CASE STUDY: EPOXY SMELL IN PET HOTELS

60-Room Pet Hotel Pours Epoxy Before Songkran: Cats Stop Eating, Dogs Sneeze, Owners Post Warnings Over Chemical Smell

The epoxy smell in pet hotels does not just bother people. It hits the dogs and cats who sleep right on the floor, and the trust of every owner who left them there. Here is a peak-season lesson, and how ozone paint odor removal with measured results helped.

Fully Booked for Songkran, but the Cat Bowls Stayed Full: The Story of Fluffy Tail House

This story is a composite based on situations we commonly see; names and places are fictional.

Most people treat the epoxy smell in pet hotels as a short-term nuisance: "Leave the doors open for a couple of days and it'll be gone." For Praewa, owner of "Fluffy Tail House," a 60-room dog and cat hotel in Bang Yai, Nonthaburi, that smell turned what should have been the busiest, most profitable week of her year into a week of answering Facebook comments at two in the morning.

A cleaner floor before the holiday rush

Fluffy Tail House has 36 dog suites and 24 cat condos. The old tiled floor had cracked grout lines, and urine seeped into the joints no matter how often the staff scrubbed. So Praewa invested around 380,000 baht in a seamless epoxy floor across roughly 420 square meters of guest rooms. It would be easy to wipe down.

The quietest window was early April, just before the Songkran bookings kicked in. The contractor poured the floor from April 2 to 4 and promised: "You can walk on it in 24 hours, and the smell will fade in two or three days." By then, the April 10–17 holiday period was already booked out at 58 of 60 rooms, most of them with deposits paid.

Humans got used to it. The cats did not.

After the pour, the team propped every door open, set up four industrial fans, hung bamboo charcoal bags and bought two extra air purifiers. But April in central Thailand pushes close to 38°C. Once the first animals checked in, the rooms had to be closed up with the air conditioning running all day to keep them comfortable, and the sharp glue-and-thinner smell simply circulated.

On April 8, the first early-holiday guests dropped off their pets. Some staff said they "could barely smell it anymore," having worked around it for days. The new arrivals disagreed. A Scottish Fold named "Som Jeed" refused to touch her food for almost two days. Three other cats hid behind their litter boxes. Several dogs sneezed repeatedly, and a pug named "Tua Daeng" sounded more congested than usual. Mint, a night-shift staff member, went home every morning with a headache and watery eyes.

One post in a cat lovers' group

On the morning of April 10, Jane, Som Jeed's owner, asked for a video call to check on her cat. She saw the untouched bowl and overheard staff talking about the floor smell. That evening she posted in a local cat lovers' Facebook group: "If you're boarding your cat over Songkran, check first. The place I used has a really strong chemical smell and my baby hasn't eaten in two days."

The post was shared hundreds of times, and within hours someone had tagged Fluffy Tail House. Fourteen bookings were cancelled in 24 hours. Praewa refunded more than 36,000 baht in deposits, and three dog owners rushed back to collect their pets early.

Praewa called Dr. Ton, a veterinarian she knew. His first advice was clear: move the animals out of the smelly area right away, watch them closely, and bring in any cat that still would not eat. She moved every animal to the front reception area. That night she typed "epoxy smell pet hotel how to fix" into a search bar and found WHD's ozone treatment service.

Why Epoxy Smell in Pet Hotels Does More Damage Than You Think

A pet boarding business sells peace of mind far more than it sells rooms. When a chemical smell from a new floor lingers in the building, the damage spreads well beyond the odor itself.

1. The health of animals and staff

• Pets sleep and breathe close to the floor, exactly where vapors from a fresh coating are most concentrated.
• Cats and dogs rely on their noses far more than we do. A strong, unfamiliar smell can leave them stressed, off their food, hiding or sneezing.
• Animals with existing breathing issues, such as flat-faced breeds like pugs, Shih Tzus and Persians, as well as senior pets, may be affected more easily.
• Staff who spend whole shifts inside may experience headaches, dizziness, eye, nose and throat irritation, or nausea, and people with allergies or asthma may see symptoms flare up.

