Why does my building with concrete walls smell like paint?

I have a 2 year old one room building with concrete walls that is built into a hill and I think moisture is coming through the cement and reacting with the interior walls. I had a mold specialist come and check for moisture but he did not find a ton of it, but the room still smells like some chemical or paint or something and is virtually uninhabitable. The contractor says he put a sealer on the concrete and there is an air pocket. Does the air pocket need to be ventilated so the moisture can evaporate? There is a lot of irrigation on the hillside the building is built into and a shower on one side, and a fountain on the other. I have aired this room out over much time, but the smell never goes away and I am afraid the walls are getting moisture buildup from within...Why does my building with concrete walls smell like paint?
In order to solve your problem you need to consider all sources, moisture would not create a wet paint smell.


You have a chemical reaction or off gassing of some kind going on. Consult the builder to find out what kind of cement or epoxy or other materials were used to join the concrete if its blocks and consult your contractor, if the sealer is dry maybe you can paint over it with a low voc latex paint, if he thinks its OK