Dealing with damp inside home

[Tobyh]

Hi all,

Not sure if this is correct place so please move if it isn't.

I'm looking for help trying to stop mould / damp inside my bungalow. Overall everywhere is dry, theres no visible signs of moisture other than condensation. We have mould growing in various corners / undisturbed areas and also get problems in wardrobes. We clean it away and within a few weeks it's starting to grow back again.

I've been told it's not rising damp as A) my damp course should be fine for whn property built (70s) and B) no crystal type residue / paint / paper bubbling at all. It all seems to be from inside.

We have tried the dehumidifier packs that you leave in the area and they are collecting a reasonable amount of water. We have now tried closing the air vents in the rooms with problems to see if that helps. Have also tried painting mould resistant paint in affected areas recently.

Anyone else got any ideas or experience please?

I was thinking of trying cavity wall insulation as I'm told that may change the "dew point" to where its in the cavity or even outside brick layer.

Any help or ideas greatly appreciated.

Thanks

TobyH

[Jim Ford]

You mention you have condensation, in which case closing vents will worsen the damp problem.

Jim

[Tursiops2]

You could try posting a question here: DIYnot.com > Forum
A very helpful site.
T2

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

You mention you have condensation, in which case closing vents will worsen the damp problem.

Jim

I agree with you on this, Jim, it is the worst attempt at a solution you could try.

[nightshade]

Do you have central heating? i.e radiators in these rooms? fitting radiator thermostats would allow minimal heating to keep the air circulating, as they need to be warm but well ventilated. Failing that electric oil filled radiators
from £13 500watts from B&Q I use an 800watt one £24 with two heat settings and thermostatic control in my caravan (set low)

[Tobyh]

Thanks for replies so far.

Yes we do have thermostat controlled radiators in those rooms. We closed the vents just to try it, I wondered if the cold air coming in was hitting the warmer air and condensing on the wall. Basically just trying to eliminate possibilities.

The DIY site sounds good, i'll give that a look also

Thanks

[gleditsa]

I have had to deal with this problem many times as a part of my job,
The main cause of this problem is lack of proper ventilation, I know its not very practical at this time of year, but opening the windows to allow fresh air to circulate is a great aid in keeping this problem to a minimum,
The mould only grows when conditions are right for it, i:e warm humid conditions, so aim for a dry airy condition whenever possible,

If you have wallpaper and the mould is growing on the wall behind it ,you will need to strip the paper and treat the walls with a fungicidal solution, paying particular attention to the corners, before either repapering or repainting, omitting this stage of the treatment only means it will come back even quicker,
You can add some fungicidal solution to the wallpaper paste, or if painting again, use a fungicidal paint,(try and use a vinyl silk or acrylic based one rather than a matt emulsion as these will stand up to the frequent washing of the affected areas you may have to do
You can help to keep it at bay with a wash of household bleach in water to wipe of any re-growth as it appears(which is why the vinyl silk/acrylic paint is better as it stands up to the washing better)
If you cannot get the fungicidal paint in the colour you want, some types of fungicidal washes can be mixed with the paint,(follow recommendations on the product )
But above all, keep as well ventilated with fresh air as you can when conditions allow
I have seen cases where even with all the above carried out the mould has continued to grow again due to inadequate ventilation,
Try and keep furniture such as wardrobes away from the wall if possible as this is one of the prime spots for growth of the mould , I have seen upto 4”inches of mould between such items and the wall! Even spreading onto a portable television on a dressing table!!
In some cases the spores can cause respiratory problems , so do try and keep it under control,

[stigofthedump]

Hi Tobyh
Just a few points that might help. Have you checked that the air bricks outside are clear and that there is nothing growing/accumulated above the DPC? Also check that your guttering and down pipes are sound and water tight, any water that escapes from these and is running down the face of the building will find a way of ingress through the outer skin of brickwork and any bridge of the cavity ( like cement debris left by careless tradesmen )

As others have said keep the place well ventilated, especially the kitchen whilst cooking.

Good luck.


Vince

[Rich_]

It is said that filling your cavity walls with insulation can also cause damp too.

[Tobyh]

Thanks very much for the replies, I'll see what I can do to improve it with those in mind.

gleditsa - excellent stuff, I'll print that out and see if I canmake a concerted effort to get more air into the rooms.