Mould behind wallpaper

Jessica29

We've just purchased a Victorian terrace and on peeling the wallpaper off in the dining room we have exposed some black 'fluffy' mould mainly behind where the polysterene coving was but also inbetween the wall and wallpaper. The walls don't feel damp, and we know from our neighbours that the previous residents had a fire in the bathroom and let the bath overflow (bathroom directly above the dining room). As the mould hadn't extended through the wallpaper, we have assumed that this is solely due to the bathroom issues and not an ongoing problem.

We are planning to clean the mould off with some Dulux fungicidal wash and then use some Polycell one coat damp seal paint. Has anyone experience of using these?

I-Want-To-Move

No.... but when i was decorating i put a super thick lining paper on under the wallpape. Can't remember what it was called, think it was called insulating lining paper - it said on the packet that it prevents mold so when you've cleaned up the walls it might be useful to put under any future wallpaper.

Jessica29

Thanks! Like this?: http://www.gowallpaper.co.uk/wallrock-range/wallrock-thermal-liner.html

AlexMac

Mould grows on damp surfaces, and damp is usually either
a. - rising where the damp course has failed (unlikely at ceiling height)
b. - penetrating (from plumbing or gutter leaks or similar) or
c. - atmospheric; usually condensation on cold surfaces in cases of inadequate heating or ventilation- or maybe poorly insulated cold external walls, corners or areas behind furniture.
Sometimes, internal wall-plaster which has become contaminated over a long period by salts leaching through from brickwork or the soil as a result of a. or b. becomes 'hygroscopic'; more prone to attract atmospheric moisture, which is why damp companies usually re-plaster after inserting new damp-courses...

But yours seems a much simpler problem= probably b. So just clean it well with bleach or fungicide and elbow grease and redecorate. The interior surface insulation won't hurt, especially if iy's an external wall, but shouldn't be necessary. Happy scrubbing!