Condensation or damp
- Thread starter ashirusnw
- Start date
Sponsored Links
The mould in the picture is actually very little and will be gone with a quick wipe, so if it took weeks or months to get like that then you can simply accuse the tenants of not cleaning.
Would you have taken a picture of some dust and posted asking what can be done?
Although, as I said, tenants, for some reason, never think condensation is their fault although it always is. that is how the world works.
There will be no condensation in an empty flat with the window open.
Breathing, cooking, washing, drying washing, plants - even diligently wiping condensation off widows and leaving the cloth on the window sill containing the same amount of water.
All these things produce moisture which must be removed from the flat.
Would you have taken a picture of some dust and posted asking what can be done?
Although, as I said, tenants, for some reason, never think condensation is their fault although it always is. that is how the world works.
There will be no condensation in an empty flat with the window open.
Breathing, cooking, washing, drying washing, plants - even diligently wiping condensation off widows and leaving the cloth on the window sill containing the same amount of water.
All these things produce moisture which must be removed from the flat.
water vapour is lighter than air, so if this is a first-floor flat, it would be interesting to know why the mildew should display itself only near the skirting.
We don't know what the other circumstances might be encouraging the moisture only near certain parts of certain walls.
There might or might not be a water leak nearby. The floor might or might not be concrete. There's a thing in one of the pics that might be a pipe. There might be a steamy room underneath. We don't know. What's outside?
Apart from entertainment value, there's not much point in speculating about a cure when we have no clues of the cause.
We don't know what the other circumstances might be encouraging the moisture only near certain parts of certain walls.
There might or might not be a water leak nearby. The floor might or might not be concrete. There's a thing in one of the pics that might be a pipe. There might be a steamy room underneath. We don't know. What's outside?
Apart from entertainment value, there's not much point in speculating about a cure when we have no clues of the cause.
Or.....
Just remove the cold spots. You can't stop people from breathing in a bedroom or a lounge in the winter.
Sponsored Links
That's typical.
The fact remains that breathing is one cause of moisture which must be removed.
That means the moisture must be removed; not the breathing.
The fact remains that breathing is one cause of moisture which must be removed.
That means the moisture must be removed; not the breathing.
You will NEVER remove all the moisture from a home all year round.
That's why you must insulate.
No, you must ventilate - to remove the moisture.
As has been suggested above, some cavity insulation will bridge the gap causing a problem.
(Sigh) And those rooms that are not ventilated in Winter like bedrooms and sitting rooms? I have cured black spot mould with a greater success with insulation than any other recommendation especially rooms that can not be ventilated during the Winter.
It's horses for courses.
A builder might recommend insulation because he believes that it's a reasonable solution, and works.
A damp proofing company could try to persuade you that mechanical extraction and ventilation is needed because that's their specialism and business. It might cost a lot more than plasterboard and insulation and re fixing the sockets and light switches
A landlord with costs to keep down, will, at least initially, probably suggest his tenants reduce the sources of moisture, and wipe off any black mould.
If the problem (and I mean the OP's problem) is worse, or different, that will become clear soon.
But the context of the original post, at present, is a relatively small amount of mould.
Blup
A builder might recommend insulation because he believes that it's a reasonable solution, and works.
A damp proofing company could try to persuade you that mechanical extraction and ventilation is needed because that's their specialism and business. It might cost a lot more than plasterboard and insulation and re fixing the sockets and light switches
A landlord with costs to keep down, will, at least initially, probably suggest his tenants reduce the sources of moisture, and wipe off any black mould.
If the problem (and I mean the OP's problem) is worse, or different, that will become clear soon.
But the context of the original post, at present, is a relatively small amount of mould.
Blup
No, and you're a builder, you must ventilate - winter or not - if you don't ventilate the moisture will just build up and get worse and worse.
Have you ever had a car that leaked?
Of course all the usual suspects - bathrooms kitchens utility rooms etc.
How many extractor fans or any other means of mechanical ventilation do you see in bedrooms or sitting rooms? You will never rid a house of moisture especially at night and especially in the Winter and especially at those hard to get at places. However, one thing that DOES NOT FAIL to work is proper insulation.
Please listen, I know.
No, you apparently don't.
Lots of homes have no insulation and no condensation problems.
I know that too and have spoken often about the idiosyncrasies of condensation related mould.
There are awkward (mould vulnerable) places in a home where you can NEVER rid it of moisture. You can however insulate theses areas easily.
Geddit yet?
No, the cause of condensation problems (note: problems - e.g. leading to mould) is excessive moisture caused by things such as I listed above (and, in one case in my experience, by the tenants leaving the bath full of water; I don't know why). This moisture MUST be removed by ventilation (or pulling out the plug).
Homes can have normal condensation formed in bathrooms after baths etc. and on bedroom windows in the morning but this should disappear on its own fairly rapidly because of ventilation. If it does not then there is excessive moisture already and/or inadequate ventilation.
No ventilation and normal usage will eventually lead to the house becoming very humid and feeling like the tropical house at the zoo (maybe that's how they do it).
Your insulation may mask this for a while - by keeping the temperature (and dew point) a few degrees higher - but it is not the solution; removing the moisture is.
As I said previously, empty flats will not have any condensation - problem or otherwise.
Homes can have normal condensation formed in bathrooms after baths etc. and on bedroom windows in the morning but this should disappear on its own fairly rapidly because of ventilation. If it does not then there is excessive moisture already and/or inadequate ventilation.
No ventilation and normal usage will eventually lead to the house becoming very humid and feeling like the tropical house at the zoo (maybe that's how they do it).
Your insulation may mask this for a while - by keeping the temperature (and dew point) a few degrees higher - but it is not the solution; removing the moisture is.
As I said previously, empty flats will not have any condensation - problem or otherwise.
S
sodthisforfun
Bloke next door to me is in a listed building. Him and his Mrs had to decorate every year because of the mould on the walls etc. Finally got permission to put more air bricks in the walls and it is so much better. Ventilation works wonders imo for normal households.
Last edited by a moderator:
Sponsored Links
