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Damp Proofing

How can we reduce mould and condensation in the short term?

Anonymous user 23/02/2024 - 3.04 PM

Basically my mother in law has a very old house. The walls are all just bricked as far as I'm aware and I can't say for certain what the insulation is like. The house is very damp and cold throughout and the walls in virtually every room are mouldy. What we want to do is simply fix up the bedroom for her. Basically clean up existing mould, and prevent it from regrowing. We have already booked in for new windows to be fitted, as the current ones are the old basic ones with wooden frames. Hopefully new windows will help the problem. The main thing we need to know is what to do with the walls. After cleaning the mould, what products do you suggest on the walls? We want to wallpaper on top of whatever is used. I know there are both paints and papers that you can use to prevent the damp from coming through, but what products are more appropriate? Should we use a dmp proof paint with mould repellant? Or a foil paper? Or a mixture of both? Thanks for any help!

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2 Answers

Anonymous user

Hi, there are a number of different ways to help prevent damp and mould, not being able to see the property with my own eyes I'll try and answer as fairly as I can, hopefully with your new windows there will be vents to help with air circulation, if not installing a simple air brick can help. With regards to mould, you will need to wash the walls with a fungicide wash to kill the bacteria and stop further growth. Also if it's a carpeted room the carper can hols moisture so a de-humidifier may be needed to help remove moisture. With regards to decoration and painting once you feel the damp and mould has gone, you'll could be left with stains and a simple stain block paint can get rid of this. But unfortunately a quick fix may not be sufficient and an investigation may need to be done to find out the true cause of your damp problems. I hope this helps Thanks James

Answered16 August 2016

Home Ventilation Ltd

Rating: 5 out of 5

Harrogate

Hello, Whilst cleaning the mould and using anti-mould paint may cover up the symptoms, they will only return, especially during the colder months, unless the ventilation in the property is addressed. Trickle vents and air bricks will allow some moisture to escape, but isn't enough to ventilate a home, and solve a condensation and mould problem, which in this case sounds quite severe. Mechanical ventilation systems help control the humidity in the home and keep it at a safe level where these problems won't occur, without compromising the energy efficiency of the home. Ask a ventilation specialist for a free survey, and they will be able to offer a solution which will be covered by a money back guarantee that the problem will be solved. In regards to cleaning the mould, smaller patches can be cleaned with warm soapy water and disposable paper towels. For larger areas, we would recommend professional mould remediation.

Answered17 August 2016