Slightly manky wall

[sherrardk]

In our bedroom and the living room, almost in the same place, there are some tiny spots of mould. Firstly, the outside of this bit of wall is in the neighbours garden - do they have to let us have a look at the outside of the wall? Secondly, I will look at the wall first (have had some problems with Mr Neighbour, but he is now my slave but probably still doesn't like my husband) so how will I spot an external problem? Finally, if there is a problem and himself fixes it, how will I get rid of the marks on the inside - its not our house so we can't decorate so need a minimalist approach. Thanks.

[rsvp]

sherrardk - have no answer whatsoever to your thread but have to post that 'slightly manky wall' takes the biscuit for me as a thread title. Great, I loved it x

[sherrardk]

Thank you.

[factor-fiction]

Yes, I felt I had to check it out even though I don't normally venture into Homes & Gardens

[boxtops]

Go outside and see if there are green things growing up the outside of the wall, or moss, or leaky gutters.

If the mould inside has dried off, just paint over it - you can get mould sealant paint but I can't remember what it's called, we used it in our window bays.

[sherrardk]

Really hope that manky means what I think it does (used to say tad quite often until someone told me it meant b0ll0cks).

[boxtops]

Really, sher? I often say a tad - meaning a bit.

Manky means manky, tatty, skanky - it'll do for me.

[rsvp]

tad means what?!!!!!!!

[boxtops]

sher - definition #2 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tad

[sherrardk]

The person who told me was from Bournemouth, if that makes any diffence. She was amazed that I kept saying it as I used to say it in my lessons (when I was a teacher, not a student).

[boxtops]

I think she was wrong

[sherrardk]

Thanks for that Box - didn't know it meant a small child (you learn something new ...).

[boxtops]

You can count your tads now, then, sher!

[craft1948]

She's talking a load of tad...............

[sherrardk]

Sorry, one of my tads just woke up (now asleep on the sofa) - still got a manky wall though!

[scotman]

Obviously I am not the only who read the question title wrongly.

[boxtops]

is that where tad-poles come from?

[sherrardk]

Hi Scotman - I must have really missed something here, how did you read it?

[theshedman]

Anyway back to the question. If there is not a lot of mould you should be able to get rid of it using something like Dettox Mould and Mildew remover. As it is on the outside wall this often happens usually due to bad ventilation of some sort and is usually nothing to worry about. Check that there is nothing wrong with the outside of the wall as boxtops has said and if there is then sort that out first otherwise it will just come back. I personally wouldn't seal the mould in as it will just continue to grow under the paint or paper you put on it. Get rid of it then if there is a stain on the wall use some form of stain block just to seal the stain not the cause. If you have any oil based undercoat and gloss you could mix them together in equal quantities and paint this on to seal the stain.

[The Builder]

Sounds like you have a solid wall, Sher................... brick or stone, with no insulation. It's the time of year. Water vapour (stop breathing!) condenses on the coldest surface it can find.
You must use your heating in an old property, to keep the walls relatively warm........... and ventilate to remove the vapour.
I would do as Shedders says :o)))

[nannybooby]

Agree with comments about looking for blocked gutters etc ,if the wall is painted white you could wipe it down with a weak bleach solution - this is what we used to doin Spain for foxing on walls ( mould)