for any reason. They are just sitting there.

What could cause the tiles to emit dust and create that smell? How do I get rid of it?

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    ventilate and clean the basement until the remaining dust is gone. – ratchet freak Apr 28 '17 at 14:13
  • @ratchetfreak: I did that. I removed all the carpet and old ceiling, then I installed the new ceiling, then cleaned the entire basement again, painted the walls, cleaned, installed floor, cleaned. It's clean. As I mentioned, the smell is not constant - it's occasional. – rothloup Apr 28 '17 at 14:16
  • It will dissipate in short order. – Jack Apr 28 '17 at 14:31
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    Have you moved in down there and start using the place as normal? The one thing to consider is that the ceiling is a lot of area so you have a lot of material up in place that will take a while for it all to mellow out so to speak. Once you start using it after a time other smells will be introduced and it should negate the ceiling tile smell I would imagine. – Jack Apr 28 '17 at 15:25
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    The ceiling tiles will loose their smell over time until you will hardly notice them. When I finished my basement it took many months to get rid of the smell. You have to keep venting the area to reduce the smell. That smell is from the tiles " out-gassing". which slowly reduces over time. – d.george Apr 29 '17 at 11:25
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Just as new homes and new cars smell new for years, your basement will smell new until enough activity and ventilation have occurred. I lined part of my basement workshop with OSB two years ago and I still smell it when I walk down there.

I suggest time and air. Worst-case scenario you replace the tiles, but I doubt it'll come to that.

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  • Any idea what is being 'outgassed' from these tiles which causes the smell? – cr0 Jan 12 '18 at 17:10
  • Sorry, no. I'm not much of a chemist. – isherwood Jan 15 '18 at 14:44

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