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New patio and drainage weird smell

10 replies

KinderWild · 14/08/2021 11:14

We've just had a new patio laid with a drainage system to take the run off water into the drains. It is an Edwardian terrace with combined drains as far as I know and the drainage for the new gully is into existing connection previously used for the downpipe. The patio is sandstone with some pointing (no idea what it's made of but it contains some kind of sand like material) in between. We've used a reliable, insured workman.

The patio is finished and it and the garden smells strongly of banana skin. We were away for the last two days of the job so haven't had a chance to ask questions of the contractor yet but will follow up by email. I just wondered if anyone had any ideas what this could be?!

It is definately coming from the patio. I can smell it although less strongly from the upstairs windows. Our houses have the L shape at the back where smells tend to pool but the smell extends to a good few metres away from the patio into the grass area. Also there does seem to be a footprint stain on one of the slabs. So maybe they've sealed them with something...

OP posts:
FortunesFave · 14/08/2021 11:35

IS it possible one of your neighbours has a plant that smells like bananas? Magnolia Fuscata smells like bananas. If it's coming into flower or something?

KinderWild · 14/08/2021 11:40

Thank you but I wish. I've been up and down the row and it's just us.

OP posts:
KinderWild · 14/08/2021 11:59

Should say we don't have any plants in our garden. Nothing new in either neighbours garden. It's definitely the patio.
Could it be -
Sealant?
What they've used as pointing?
Something in the screed in which the slabs have been laid?
The drains? But it doesn't smell sulphury

OP posts:
FortunesFave · 14/08/2021 22:17

How long ago was it completed?

KinderWild · 14/08/2021 23:52

Two days ago.

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FortunesFave · 15/08/2021 01:33

I asked my DH about this as he's a handyman and he said...sounds a bit silly but maybe, one of the workmen has left a banana somewhere and it's rotting...even under the slabs.

See if you can follow the smell...find out where it gets strongest.

FourTeaFallOut · 15/08/2021 07:27

When the bricklayers who were doing our extension mixed up the mortar they used some washing up liquid in the mix - I think it acts like a plasticiser. Anyway, they just happened to have a weird purple coloured one to hand which made the house smell like haribo for a couple of days. Could it be something like that?

PathOfLeastResitance · 15/08/2021 08:26

The pointing on our patio was done with a substance that stunk and could possibly have been described as rotten banana if you were being positive. I think it was called Easy Joint but it was a while ago that I did it.

Patioproblem · 20/02/2023 22:36

Hi. Did the smell go away in the end? I've recently had a patio done and getting similar smell. Some say it's the cement reaction with the sandstone. Hope it's good news and the smell disappears eventually!

KinderWild · 20/02/2023 23:49

Yes it did. It was the resin they put in between the flagstones curing. We are a mid terrace with the rear part of the house where the kitchen is not being the full width of the plot. The air flow isnt great and smells seem to get caught. But it was all gone in about 3 weeks, thankfully.

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