Mould on internal walls

[Velvetee]

My tenant has reported there is mould on some of the walls in my flat. A Surveyor has had a look and says the problem is not coming from outside, but is more likely to be due to poor ventilation in the flat.

Apart from keeping windows open, what other measures can be taken to prevent this and what can be used to kill the spores?

[buildersmate]

Create more forced ventilation close to the areas that are primarily responsible for the source of the water vapour - above the stove and close to any shower.

[theshedman]

I agree with buildersmate anywhere there's water vapour is often a problem. Also if you have furniture very close to an outside wall can give problems as there isn't enough air getting to the areas behind the furniture. If the area affected isn't too bad you could try Dettox mould and mildew remover. I have often used it in my home and it usually works well. If it is quite badly affected use it more than once. It's is also good to use above a shower every so often as it helps keep any mould away.

[Im a BusyBee]

we had this problem with a tenant and it turned out to be an absolute nightmare. He wouldnt accept the fact it was poor ventilation - they would be out at work all day come home and shower, cook, hang wet washing indoors to dry, yet never open a window and they were adamant there was a serious problem with the house, asking for compensation for their mouldy things. They got the environmental health officer out to inspect in the end and she confirmed what we had been trying to tell them for weeks. While doing our investigations we found out that just sleeping creates a lot of damp (i did know the figures but forgotten now).

[whiskygalore]

Basically, you are trying to avoid any extreme amount of hot or cold being created, so leaving windows wide open after having a shower for example, can worsen the problem.

i) Leave windows slightly open whilst and after bathing and cooking
ii) Don't dry clothes indoors. If this can't be avoided, leave windows slightly open and keep heating on low.
iii) Keep bathroom and kitchen doors closed
iv) Extract fans, with at least 10 minute override, for the bathroom and kitchen
v) Leave bedroom windows slightly open for 30 minutes in the morning and if possible, at night time.

[jen78]

You can get ventilation systems through the wall to try and get rid of some of the water in the air after showers and such.

Also make sure that the bathroom is sufficiently warm to get water to evaporate so it doesn't just lie on the floor or, if overspill from the shower, make sure it is sealed properly and all plugholes are draining well so there is never standing water about.

A heated towel rail could help wet towels being left around.

Do they have a tumble dryer that is either a condenser or has a pipe outlet to outside so to reduce any drying of wet clothes and such in the flat.

Is there a reason they don't want to open the windows? Solving that may help.

If too cold then you could consider additional heating, if security wise, you could consider additional security measures (I have a ground floor flat which windows I can open fully of just slightly which lock in just a bit open so I feel safer).

[jen78]

I found this...

http://www.discoverychannel.co.uk/homeandhealt h/article.jsp?section_id=3&theme_id=2&subtheme _id=4&article_id=170&site=uk

Charcoal in a decorate fashion could be an idea, even if hidden.

Gives some tips about removal as well.

I have no idea if you can get special paints and better flooring which might help the situation, might be worth looking into?

[Velvetee]

The flat was completely refurbed in March, it seems the damp is only coming on one wall, in one spot in both the bedroom and livingroom. There is no damp in the kitchen or bathroom.

I thought about getting a Dehumidifyer to help remove some of the excess moisture. Do you think that would help?

Also, can anyone recommend a company that can do a report on the damp? The woman who runs our management company says her husband is a Surveyor and says there is nothing wrong with the outside walls. However, I would like an independent report.

[theshedman]

Hi, forgot to ask is flat upstairs or on ground level. If the problem is not due to furniture being put too close to the walls there is another possibility and that is that the cavity between outside wall and inside one is what is called dirty, meaning that some dirt or mortar has fallen on to a wall- tie and damp is crossing that way.

[Velvetee]

Thanks for your comments everyone.

Hi Theshed. Yes it is a flat on the first floor of a low storey block. My tenant says the patches of mildew are only in certain places. If there is a dirty wall, will a damp specialist be able to discover this and what would be the treatment?

Thanks

[terambulan]

Is there one of the gas bottle heaters being used......they cause condensation and damp.

[baileybird]

Try Peter Cox Damp and Timber Specialists - Nationwide coverage and think 1st inspection and report is free - we have used them plenty of times for properties. Hope you get this sorted.

[Pimpernel]

Hello Velvetee and others!

A dehumidifier (the electrical kind) is definitely the best thing to do!
I've had one for years in my small flat in Paris, it uses as little energy as a fridge (so you can save on the heating!), and isn't much more noisy. With it, I managed to keep the humidity level below 70% at all times (even on rainy days in the winter when I had to dry my washing inside); without, the humidity level shots up to 90%.

I'm currently renting (houseshares) and in my current house, there is a problem of mould, especially in the loo, the bathroom, and my room, which is very small. It is ventilated (the cheap PVC window lets in a draught even when it's closed, and when it rains, I have water on my window sill). I open the window every evening to renew the air, but it has to remain closed during the day (risk of burglaries) and at night (cold) and I do need to breathe, and the air you breathe out contains water vapour...

I can't have a humidifier (not enough room), but I do use calcium chloride, and Dettol mildew remover (beware, it contains bleach, and I've just damaged a pair of trousers while doing my Sunday room-cleaning). I had never had mould in Paris, even before I had had a dehumidifier, but then my building was very upscale, whereas the house where I'm renting now is a Victorian terrace, cheaply built.

Best thing to do would be to pull the house down and rebuild it. I know quite a lot of people who rent, and for humidity and mould, the worst offenders are basement flats: you don't stand with your back to the wall, because you can hear the mould whispering 'come on, guys, let's get him!'.

[ramdux]

Pimpernell's answer was a classic one but so true (except for the bit about the whispering mould!). I just spotted huge patches of mould on the walls of a bedroom directly behind furniture which has been placed very close to the wall. It was awful to look at - I spent an hour cleaning the walls.

I wanted to confirm everything that's been in this really helpful webpage. In a room, typically like the bedroom I just cleaned where the windows are always kept shut, mould will grow behind furniture that is pressed against the walls.

It is essential to air the room out daily. If it cannot be aired during the day, just open the window when you wake up in the morning and close it before you go to work. That will leave enough time for the moisture to escape. Drying clothes in a bedroom with the windows closed is another no-no. As someone mentioned, Dettox mould and mildew remover works a treat but is difficult to find in supermarkets these days.

Have a mould-free day!

[izzoubi]

I think you need a plaster called SUBERITE, where this material can help you get rid of the mould and the damped wall forever, please go to
www.suberite.com