Velochicdunord <for.arts.s...@sympatico.ca>

Have a domestic issue question on a grand scale. I'm the board member
in charge of the property management in a self-managed Toronto
residential co-op (the sort that you own a share of). It's an older
building, we've completed our first reserve fund study, and are
starting in on project number two of big building reno. All of which is
to say, we're doing a lot of catch-up maintenance. I have found a few
surprises as I've switched roles from treasurer to property manager.
And of course, I'm doing all this in my copious spare time.

A visiting friend of mine recently pointed out that we have a strong
mildew smell when one enters the lobby from the street. I'm trying to
determine the source, because, quite frankly, I can't smell it. The
lobby has a plaster ceiling, beautiful fifties style wood panelling,
and a terrazzo floor, with a large area carpet (about fifteen years
old) and a somewhat frat-housish collection of sofas and chairs. As far
as I can tell, the mildew smell is coming from either the carpets or
the furniture. We last had the carpet cleaned in 2005. It also has a
high voume traffic runner laid across it. It's a good question when
_that_ last went out for cleaning. It may or may not be the source,
because, according to my friend, the smell was stronger during the
summer than it is now, when the heating is on.

Any ideas as to what I should be checking.... and possibly, how to
handle it?