BryanF wrote: » What is wall construction? And is it ground or first? Is there a open window at night for ventilation?
hesker wrote: » I know you said no pipes but do you have a rad under this window. Possible very slow leak.
mike_2009 wrote: » What ventilation does the room have normally (besides window) - is it passive ventilation - is this unobstructed and open (some have vents which can be closed)? Do you have anything that shows you humidity levels vs time? Is the room used during the day - for what, office work or a gym? Any exercise equipment involved? Are there any showers/bathroom immediately adjacent to this room, how do they vent? What is the airflow from these high humidity areas to this room, a spoke stick or snuffed out match might give a clue. Is the door to the rest of the house normally open/closed during the daytime and then what is it a night time? You mention use as a flat, does someone sleep in this room?
chooseusername wrote: » If it's only underneath the window then it could be a faulty drip channel under the sill.
castletownman wrote: » Would there not be at least signs of mould or watermarks or anything on the wall or underneath the sill itself then? There is literally nowhere else its growing apart from the top lip of the skirting boards downwards. On Sunday night, I moved the wardrobe in the corner, and mould had developed behind it too. This was a lot more darker and there was a smell of dampness too, presumably because it had lay undiscovered for longer.
castletownman wrote: » On Sunday night, I moved the wardrobe in the corner, and mould had developed behind it too. This was a lot more darker and there was a smell of dampness too, presumably because it had lay undiscovered for longer.
sydthebeat wrote: » this is because the wardrobe acted as internal insulation and made the inner blockwork "cold" to the point that water vapour condensed to droplets there whats happening at your skirting is a result of the cold bridge coming up from the rising walls and making that area colder than the higher part of the blockwork, and the skirting board is forming mould due to it being made from an organic material. is the skirting board painted? im going to suggest not. Its showing up now because you are only really starting to use this space for permanent habituation over the last year. it being the warmest room (possible due to its sun aspect?) actually adds to the problem as condensation happens when the temperature between the air and the surface is widest. therefore the dew point is being reached in the room the proper course of action is clean the mould off, drill a proper 6" hold in the wall vent and install something like this for best results, or if looking for a cheap option, a hit and miss grill also, dont dry clothes on rads in the room
castletownman wrote: » Thanks for the advice. I shall look into it. The skirting board is painted (I did it myself). Does the same advice still apply in that scenario?
Hello, just wondering how you got on?
I’m having the same issue but on a larger scale.
Got new skirting boards all through house after getting floors done - tiles in kitchen and laminate elsewhere and there is mould growing on every single skirting board. Tried everything but it’s relentless, even in the hallway where there’s no furniture and lots of light and air - it starts in the grooves. It’s horrendous behind wardrobes - like you it had a great chance to grow before being spotted there.
It’s mdf skirting board- had wood before and never had a problem….
I’m beginning to think it’s the skirting board itself.
Do you know if your skirting is mdf? Is it from Deanta?
MDF might be a tiny denser than a wooden one and a bit more prone in theory but that still shouldn't happen. Get a little humidity sensor. The cost about 10 Euro and see if you are regularly going above 65% relative humidity.
In my experience MDF very prone to moisture and humidity. When our house was drying out (floors, plaster etc) some of the MDF window boards were covered in green mould that would constantly reappear. Builder was sure it would disappear once house dried out and he was right, it has not returned.
Sorry for the late reply, only seen it now.
Absolutely no change, only that it might take longer to re-appear, and could cover the MDF one day and only show up in patches the next stay. Still limited to the same section of the room though. Sometimes I think it is weather permitting (was less frequent during the heatwave and more liable to be widespread during duller conditions).
I am settled on changing to wooden skirting boards though as soon as my carpenter is available.
I stumbled upon this thread while searching for info on mould issues, so sorry for reviving an old conversation. Dealing with mould can be such a pain, right? I've been fighting the same battle lately, and it's driving me crazy.
The CDC have a page on the topic:
To prevent mold, use a specific MDF sealer (shellac or water-based) to close the pores into the MDF and then repaint over the sealer.
