Your Questions Answered Condensation
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NEW BUILD CONDENSATION (CONDENSATION)
I moved in to a new build bungalow 31st August 2007 and have a lot of problems with damp and mould. The dark mould started at the skirting board level and rose about a foot in the bedroom and lounge. On one external wall the paint work has become spotted, as if sprayed with water. Also Green mould had been on the back of furniture on external walls. I have now pulled this furniture out from the wall providing an air gap between them. I have a trickle extractor fan in the bathroom and kitchen, which are on all the time. I only dry clothes in the bathroom. I have cleaned up the mould with Milton and have been using a de-humidifier. This did help temporarily. However I have been suffering badly with breathing difficulties and dizziness. I have been told that new builds have damp problems and always contain a lot of water and this problem is normal. Am I being fobbed off or is this true?
Question:
NEW BUILD CONDENSATION (CONDENSATION)
I moved in to a new build bungalow 31st August 2007 and have a lot of problems with damp and mould. The dark mould started at the skirting board level and rose about a foot in the bedroom and lounge. On one external wall the paint work has become spotted, as if sprayed with water. Also Green mould had been on the back of furniture on external walls. I have now pulled this furniture out from the wall providing an air gap between them. I have a trickle extractor fan in the bathroom and kitchen, which are on all the time. I only dry clothes in the bathroom. I have cleaned up the mould with Milton and have been using a de-humidifier. This did help temporarily. However I have been suffering badly with breathing difficulties and dizziness. I have been told that new builds have damp problems and always contain a lot of water and this problem is normal. Am I being fobbed off or is this true?
Submitted by: Sarah
Answer:
It is not unusual for new build properties to suffer from condensation and mould whilst the many hundreds of gallon of water used in construction evaporates off.
You should not dry your clothes inside irrespective of which room you do it in. You might as well dry them in the middle of your lounge instead of your bathroom as the water vapour produced by drying clothes inside very quickly distributes itself throughout your property. We suggest that you run your dehumidifier all of the time especially when the air in the property is warm as this is when they are most efficient. This time next year there should be a considerable improvement.
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RENDERED EXTERNALLY – WALL NOW DAMP (CONDENSATION)
We have an old Victorian terrace circa 1890's and have had the front of the house rendered. Since then we have had a lot of problems in the front bedroom with mould on the walls and damp smells. Someone advised us that the walls are wet and they are drying inside as the front of the house was rendered. There are no ventilation bricks at the front either. Would re-rendering the bedroom walls sort this or do we need to take of the rendering and allow the walls to dry out?
Question:
RENDERED EXTERNALLY – WALL NOW DAMP (CONDENSATION)
We have an old Victorian terrace circa 1890's and have had the front of the house rendered. Since then we have had a lot of problems in the front bedroom with mould on the walls and damp smells. Someone advised us that the walls are wet and they are drying inside as the front of the house was rendered. There are no ventilation bricks at the front either. Would re-rendering the bedroom walls sort this or do we need to take of the rendering and allow the walls to dry out?
Submitted by: Terry
Answer:
Think very carefully if anything else different such as new windows, clothes drying inside, new dog, additional resident, different heating times etc. has changed inside the house since the front was rendered. If not then a possible answer is that the render, and may be paint covering, applied to the front elevation is restricting the passage of water vapour that originally passed out through the wall. Whilst it is possible it is doubtful that the wall is wet - why should it be? Have this checked by someone with a moisture metre and what are called 'deep wall probes' which enable inside the wall to be checked via drilled holes. Everything else being OK then it sounds like condensation and it probably will not be a problem during the warmer summer months. You could install what are called trickle vents or perhaps run a dehumidifier but look at all of your water vapour generating activities and extract at source or stop them.
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BLACK WALLS IN WINTER (CONDENSATION)
The old part of our house was built about 1930 and we believe there is no cavity wall. In the winter the wall under the window in the bedrooms and the outside wall become black. I use a dehumidifier and I get a few litres of water every few days. Can you tell me what would correct this and how expensive this would be as we are retired, Also I am told that this is bad for our health!
Question:
BLACK WALLS IN WINTER (CONDENSATION)
The old part of our house was built about 1930 and we believe there is no cavity wall. In the winter the wall under the window in the bedrooms and the outside wall become black. I use a dehumidifier and I get a few litres of water every few days. Can you tell me what would correct this and how expensive this would be as we are retired, Also I am told that this is bad for our health!
Submitted by: Kain
Answer:
Your problem sounds like condensation. We assume that you have read all of the myths and facts about condensation on our web site which should give you a better understanding. Using a dehumidifier is good but you should address all of the activities that produce water vapour in the property. Also adequate heating i.e. permanent back ground heating rather short heating spurts or none at all, will help reduce the problem. If all else fails you may need to look at insulating the wall surface. Have a look at Mould Growth Consultants web site as they have an insulation product to fix on a wall for your type of situation.
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