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Steeny
Member
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# Posted: 30 May 2016 06:41pm
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Next step in building my shed is to cover the Roxul insulation with this plastic called "poly". The smell of this poly is nauseating. Can this be right? Might I have a bad batch? Or does the smell eventually go away? Or is there something else I can use? I have had this chunk airing out with the doors open since yesterday and it still is disgustingly smelly.
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Wendigolake
Member
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# Posted: 30 May 2016 07:45pm
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I have used "poly" as vapor barrier for a lot of years. Never really had it smell more than a light plastic smell that really is not that noticeable. Is it new or has it been sitting around for a while?
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Steeny
Member
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# Posted: 30 May 2016 07:46pm
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I bought the roll of poly last fall, but didn't take the wrapper off of it till just yesterday.
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Steeny
Member
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# Posted: 30 May 2016 07:53pm
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Smells really strong of plastic.
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creeky
Member
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# Posted: 30 May 2016 08:11pm
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I don't know. Just unwrapped the poly off a mattress topper from IKEA. We were like. Wow. This topper stinks. I took the poly out to the truck. Sniffed it. The poly stunk. Got back inside. The mattress topper smelled. But a different smell.
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bldginsp
Member
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# Posted: 30 May 2016 10:20pm
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Poly is polyethylene, which by itself has little or no odor and is fairly inert stuff compared to other plastics, so I've read. By itself with no plasticisers it has a waxy, flexible substance to it and doesn't need much in the way of additives to be useful. Unlike vinyl which is very brittle by itself and must have plasticisers to be useful. Still, they do add stuff to poly sometimes for whatever reasons. I think that's what you are smelling, and I would throw it away. It's the additives in plastics that cause the most harm. Remember 'that new car smell' and new vinyl shower curtains? We are the Guinea pigs in the Great Chemical Experiment. What's that strange thing growing off my left arm?
Recently got cotton shower curtains. They're great.
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Steeny
Member
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# Posted: 30 May 2016 11:28pm
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Thinking I will take the poly to the building supply store where I bought it and ask them if it smells right. I could ask to see another pack and if they'd let me open it to smell it.
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Don_P
Member
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# Posted: 31 May 2016 07:41am
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Try reading this first and searching around that website.
http://buildingscience.com/documents/enclosures-that-work/high-r-value-wall-assemblie s/high-r-wall-advanced-frame-mineral-fiber-board
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Steve_S
Member
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# Posted: 31 May 2016 08:07am
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My last roll of 6mil Poly stank when I first pulled I out of the bag but 15 minutes later, no smell unless I stuck my nose up to it. It really should not have any lasting smell at all.
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Wilbour
Member
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# Posted: 31 May 2016 05:32pm
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Mine gave a noticeable odor for some time. Not sure if it dissipated or just putting up my tongue and grove hid the smell. Not so bad anymore. It was noticeable when you first entered the cabin but I would get used to it.
Creeky is right, the same plastic is used in mattress casings, p-u!
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Don_P
Member
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# Posted: 31 May 2016 10:26pm
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... and milk jugs 
Let's try another one, good reading here;
http://buildingscience.com/documents/insights/bsi-073-macbeth-does-vapor-barriers
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MtnDon
Member
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# Posted: 31 May 2016 11:37pm - Edited by: MtnDon
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return the poly or re-purpose it to something like covering piles of slash to be burnt when it is safe to do so, and re-think the wall construction.
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