2. Money lost at the worst possible time

• Cancelled bookings and refunded deposits during Songkran or New Year, when there is no time to fill rooms again.
• Fans, purifiers, charcoal and extra staff hours spent moving animals back and forth.
• Vet visits, which many pet hotels choose to cover themselves to protect the customer relationship.

3. A reputation judged in online groups

• Pet owners talk fast, through Facebook groups, LINE chats and map reviews.
• A single warning post can keep showing up in searches long after the problem is fixed.

4. Trust built over years

Some regular customers have boarded with the same hotel for years. But seeing their own pet listless and refusing food can shake that trust overnight. That is why removing paint odor and chemical residue quickly, with evidence you can show, matters as much as saying sorry.

What Is That Smell in the Kennels, Really?

The sharp smell after a floor pour is not just "new smell." It comes from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) slowly escaping from the materials. This process is called off-gassing, and the combined level of these compounds in the air can be measured as TVOC (Total Volatile Organic Compounds).

Two-part epoxy and a reaction that is not finished yet

An epoxy floor is made by mixing a resin with a hardener. Many hardeners are amine-based, with a smell a bit like ammonia. Some systems also use primers or solvents such as thinner during surface preparation. A floor you can "walk on" after 24 hours is not fully cured. For days afterward, it keeps releasing vapors.

Why kennel rooms make the smell last longer

Most pet suites are small, closed, air-conditioned rooms with little fresh air, designed to keep temperatures stable. Vapors build up with nowhere to go. On top of that, a pet's nose sits only a few dozen centimeters above the floor, while ours is much higher. A person walking through may think the smell has faded while the animals are still breathing it at full strength.

Beds, blankets and cat trees act like sponges

Fabric cushions, blankets, scratching posts, cat condos built from plywood or MDF, gypsum walls and foam padding all absorb vapors and release them again later. That is why a room can seem fine during the day, then smell strong again after being shut all night.

Why the Usual Fixes Fall Short in a Pet Hotel

1. Opening doors and running fans helps a little, but it takes days or even weeks. In the hot season, boarded animals cannot go without air conditioning, so the business loses both time and income.
2. Air fresheners and perfume only mask the smell; the VOCs are still there. They also add yet another strange scent for the animals, and some essential oils are not suitable around cats.
3. Charcoal bags and baking soda have a tiny absorption capacity compared with hundreds of square meters of fresh coating.
4. Home air purifiers are sized for a single small room. Their carbon filters saturate quickly, and they cannot pull air from every corner of 60 separate suites at once.
5. Mopping with floor cleaner makes the surface look clean, but the vapors come from inside the curing material, not from dirt on top.
6. Waiting it out sounds simple, but odor that has soaked into fabric, foam, wood and gypsum keeps coming back out, and the booking calendar will not wait.

The Solution: WHD Ozone Paint Odor Removal with the Master Ozone Generator

The ozone paint odor and chemical residue removal service from World Health Disinfection (WHD) uses the Master Ozone Generator to release ozone gas into a closed space. It is designed for paint and chemical smells from construction and renovation work, including acrylic and oil-based paint, epoxy and PU coatings, thinner, lacquer, steel-structure spray paint and industrial adhesives.

How ozone works

Ozone (O₃) is a molecule made of three oxygen atoms. The treatment mimics the way nature purifies air. Ozone reacts with odor molecules, chemical vapors (VOCs) and germs through oxidation, breaking their molecular bonds at the source. In other words, it destroys the odor instead of covering it up.

Once the cycle is complete, ozone naturally breaks down back into oxygen (O₂), leaving no chemical residue on floors, walls or belongings. That matters a lot in a space where animals lick the floor, groom their fur and lie down all day. Because it is a gas, ozone also reaches corners, the undersides of shelves, the back of cat condos and gaps that fans and purifiers simply cannot.

