Mould and staining on ceilings in bedrooms

[Paddyx]

I have a south-facing back bedroom that has developed a couple of problems that may or may not be connected.

1. A small stain has appeared on the ceiling a couple of feet from the external wall. There is some staining in the same area between the coving and the wall. Above this are solar panels on the roof. The stain looks quite concentrated rather than (from my limited experience) what I would expect to see from water ingress.
2. On the external wall above the window there is the same staining between the coving and the wall.
3. There is mould and peeling paint on the upside of the recess directly in front of the window frame.

It's a big bedroom and ventilation is pretty good.

The window has good double glazing. No clothes drying now takes place in the bedroom anywhere near where the mould is. At the height of the energy crisis (before we knew better) clothes were hung to dry on the curtain rain with a dehumidifier and with the window closed. This is when the mould first appeared. I cleaned the mould and stripped and painted the area at the time. The mould has come back.

The first row or two of the roof tiles above the wall have been replaced. How effectively I don't know. The gutters were cleaned last year.

Any suggestions as to what I'm looking at and how I resolve the issue(s)?

UPDATE/EDIT: I've also noticed similar staining (photo attached) on the ceiling of another bedroom on the same side of the house, beside the main bedroom.

 

[RrogerD]

I'd say that is water ingress and not condensation.
You say that it is in the rough vicinity of the solar panels above. Have you been up into the loft / roof space and checked for a) damp on the ceiling between the joists and b) amongst the roof felt, tiles, solar panels etc?
You say that the gutters have been cleaned, do the tiles and/or the felt overlap into the gutter ok?

 

[Paddyx]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have been into the loft but I am not seeing anything. I think that I need to get a roofer in to check where the solar panels are and the overlap into the gutter.

 

[foxhole]

Are you still drying clothes indoors ?

 

[accelerator]

The stains on the ceiling are highly likely to be water ingress and not from condensation. It is likely to be either a leaking roof, or leaking water pipes.

The top of the window could be caused by condensation. If there is a cold lintel there, this could mean water regularly condenses there. Once you have investigated other possibilities, it is probably worth repainting, but then checking to see if condensation is forming, and if necessary drying it off each day.

 

[Paddyx]

The stains on the ceiling are highly likely to be water ingress and not from condensation. It is likely to be either a leaking roof, or leaking water pipes.

The top of the window could be caused by condensation. If there is a cold lintel there, this could mean water regularly condenses there. Once you have investigated other possibilities, it is probably worth repainting, but then checking to see if condensation is forming, and if necessary drying it off each day.

 

[Paddyx]

The stains on the ceiling are highly likely to be water ingress and not from condensation. It is likely to be either a leaking roof, or leaking water pipes.

The top of the window could be caused by condensation. If there is a cold lintel there, this could mean water regularly condenses there. Once you have investigated other possibilities, it is probably worth repainting, but then checking to see if condensation is forming, and if necessary drying it off each day.

Thanks. There's no pipes in the roof that I can see so it looks like the roof is leaking, even though I have recently had it 'repaired'.

I hear what you are saying about the lintel and condensation. Is there a specific cause of a 'cold'lintel and is there any way of dealing with the problem beyond repainting and daily drying off? Extra ventilation? Trickle vents?

 

[accelerator]

I hear what you are saying about the lintel and condensation. Is there a specific cause of a 'cold'lintel and is there any way of dealing with the problem beyond repainting and daily drying off? Extra ventilation? Trickle vents?

A lintel may be cold if the house is not well insulated or the room is not well heated. A trickle vent open would help, but in the Winter I find the cold air coming in from it is noticeable.

 

[^woody^]

Yellow staining is normally water penetration. However, some smaller splattered or grease-like stains can be condensation related. Small less frequent drips can lead to small stains that do not get past a certain size.

Black mould is invariably condensation related, however the blown paint on the window heads is more indicative of some water penetration.

If this is water penetration it will get worse after periods of rain.

For the ceiling stains, check in the roof for damp insulation or missing insulation.

For the window heads, you need to check the eaves and for any defective felt or lack of eaves felt support. Work to fit PV panels would be a red card for damaged felt. If the stain is not at the eaves, check the roof directly above it for signs of drips.

You need to eliminate water penetration (which can be a source or room condensation and mould) before pursuing a purely condensation related issue.

 

[Paddyx]

Yellow staining is normally water penetration. However, some smaller splattered or grease-like stains can be condensation related. Small less frequent drips can lead to small stains that do not get past a certain size.

Black mould is invariably condensation related, however the blown paint on the window heads is more indicative of some water penetration.

If this is water penetration it will get worse after periods of rain.

For the ceiling stains, check in the roof for damp insulation or missing insulation.

For the window heads, you need to check the eaves and for any defective felt or lack of eaves felt support. Work to fit PV panels would be a red card for damaged felt. If the stain is not at the eaves, check the roof directly above it for signs of drips.

You need to eliminate water penetration (which can be a source or room condensation and mould) before pursuing a purely condensation related issue.

Thank you. That's provided a lot for me to work with.

 

[Paddyx]

Are you still drying clothes indoors ?

Hi, No. Once we realised the damp problems caused we stopped any drying of clothes indoors other than through a drier.