Bad smell from new paint

[john martin]

We recently painted our bedroom walls with emmulsion paint(about 6 weeks ago) and there has been a terrible gas like smell ever since which shows no sign of abating. We contacted the paint makers who sent a rep to check it out. He said there was a bacteria in the paint caused when the empty tins became contaminated in storage. He assures us that the smell will go away and offered us credit notes or free paint. We have left windows open and the smell persists. Any ideas? Could this bacterial smell be harmful?

 

[Lex Foutish]

I've had that problem in the past also but the smell did go away. I don't know if it's harmful but I'd recommend you ventilate the room as much as possible till it goes.

Brendan had a similar problem some time ago. Take a look here... http://www.askaboutmoney.com/showthread.php?p=850010

 

[Peter54]

That's interesting. I recently painted my sitting room and got the same smell that you are describing. It took about three weeks for the smell to fully go and that was with the windows open as often as possible. Six weeks is a very long time to wait. If you ask me the paint company should be paying for somebody to repaint your room after all they've admitted to a bacteria in the paint.