Pets and people must leave during treatment

This is the most important point for any pet business. Ozone treatment is carried out by trained technicians in a closed, unoccupied space. Every animal, every person and every plant must stay out of the treated zone for the whole cycle, because high-concentration ozone is not something anyone should breathe. After the cycle, the ozone is left to decompose and the area is ventilated before anyone goes back in. Areas are typically ready to use within about 2 hours.

TVOC measured before and after, not just "it feels better"

WHD measures TVOC on site both before and after treatment, using an AM1310 meter backed by calibration documents: a KIMO PT100 SC0110 adjusting certificate and a BR-SMART certificate of calibration. WHD is one of the few providers in Thailand that shows TVOC reduction results measured at real job sites. For a pet hotel facing a chemical smell complaint, those readings are evidence you can share with customers, which is far more convincing than "it doesn't smell anymore, we promise."

10 Reasons Pet Hotels Choose WHD for Ozone Odor Treatment

1. It breaks down odor at the source

Ozone breaks apart the molecules that cause the smell instead of layering fragrance on top. Your guests do not have to deal with two unfamiliar smells at once: the chemical one and the perfume meant to hide it.

2. No chemical residue left behind

After the cycle, ozone returns to oxygen naturally. Nothing is left on the surfaces pets sleep on and lick, which is exactly what a boarding facility needs. Learn more about our chemical residue removal with ozone.

3. Before-and-after TVOC readings

Readings taken with a calibrated AM1310 meter let you talk to customers openly and honestly.

4. Zone-by-zone treatment keeps you open

The team can plan the work in zones, such as the dog wing, the cat wing or the grooming room. Animals can stay in an untreated, separated area for a short time, so the business keeps running.

5. It reaches every corner

Ozone spreads under kennels, behind shelving, inside cat condo cubbies and up into ceiling corners, places where fans and household purifiers never really reach.

6. Fast turnaround

Rather than waiting weeks for a smell to fade, ozone paint smell removal works quickly, and areas are typically ready to use within about 2 hours after the process ends.

7. One service for many chemical smells

Beyond epoxy, it handles PU coatings, wall paint, thinner, lacquer and adhesives, which often arrive together in a renovation.

8. Helps reduce mustiness and germs in closed spaces

Beyond chemical odors, ozone also helps reduce musty smells, germs and mold in enclosed areas, an everyday challenge wherever many animals share one building.

9. Trained technicians and a clear process

Technicians assess the site, confirm that all animals, people and plants are out, protect or remove sensitive items, seal the area and size the treatment cycle to the room volume.

10. Experience across very different spaces

WHD's real job sites range from condo bedrooms and living rooms to car paint spraying, office meeting rooms and chemical industrial plants. Ask about your facility on the WHD ozone odor treatment page.

Before and After Ozone Treatment in the Kennel Wing

How the WHD Team Works

1. Site survey and baseline TVOC check. The technician looks at room sizes, ceiling heights, the air-conditioning layout and the newly installed materials, then takes a baseline TVOC reading with the AM1310 meter.
2. Remove animals, people and plants; protect sensitive items. Every animal leaves the treatment zone, along with food, water bowls and medication. Natural rubber toys, artworks and sensitive electronics are removed or covered as the technician advises.
3. Seal the area and set up the Master Ozone Generator. Doors, windows and any gaps that could leak into occupied zones are closed off, warning signs go up, and the unit is positioned so the gas spreads evenly.
4. Run a cycle sized to the room volume. The duration depends on floor area, ceiling height and how strong the odor is. Large facilities may be treated zone by zone.
5. Decomposition and ventilation. After the cycle, ozone breaks down into oxygen and the technician ventilates the space before anyone re-enters.
6. Re-check TVOC and odor. Readings are compared with the baseline, including spots near floor level where the smell was worst.
7. Hand back the space. Results are shared with the owner, and the area is typically ready to use within about 2 hours, along with practical advice on bringing animals back in.

How Things Ended at Fluffy Tail House

On the afternoon of April 11, the WHD team surveyed the site and took TVOC readings in the dog suites and cat condos. They split the job into two zones, the dog wing and the cat wing. Meanwhile, all the animals stayed in the front reception area, which has its own doors and a separate air-conditioning unit.

