Mold questions

another_casualty

I had slight patches of Mold in the bedroom a few weeks back , and got rid fairly quickly with flash wipes and kitchen towels. I immediately purchased a dehumidifier . All good.
Today however, I removed a few storage boxes from an area in the bedroom ,and found a big black patch of it . I immediately repeated the flash wipes etc. These boxes although bulky and heavy were not flush against the wall . Next to where those boxes were , I have a slim chest of drawers. When the builder assembled them , he decided to screw them into the wall . Fair enough . Next to that is a sideboard, where I put my tv on top of . It also has much needed storage.

I assume ( hope) that now I’ve cleaned that wall , the Mold will not return as I have a dehumidifier . I’ve put a small shelving unit in the place of the storage boxes . I have left space at the back ( same with sideboard).

Does it loook like the Mold will return at all?
Also, if I were to put shelving on that wall, Could mold appear there?

When I was buying the flat , there was an issue with sub flooring and damp stud wall. This apparently was taken care of before purchase you the managing agents . ( leasehold )
There was a lot of condensation on the windows , but 5he dehumidifier has taken care of that .
I bought the flat in the spring , so change of weather of course brings out these kind of problems I guess. .

Your thoughts?

Thanks

PhilE

Make sure the issue with the stud wall has been solved.

The flat should be both heated and vented, air the place out for about half an hour a day at least, thoroughly. After a shower, open the bathroom windows and leave the extractor fan running, if you have one. Close the bathroom door until the moisture has gone. Same with cooking.

Get a specific mold cleaner, follow the instructions on the bottle. Ronseal do a good one.

another_casualty

Thanks Phil
I have no window in bathroom or kitchen. I do have an extractor fan o bathroom . Have fan in kitchen also, which is triggered by electric switch on wall . The dehumidifier has been doing a good job in the few weeks I have had it .
The mold hasn’t returned since . So far

viciovbuk

Based on my experience I think the mold will return. Probably there is a poor insulation between the external wall and the ground.
You can air the place and run the dehumidifier but be very careful if you start having some problem like itchy eyes, sneezing, cough. They are probably related to mold
My girlfriend in our previous flat had all those problems despite we had been cleaning mold every month from our bedroom wall. When we changed house, everything disappear

another_casualty

Thanks for that v . I hope it doesn’t return . It’s a flat I bought last year. I had a good survey ( the more expensive one than the bog standard home buyers one ). There was a problem with sub ventilation and damp , but nothing too serious . The managing agents sorted out the problem before purchase . I spoke to the surveyor a few times , and he was more concerned about the gas boiler in the second bedroom . In fact it was his only concern .

The mold was only on the couple of patches I mentioned above .
Guess it’s something I have to keep an eye on .
I have been getting some of the symptoms you’ve mentioned , so I’ll look into that as well . Maybe placing water under the radiators or something .

It is a converted 1900 house . Wooden floorboards and stud walls.

VfM4meplse

another_casualty wrote: »

Thanks for that v . I hope it doesn’t return . It’s a flat I bought last year. I had a good survey ( the more expensive one than the bog standard home buyers one ). There was a problem with sub ventilation and damp , but nothing too serious . The managing agents sorted out the problem before purchase . I spoke to the surveyor a few times , and he was more concerned about the gas boiler in the second bedroom . In fact it was his only concern .

The mold was only on the couple of patches I mentioned above .
Guess it’s something I have to keep an eye on .
I have been getting some of the symptoms you’ve mentioned , so I’ll look into that as well . Maybe placing water under the radiators or something .

It is a converted 1900 house . Wooden floorboards and stud walls.

I think part of the problem is that it’s the coldest time of year. It will improve in warmer weather - perhaps why it was not detected during the survey? - but I suspect will recur unless you put in some kind of fix.

JEN22

put air vents in the bedrooms this solved all my problems. its lack of air especially vunerable to areas connected to outside walls

Sarastro

another_casualty wrote: »

. Maybe placing water under the radiators or something .

That will make it worse. Ventilation and low-level background heating which is on all the time is the best way forward. I'd also investigate the damp issue a bit more...what exactly was done? Does it need doing again?

VfM4meplse

JEN22 wrote: »

put air vents in the bedrooms this solved all my problems. its lack of air especially vunerable to areas connected to outside walls

How easy is this if you have a solid brick (ie old) building? Esp if it’s not a ground floor?

another_casualty

Thanks folks. Yes it seems that ventilation is the answer. Windows should really be open for a short period on a daily basis. I’ve just reminded myself of when I was renting a place last year. Nice flat. Balcony in the living room . However, the landlady made a point of telling me to keep windows open on a daily basis . Especially the toilet. Now I know why. I had the windows more closed than open tbh
There was no sign of mold that I could see anyway .

Back to my wall. The builder stuck the new set of drawers to that wall. I can’t see any mold there , but it’s probably best to unscrew and fill holes to be on the safe side .

I wouldn’t have purchased the flat if a damp problem was mentioned
The rest of the flat is fine ( fingers crossed). I had a new bathroom installed. New sink and taps in kitchen . Living room fine . The small bedroom which is used for Computer and as a music room is fine also
I took stuff off from top of wardrobe to be on 5be safe side .

I won’t get bogged down on legal side , but there is a retention held of £200 which I can claim against before March this year. Not sure if this is covered or if I’m making Mountain out of a molehill.

Wonder( worse case scenario) how much it’d cost to rectify.

Thanks

another_casualty

VfM4meplse wrote: »

How easy is this if you have a solid brick (ie old) building? Esp if it’s not a ground floor?

Well, I’m on the ground floor. It’s a Victorian leasehold