Mould Spots on Bedroom Ceiling

poppy27_2

Hi

I noticed last night that there are black mould spots in the top corner of my bedroom ceiling (near the external wall) and there is also moisture running along the coving in this area. I cannot see any other areas in this room or the room next to it. We had new double glazing, wall cavity insulation and attic insulation installed in the past 12 months and the room is also heated. Never had this problem before in any of the rooms - though our windows do get quite a bit of condensation each day (which happened with our old single glazed windows as well) and we get black mould on the window seals/rubbers. I do dry wet clothes in the house (on airers in another bedroom) and the doors are always open (apart from our bedroom at night) - is this contributing to the problem? Also, hardly have the windows open in the winter as it's too cold and feels like throwing money out the window!

Any ideas on how to stop it from happening? I don't want to end up with a damp problem.

savemoney

Lack of insulation in the loft at those places I had this years ago and solution pike some insulation and and clean mould with anti fungi cleaner, bleach or repaint with kitchen emulsion paint that has anti fungi killer in it

*miaomiao*

Hello!
I posted earlier a few tips that might help you - see post #5
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2891704

saver_1_2

It could be a number of things 1 are the gutters outside blocked and has the loft insulation blocked the air flow in the loft. Have they butted the insulation right up to the outside of the house where the guttering is. The loft needs natural air flow inside it.
There could be a problem with drying wet cloths in the house too. One other thing is try to leave your bedroom window slightly open on the night time. I know it can be hard but once in bed it's okay the hard thing is getting out of it in the morning.
All in all check the gutters for blockages the loft for air flow and try to have ventilation in your bedroom at night when the heating is off. Hang washing outside on a nice winters day [ hard to get dry i know] but the little if any it does get dry you will be able to finish the rest off in the tumble if you have one. quite costly but at least your not filling your house up with moisture.

Good luck hope you get it sorted

poppy27_2

Thanks everyone who replied.

We did have blocked guttering but it's now cleared so hopefully if that was contributing to the problem, that aspect will now be sorted!

In terms of loft insulation - I'll get my husband to check it on the weekend when we get the Xmas decorations down!

What do you recommend I use to clean the mould off? Just normal bleach or a special mould product?

avenida

poppy27 wrote: »

What do you recommend I use to clean the mould off? Just normal bleach or a special mould product?

Dettol Mould and Mildrew remover, its in a green bottle and it is brilliant

Slinky_Malinky

This stuff is the mutt`s nuts for mould....

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/mould-remover/F/keyword/mould/product/20284


Works a treat and best of all no elbow grease required. The fumes are very strong, so open the window and spray it in the morning so the smell can disperse before bedtime.

blue_monkey_2

I just use bleach and water but make it quite strong and wipe it over, then wipe it off after a few minutes. Is the cheapest option.

Every winter in January I have to go around and do the walls on the house as they are covered in Black mould. We have and old house that has no cavity and the walls on the side of the house, that backs onto the 'outside' (if that make sense), is freezing cold and it gets condensated in every room that has an external wall. I bleach it and then that stops it growing for another 9-12 months until the next winter.

We are just discussing putting a rad against the wall in our room as it is so cold in there depsite their being a radiator, I can feel the cold when I stand on my side of the bed. We did have cupoards there but cannot put anything there now because of the mould cleaning it needs every year.

Oh, and we have our heating on 24/7 and it makes no difference to these particular walls in these rooms. They are always freezing cold to the touch and I do not dry my clothes in the room, I use my tumble drier.

saver_1_2

As avanida has said Dettol mould and mildew remover. Bleach and water although removes the mould does not kill the spores and you will have the same problem in several months time.
It looks like your problem has been solved by unblocking the gutter as you have had insulation in the loft new d glazed windows and cavity wall insulation your house should be water tight and weather proof now.
Just get rid of the mould on the rubber seals of the double glazing now with dettol m&m remover.
One point although double glazing does not rid a house completely of condensation it only cuts it down. And if your adding more moisture to the house it has no where to go but condense on the windows.
Good luck

ROY47

Cavity wall insulation , double glazing and roof insulated , drying clothes on radiators = wet windows and mould growing

I've been through it

I have exactly the same as you, the warm moist air has nowhere to go
your house should be water tight and weather proof now makes it worse

you need ventilation and open windows ,yes it's cold but it helps

I have 2 dehumidifiers running in my place ,1 in front of the radiator where the mrs dries clothes and 1 on the landing for use during and after a beth ,plus it runs all night this cold weather and still get some water on the windows in the mornings , but it's much much better .

saver_1_2

It is true that our houses have less draught's now be it properly fitted doors windows etc instead of a generation ago when a draught was blocked from the front door my making the dog lie there. And draught's through the windows was helped by thick curtains.
The o.p has hopefully located her problem which was a blocked gutter and the mould should now stop providing she cuts down on drying cloths on the rads or at least opens a window. Or if finances allow to dry them in a tumble dryer [condensing one's are best]There should be no need to have to have dehumidifiers on in a house that is properly sealed weatherproof wise. It's like because you have the luxury of a dry warm house your been penalised by having to have a dehumidifier on it really does not make sense. I moved house two years ago from a damp one to relatively new one which is properly sealed has cavity wall insulation loft insulation double glazed and the dehumidifier is in the loft.