Mould from skirting board - is it damp?

aj9648

Hi

I have had my current flat for nearly 8 years and never had a problem. A few months ago we decided to paint the place - but after a few weeks we started seeing a couple of "green" mould type patches on the wall - one was in the bathroom and the other in the hallway - see pics below

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16799660@N00/3829422679/

it was pretty horrible and like a crystal type material which we wiped off easily - it came back and we decided to spray from mould and mildew spray and it disappeared - never seen it since.

However now in the kitchen we saw a tiny bit coming through. Also this has come from the skirting boards. i wonder if this has something to do with the paint? - as we stupidly used normal wall paint on the boards !!! Also the skirting board in the kitchen is starting to crack and peel, but the rest of the flat is fine. Is there anything we can do to stop this? Any suggestions what we should do?

Thanks

wallbash

So you used Emulsion on wood work ?

aj9648

Yeah I did - I am a cowboy I know - it was already - just painted over it again !!!

GarryJ68

aj9648 wrote: »

Hi

I have had my current flat for nearly 8 years and never had a problem. A few months ago we decided to paint the place - but after a few weeks we started seeing a couple of "green" mould type patches on the wall - one was in the bathroom and the other in the hallway - see pics below

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16799660@N00/3829422679/

it was pretty horrible and like a crystal type material which we wiped off easily - it came back and we decided to spray from mould and mildew spray and it disappeared - never seen it since.

However now in the kitchen we saw a tiny bit coming through. Also this has come from the skirting boards. i wonder if this has something to do with the paint? - as we stupidly used normal wall paint on the boards !!! Also the skirting board in the kitchen is starting to crack and peel, but the rest of the flat is fine. Is there anything we can do to stop this? Any suggestions what we should do?

Thanks

Looks like mould cause be condensation to me....

Do you have an extractor fan in the bathroom? Was the mould in the hallway near the bathroom?

wallbash

I am a cowboy I know - it was already

Don't beat yourself up , we have ALL done dumb things , its learning from our mistakes that make us better.


( good grief , I sound like my father :rotfl:)

I go along with the idea of condensation. With winter drawing on its not going to go away. Ventilate !!

aj9648

Opening windows help? Or something else?

What about the skirting boards - seem to be getting worse !!!

MUMMYTO2BOYS

aj9648 wrote: »

Opening windows help? Or something else?

What about the skirting boards - seem to be getting worse !!!

Clean the mould with bleach and re-paint then open as many windows as you can bear any time you do anything to create moisture (cooking, showering etc) and run/install extractor fans in bathroom/kitchen.

wallbash

Condensation seems to be one ( if not the biggest ) problem that keeps cropping up .

We all want warm houses , no draughts, that might let our expensive warm air escape .We insulate and then we sit back .

But the problem is we all breathe :rolleyes: cook and wash . We cause wet/damp air :mad:
It got to go somewhere , it cant escape like it did in the past .
It condenses on the nearest cold surface , typically the window glass .
Then it runs down the wall .

So its a battle between keeping warm and expensively dry or wet/damp.

The cheapest option open the windows when you can.
Limit your drying of clothes , cut down on hot steamy baths/showers

Or be prepared to start saving up for expensive heating bills.

aj9648

Cheers guys - I will have to do all of this otherwise I am knackered !!!

What should I do with the 'cracked' skirting boards. Should I go and repaint with 'proper' paint

wallbash

Rub down and repaint

dampdaveski

Hi Aj,
It does indeed sound like condensation is the main culprit, The thing to remember even if you repaint it correctly is that you arn't treating the original cause of the mould growth.
You would benefit from fitting a decent extractor fan - this should be a continous duty fan such as the nuaire genie x range or envirovent filterless extract range (I have experience of both these fans), I would add an anti mould paint additve to your paint when you redecorate too.
you can get these from loads of places, though I use the 'condensation products' one as i've found it to be the cheapest. Website is as the name
Hope this helps