The Master Ozone Generator ran a cycle sized to each zone's volume, the ozone was left to decompose, and the rooms were ventilated. When the technician re-tested, TVOC readings in both zones were clearly lower than the baseline. Praewa crouched down and sniffed near the floor herself, and said it was the first time in a week her nose had not stung.

She brought the animals back that evening after the team confirmed the rooms were ready. That night most of the cats came out to explore, and Som Jeed began nibbling wet food the next day. Dr. Ton advised keeping an eye on her for a while longer. The dogs that had been sneezing settled down too.

Then Praewa did something harder: she posted an honest update in the group. She admitted she had taken in guests too soon after the pour, explained what she had done about it, and attached photos of the before-and-after TVOC readings. Not everyone was convinced, but a number of former customers messaged to rebook. Fluffy Tail House finished Songkran at around 70% occupancy, short of the full house she had hoped for, but far better than closing for the week. And Jane brought Som Jeed back to board again over New Year.

Planning Your Next Pet Hotel Renovation Without an Odor Crisis

• Choose low-VOC products. Ask your contractor for the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) of every coating and adhesive before work starts.
• Allow proper curing time. "Walkable in 24 hours" is not the same as fully cured. Ask the manufacturer how many days it needs in your actual temperature and humidity.
• Never schedule a floor pour right before peak season. Leave at least one to two weeks before a long holiday.
• Book ozone treatment before guests arrive. Build ozone paint odor removal into the project plan before handover, and keep the TVOC readings on file.
• Take out beds, fabrics and cat trees during the work. Less soft material in the room means less odor absorbed and released later.
• Test at pet nose height. Keep a sample room closed with the air conditioning on overnight, then check the smell near the floor, not at standing height.
• Tell customers in advance. Let them know about the renovation and the steps you are taking for air quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do pets and people need to leave during ozone treatment?

Yes, everyone. All animals, people and plants must stay outside the treated zone for the entire cycle. The space must be closed and unoccupied, and you can go back in once the ozone has decomposed and the area has been ventilated, as confirmed by the technician.

How long does it take?

It depends on the size of the space and the strength of the odor, since the cycle is sized to room volume. Areas are typically ready to use within about 2 hours after the process ends. Larger facilities may be done zone by zone.

Does ozone leave any residue?

No. Ozone naturally breaks down into oxygen, so there is no chemical residue on floors or belongings. The technician waits for it to decompose and ventilates before handing the space back.

What size of space is it suitable for?

Anything from a condo bedroom to large warehouses and factories. For a pet hotel, the team assesses the number of rooms, ceiling heights and airflow before planning the job.

Will the epoxy smell be 100% gone?

No method can honestly guarantee that every chemical disappears completely. Ozone effectively helps reduce and break down odor-causing VOCs, and WHD shows you the before-and-after TVOC readings so you can see the difference for yourself.

How should I prepare before the team arrives?

Set up a temporary space for the animals with its own doors and air conditioning. Remove food, medication, water bowls and rubber toys, and tell the technician about any sensitive items such as artworks or certain electronics.

What if a pet shows symptoms from the smell?

Move the animal to a well-ventilated area straight away and contact a veterinarian, especially for a cat that keeps refusing food or any pet having trouble breathing. Ozone treatment improves the air in the space; it is not a treatment for the animal.

Related Services and Resources

• WHD Ozone Cleaning Service
• Disinfection Spraying Service
• Residential Ozone Disinfection
• US EPA: Volatile Organic Compounds' Impact on Indoor Air Quality
• WHO: Air Quality, Energy and Health

Just Renovated Your Pet Hotel?

Don't wait for a warning post to appear. Let WHD measure TVOC and carry out ozone odor treatment before your furry guests check in.

Call 065-556-6294 · LINE @whd268
Email worldhealthdisinfection@gmail.com
88/268 Kanlapaphruek Rd., Bang Khae, Bangkok 10160, Thailand