What sort of damp is this?

[nwlondoner]

My wife sent me another photo. The is where an IKEA play kitchen was (attached).

The mould is almost a shadow of the lower part of the play kitchen even though there would have been a skirting board sized gap.

 

[JohnD]

Condensation behind furniture is very common, as it blocks heat so, if external, that part of the wall is colder, so condensation forms on it.

If the wall is damp, the furniture impedes air circulation so it does not evaporate off the wall and into the room. To my eye it looks more like a damp wall. The foil test will tell you which it is (might be both)

Mould spores are everywhere in the world, all the time, and will grow if moisture and temperature are suitable, so concentrate on getting the water down.

 

[nwlondoner]

Condensation behind furniture is very common, as it blocks heat so, if external, that part of the wall is colder, so condensation forms on it.

If the wall is damp, the furniture impedes air circulation so it does not evaporate off the wall and into the room. To my eye it looks more like a damp wall. The foil test will tell you which it is (might be both)

Mould spores are everywhere in the world, all the time, and will grow if moisture and temperature are suitable, so concentrate on getting the water down.

No it's an internal wall and I'm reasonably sure it's a stud wall.

 

[nwlondoner]

My wife says the walls still feel damp. Oddly there is no mould on our walls shared with neighbours even where there is furniture against the wall. The only difference is these walls are brick whereas internal walls are concrete blocks or partitions. Though the external wall is of course brick.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

The is where an IKEA play kitchen was (attached).

Any moisture in that, which might have leaked? There must be a source for the water..

 

[nwlondoner]

Any moisture in that, which might have leaked? There must be a source for the water..

None at all, it's not connected to anything.

Can you even get rising damp in hollow stud walls?

 

[JohnD]

My wife says the walls still feel damp. Oddly there is no mould on our walls shared with neighbours even where there is furniture against the wall. The only difference is these walls are brick whereas internal walls are concrete blocks or partitions. Though the external wall is of course brick.

No, the relevant difference is that they are not cold external walls. On the other side is an enclosed space which is most likely heated.

Cold external walls are prone to condensation. Warm internal walls are not.

 

[JohnD]

... To my eye it looks more like a damp wall. The foil test will tell you which it is (might be both)....

 

[nwlondoner]

To do that I assume you have to make sure no air can get underneath?

 

[JohnD]

You tape it tightly to the wall. No gap.