Mould in walls?

C

Camps

Registered User
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6
There is a smell of mold in our main bedroom though we cannot see evidence of it. My wife thinks that this has been present for a few months though I can only get it recently. Now it hits you as soon as you enter the room.

We suffer a lot from condensation problems (throughout the house) but as we have no vents in any of the rooms I've recently taken to leaving the windows open a crack 24/7. (not sure how this will work in winter weather)

This condensation has led to visible mold on the PVC window frames but I have cleaned this off. Within the last year we've had the house dry-lined.*

I often wake up with headaches in this room. Also, we have a 2 week old little girl sleeping in this room with us but last night I changed rooms for fear of any potential mold problem being bad for her health.

Does anyone have any ideas on the best way to determine if we have a mold problem in the walls?
As its not something I can see I don't know how to progress. Would a dehumidifier help kill any mold that may exist behind a wall?*
 
A dehumidifier will help with airborne moisture, at a cost of hiring/buying one and running it.
However a dehumidifier will not help with cleaning up and outbreak of mould of fungal growth.

It sounds like the real issue is the lack of ventilation, plus the removal of the existing outbreak of mould.
In my last case case of internal condensation mould had not yet established and the cause seemed to be a combination of -

- lots of water vapour in the apartment
- relatively inadequate ventilation
- metal framed windows
- inadequate insulation

The remedy involved opening up works and required engagement with the management company, who were looking after what seemed to be an otherwise reasonably well built Zoe Developments apartment block.
This was the second Zoe Developments block I inspected and the second to have insulation issues. Generally okay in the build quality department, but the lack of attention to detail caused the problem.

As well as a competent building professional to inspect, co-ordinate, and issue a report on the opening up work, you may need a damp specialist as this matter has progressed to mould growth stage.
If the management company will listen and undertake this work, well and good, otherwise you may also need to retain a solicitor to put manners on them.

Finally you should not delay in having the mould investigated as even ordinary mould can cause respiratory problems with some people.
Toxic Mould, while relatively unknown in Ireland could potentially occur here and you have the place properly checked out.


ONQ.

[broken link removed]

All advice on AAM is remote from the situation and cannot be relied upon as a defence or support - in and of itself - should legal action be taken.
Competent legal and building professionals should be asked to advise in Real Life with rights to inspect and issue reports on the matter at hand.
 
Had noticed mold growing (all black spotty) in the walk in wardrobe walls (up at the top, travelling right and left) when I happened to move the christmas tree with the light on few weeks back. This room is at the corner of the house. There was no smell etc. Bit of the cement outside at roof level was loose and was letting in water, so sealed up now.

Bought mold killer spray (€14) and put on two coats of this and them bought a damp stop paint sealer €13 (not to be confused with stain block for crayons which i originally bought) and then put on two coats of white paint.

(may be not any help at all, just in case you/others do develop mold growth on paint work and how to deal with it!!)
 
Hi sandals,

Paint and spray addressed the symptom, but addressing the loose cement sorted the cause.

ONQ.

[broken link removed]

All advice on AAM is remote from the situation and cannot be relied upon as a defence or support - in and of itself - should legal action be taken.
Competent legal and building professionals should be asked to advise in Real Life with rights to inspect and issue reports on the matter at hand.
 
ONQ

The house is my own so no legal actions required. Sounds like I need to get a builder in to check to see if there is any growth behind the walls.

Thanks.
 

best way to determine if you have mould problems behind dry-lining is to take out a section and inspect. also you could purchase a damp-finder (circa 70€ its a two pronged sensor that reads moisture levels in walls)

you do not have adequate ventilation!!! without writing a chapter on your options you need vents through the walls in every room and mechanical extract vents in the bathrooms and kitchen. ( I'm found of DCMEV but that's for down the road if you cant solve it an easier way, or are concerned about heat loss)if you are reluctant to do the above start with a RH sensor to test the moisture in the air, but you have probably hidden a secondary problem behind the dry-lining ie mould!! so inspect that straight away.

so some questions:

  • what year is the house?
  • and if new who certified or sign-off /allowed you to buy the house without vents? and if old
  • were your mould problems as bad before you installed the uPVC windows?
  • when did you install the uPVC windows
  • did you insulate when dry-lining?
  • if so how much insulation?
  • or was there dampness on the walls/ in the walls before dry-lining?
  • what is the wall made from ie is it a block then air cavity then block?
paints and sprays: are only remedial solutions for localised issues and dehumidifiers: imho are more suited to short term problems like a leak..
really you need to deal with the issue, as onq said its either:

  1. lack of proper ventilation!!!! (most definitely) or insulation in the wrong locations( ie your dry-lining!!!! )
  2. rising damp, dpc, leak or driving rain (doesn't sound like these) but will know more when you answer questions
  3. sometimes the upstairs rooms have moisture migrating from cooking,gas fire, showering, clothes drying and of course you guys sleeping (again you should have vents in your rooms and MEV's in kitchen, utility, bathrooms/en-suites
  4. heating and more insulation.. but the above issues still need to be addressed before this is considered a solution
 
Last edited:
Camps said:
ONQ

The house is my own so no legal actions required. Sounds like I need to get a builder in to check to see if there is any growth behind the walls.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Hi Camps

Did you build the house as a self-builder?


ONQ.

[broken link removed]

All advice on AAM is remote from the situation and cannot be relied upon as a defence or support - in and of itself - should legal action be taken.
Competent legal and building professionals should be asked to advise in Real Life with rights to inspect and issue reports on the matter at hand.
 
Been kept busy with the new baby so barely near the internet the past month!!
I've answered these questions below. Leaving the windows open more has helped but not fixed the problem. I'm trying to leave the heating on a bit more too. My wife doesn't feel the cold so is a bit adverse to leaving it on!!

I spoke to my neighbour and he has the same problems with condensation. Is putting vents in every room a messy/expensive job? Will it reduce the temp of the house in the same way as leaving the window open a crack?

Thanks for the help with this.

what year is the house? Early 70's...I bought it 8 yrs ago.
and if new who certified or sign-off /allowed you to buy the house without vents? Eng signed off on it.
and if old
were your mould problems as bad before you installed the uPVC windows?
when did you install the uPVC windows Windows were in place when I moved in.
did you insulate when dry-lining? Yes
if so how much insulation? Not sure, I hired a reputable company to do this
or was there dampness on the walls/ in the walls before dry-lining?
what is the wall made from ie is it a block then air cavity then block? Yes.
 
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