Mold on walls

flynnboy

Hi

We have a bedroom that we cannot use because if we do within a few days black mold will start to grow on the walls, especially in places where the air cannot circulate well, like behind the bed headboard. Every day we have to make sure the window is open as this is the only way we can stop it.

It seems to me that we have an air circulation problem together with the fact that the room is at the back of the house and probably the coldest part.

Can anyone suggest how we can cure this permanently ?

Thanks

MicktheMan

Very generally, improve your heating as well as improving the ventilation as well as reducing the moisture load throughout the whole house will all lead to less moisture in the internal air which will lead to less condensation which will lead to less mould. Buy a cheap humidity monitor and if relative humidity readings are above 70% in the room then you are at risk of mould. I doubt very much it has anything to do with air circulation.

It is not possible to give any more specific advice on an internet forum without a lot more information which a full damp/mould survey of the house would yield.

Call me Al

Are the walls insulated? Drylined? Is it an external wall? Do you dry clothes inside? Many of the points mentioned in the previous post are likely contributors.

mikehn

As a short term solution you can treat the symptons by running a dehumidifier in the room, there are some excellent ones available I have a DeLongi which is exceptionally quiet and efficient. But as stated you need to treat the cause asap for health reasons

flynnboy

We do not dry clothes inside, we have tried a dehumidifier but it is costly as it needs to run all day every day. Outside of the house at the back is a fairly wet area and I believe this is perhaps why that room is wetter than the rest. We don't have any problems anywhere else.

Is it possible to somehow inject a damp proofing into a single block-built wall ? I am not convinced that the extension was built properly with a good damp proof membrane.

MicktheMan

flynnboy wrote: »

Is it possible to somehow inject a damp proofing into a single block-built wall ? I am not convinced that the extension was built properly with a good damp proof membrane.

That is why

MicktheMan wrote: »

It is not possible to give any more specific advice on an internat forum without a lot more information which a full damp/mould survey of the house would yield.

this is needed

flynnboy

My question was - Is it possible to somehow inject a damp proofing into a single block-built wall ?

MicktheMan

flynnboy wrote: »

My question was - Is it possible to somehow inject a damp proofing into a single block-built wall ?

Yes.

But I wouldn't contemplate doing it unless I was 100% sure there was a problem with the wall.:)

flynnboy

Well, it's a difficult one. There are no obvious signs of rising damp for example. The main problem seems to be that the walls in that back room on the North side seem to get very cold hence a lot of condensation. Just can't seem to get a handle on the problem ?

MicktheMan

Do you have this problem in the summer? If not then I doubt it's rising!
pm sent

flynnboy

We do have it all year round but there is no evidence of rising damp, I know RD as I've had it in previous houses, this is different. There is no blown plaster or salts or anything like that.

MicktheMan

I refer you to post #2 so.

flynnboy

Thing is Mick it's not really practical to have the heating on all year round....... not even just for one room. There must be a solution ?

flynnboy

Would dry-lining sort it out ?

MicktheMan

flynnboy wrote: »

Would dry-lining sort it out ?

Absolutely not. Could easily exasperate the problem.
Again I say that this needs a set of experienced eyes and testing to identify and offer solutions to the root cause of the problem.

Kalyke

Could anyone identify this mold please? It can appear on any wall or ceiling in the house. The house is an 8 year old semi detached. I can clean it off but it always returns. It doesnt look like the type of mold you normally get from a damp house?