Damp mouldy Victorian cellar.

[MICH43L]

Hi all,

Damp and mouldy Victorian cellar here. It's penetrating damp. Not sure what a full tanking solution will cost, but in the meantime these are my thoughts...

HG Algae & Mould Remover from Screwfix is an "outdoor" mould remover, but there are double doors to the outside under the bay window at the front.

Probably need a respirator when disturbing the mould.

Then put a dehumidifier down there.

Any thoughts, advice, ideas welcome .

 

[MICH43L]

Edit... Also need to remove some wood racking and tables from down there as it seems to encourage it.

 

[RrogerD]

Hi all,

Damp and mouldy Victorian cellar here. It's penetrating damp. Not sure what a full tanking solution will cost, but in the meantime these are my thoughts...

HG Algae & Mould Remover from Screwfix is an "outdoor" mould remover, but there are double doors to the outside under the bay window at the front.

Probably need a respirator when disturbing the mould.

Then put a dehumidifier down there.

Any thoughts, advice, ideas welcome .

Clean the place of cobwebs & mould etc and then use for bike storage only. Keep everything off the ground. Do not store bio-degradables such as cardboard boxes or clothes etc. May be ok for storing apples and veg assuming no mice.
I wouldn't bother with a dehumidifier, it'd just be running 24/7, pulling the dampness from the outside air and the soaked damp walls.

 

[ree]

OP,
Why not provide pics of inside the cellar, & outside at ground level?
What do you intend to do with the cellar?

 

[ToolboxTalks]

You’re right to start with removing the wood and using a dehumidifier. Those help a lot with keeping it under control. The HG remover should work fine, just make sure the area’s well ventilated.

 

[noseall]

Hi all,

Damp and mouldy Victorian cellar here. It's penetrating damp. Not sure what a full tanking solution will cost, but in the meantime these are my thoughts...

HG Algae & Mould Remover from Screwfix is an "outdoor" mould remover, but there are double doors to the outside under the bay window at the front.

Probably need a respirator when disturbing the mould.

Then put a dehumidifier down there.

Any thoughts, advice, ideas welcome .

You will not win the battle with a sub-terranean structure regards damp etc unless it was initially built to a very high spec' with loads of money thrown at it. Accept it for what it is or be prepared for disappointment.

 

[RrogerD]

You will not win the battle with a sub-terranean structure regards damp etc unless it was initially built to a very high spec' with loads of money thrown at it. Accept it for what it is or be prepared for disappointment.

Totally this.

 

[Lower]

Hi all,

Damp and mouldy Victorian cellar here. It's penetrating damp. Not sure what a full tanking solution will cost, but in the meantime these are my thoughts...

HG Algae & Mould Remover from Screwfix is an "outdoor" mould remover, but there are double doors to the outside under the bay window at the front.

Probably need a respirator when disturbing the mould.

Then put a dehumidifier down there.

Any thoughts, advice, ideas welcome .

what are you trying to achieve? Habital room, workshop, storage?

 

[MICH43L]

Thanks, not looking to spend a fortune here.

It's just a workshop/storage area. The mould is the key worry.

 

[opps]

Zinsser sell a cellar paint that they claim with hold back X amount of penetrating water. I have never used it.

Zinsser Watertite

Zinsser Watertite: -as a waterproofing paint is guaranteed to keep water out and contains a biocide that protects the dried coating against fungal degradation...

www.decoratingwarehouse.co.uk

 

[RrogerD]

Zinsser sell a cellar paint that they claim with hold back X amount of penetrating water. I have never used it.

Zinsser Watertite

Zinsser Watertite: -as a waterproofing paint is guaranteed to keep water out and contains a biocide that protects the dried coating against fungal degradation...

www.decoratingwarehouse.co.uk

It'd be interesting to know what that 'x' amount is. I can't see a paint holding back water tbh. Retaining wall fail due to water build-up behind, when no weep holes to ease the hydro-pressure.

 

[opps]

It'd be interesting to know what that 'x' amount is. I can't see a paint holding back water tbh. Retaining wall fail due to water build-up behind, when no weep holes to ease the hydro-pressure.

They claim

• Guaranteed to stop up to 34psi of water pressure

I have no idea what that means in practical terms.

 

[MICH43L]

Yes, I think spray it off, vent the room, then dehumidifier. Happy to let the walls breathe.

Dehumidifiers are another minefield, it turns out.

A 50l compressor type is about 1/4 the price of a 45l desiccant one... But the compressor types are not recommended for cellars...

 

[JohnD]

Why don't you want to ventilate it?

 

[MICH43L]

Why don't you want to ventilate it?

It's already vented. I think it needs a bit of help.