Mould issues

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Permalink Reply by Salsa on October 8, 2013 at 19:48

My investigations/scouring the internet on this subject have shown that ventilation is really important. However we can't leave the windows open much as we are ground floor and out a lot. We therefore use an dehumidifier which helps get rid of condensation and reduce mould on walls. Try to avoid drying washing inside to reduce condensation. Also fix all things that might cause penetrating damp and this adds to mould groing eg we have a leaking door sill and a mouldy patch next to that. Lastly, if the same patch gets a lot of mould then it might be worth moving/adding a radiator to that section of wall to heat it up and stop the condensation sitting there and then mould growing. For example we have a little mould below our bay windows and this is because the wall gets so cold there so we would do well to fit a radiator under the windows there.

Hope that helps.

I feel your pain. Many of us on the ladder suffer with condensation/mould issues on the ground floor. I also worried about mould and my newborn this time last year.

Good luck! And enjoy your newborn!

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Permalink Reply by michaelw on October 8, 2013 at 20:28

Condensation is certainly a possibility, but it's also possible that its coming from outside. Is the ground level outside (on the ground floor) higher than the floor level? Can you see a damp course - is the ground level below this?

North facing walls are definitely more susceptible to damp in general - in theory you could also try exterior wall insulation.

It's also worth making sure that you leave a bit of space between furniture & cold walls, to allow some air circulation - radiator positioning can also help.

I don't have a cellar, so I'm unsure what impact this could have (though cold air sinks rather than rises in general)

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Permalink Reply by Salsa on October 8, 2013 at 20:37

Interesting ideas thanks...How do you insulate the exterior wall please? Is that in the wall cavity?

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Permalink Reply by michaelw on October 8, 2013 at 21:11

Assuming yours is a standard Victorian ladder house, than it won't have a cavity.

External insulation is stuck onto the outside of your wall, or you can do internal insulation, but this will reduce the size of your rooms.

Both internal & external insulation need to be fitted properly, and aren't cheap:

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Insulation/Solid-wall-insulation

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Permalink Reply by Paul on October 8, 2013 at 21:26

Thanks guys,

Some good tips there. The floor level is the same as the ground outside. It's obviously old like the other terraces so hasn't got the membrane damp course.

We'll give the dehumidifiers a go and see how we get on with those but going downy h empire expensive root of exterior insulation. That really does sound pretty pricey but might be the best option if all else fails.

Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Paul on October 8, 2013 at 22:18

Thanks Tris,

We are an end of terrace so I'm thinking next doors garden level might have risen slightly against the side of our flat over the years causing some of the issues. As you said, if the level outside is higher than the damp proof course, this won't be helping the situation.

I'm going round there this week to see if I can find the damp course and dig away all, if any soil that might have risen.

Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by pamish on October 9, 2013 at 0:41

I was going to recommend you look at HoL favourite PDoyle's huge website that explained everything about damp but it seems to have disappeared - he had said he was retiring. This is his link to recommended independent surveyors, if you or any others ever want to get in an expert opinion - PDoyle claimed that most 'free' surveys are a sales pitch only and much 'damp cure' work is unnecessary - his suggestions were like those already listed here, don't dry washing indoors etc.  An independent survey will cost to get done, but won't waste your money on cowboy work.  

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Permalink Reply by tulips on October 9, 2013 at 8:50

A dehumidifier is definitely worth getting as a first step. It works really well to collect water in the atmosphere. Make sure you buy a good one. Then if necessary get an independent surveyor to identify the problem and recommend what needs doing.

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Permalink Reply by MichaelStroudGreen on October 9, 2013 at 12:41

We suffered really badly with it in our last place. The wife ended up at the doctors because of it.

A dehumidifier took lots of moisture out of the air (about 1 litre a day!) but also look for the obvious - are you boiling pans with the lids off and no fan on, showering with the bathroom door open, drying clothes on the radiators, not opening your windows, are all your beds/wardrobes/book shelves too close to the walls. 

We got some mould killer sprays and face masks and spent a weekend wiping down the walls. We literally emptied rooms to get to it and insured we got everything. That did the trick for us but quite often we would have the spray under the sink and would spray it in corners once a month just in case.

It can make you quite ill so I'd really go to every attempt to get rid of it!

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Permalink Reply by Sarah on October 11, 2013 at 9:17

I lead workshops on keeping your home warm and dry (and bills down!) in winter.  Condensation is an issue that often crops up - condensation and moisture in the air can make your home cooler, but so can opening the window to let it out!

The suggestions here are spot on.

I also make a home-made mould spray that is less toxic and seems to work just as well if not better than commercial sprays.  Fill a spray bottle with water and add 20 drops each lemon, lavender and tea tree essential oils.  You can use it for prevention or cleaning.  I use it in the bathroom, spraying after I have showered, and using a dish brush (reserved for this purpose) to give the ceiling a good scrub.  Unfortunately I have to do it a lot more often since the landlord repainted with non mildew-resistant paint!

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Permalink Reply by Cecilia on October 11, 2013 at 10:33

we had the issue of condensation and mould in our last place. When we repainted we treated the walls with specific anti-mould paint but when the weather started to get cooler (and the condensation worst), the mould reappeared again, so that was a waste of time and money. Unfortunately I think the only things you can do are what other people have mentioned, don't dry the laundry indoors (a tumble drier or even a washer-drier would be a good investment), try to ventilate as much as possible, etc. etc.

@Sarah - thanks for the recipe for the home made mould spray, I hope I won't ever need it in our new place, but it's surely better than the commercial bleach-based ones, which are really toxic!

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