dealing with damp
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XmisterIS
Purveyor of fine nonsense
I am no expert (although I'm sure there are builders on CC who know much more than me), but here's my two cents worth:
1) It seems obvious, I know, but have to checked to see if there is earth or other material stacked up against the outside wall of the house? This can wick moisture up and through the wall if it is piled up above the damp course.
2) You can buy spray-on polymer stuff which you blast onto the outside of the house and which permits water vapour to exit through the bricks but prevents penetration of water in through the bricks. That might help if your kitchen wall is windward-facing and exposed. It's pretty expensive though.
3) Extractor fan if you use the kitchen a lot? Or open the trickle vents on your windows?
1) It seems obvious, I know, but have to checked to see if there is earth or other material stacked up against the outside wall of the house? This can wick moisture up and through the wall if it is piled up above the damp course.
2) You can buy spray-on polymer stuff which you blast onto the outside of the house and which permits water vapour to exit through the bricks but prevents penetration of water in through the bricks. That might help if your kitchen wall is windward-facing and exposed. It's pretty expensive though.
3) Extractor fan if you use the kitchen a lot? Or open the trickle vents on your windows?
aberal
Guru
- Location
- Midlothian
I have the same problem in my brick outbuilding/utility room, caused in my case by drying clothes inside. Buy an anti-mould spray - can't remember its name but you get it in any supermarket, and the black mould will literally disappear in front of your eyes. As to the cause of the problem - the solution is simply to ventilate the room and particularly extract steam etc when cooking. If its too cold to open windows and you don't have an extract fan, then buy a de-humidifier which cost about 80 quid (not cheap in other words) but they work a treat. Cost about 2p/hour to run.
Smokin Joe
Squire
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
Rohloff_Brompton_Rider
Formerly just_fixed
the cheapest option which may work, but worth a try anyway. wipe it down with cheap bleach. let the bleach dry, it will form a barrier against the mould. the second cheapest option is to buy some anti-mould paint from a diy store, unless you know a registered dpc fitter, as they can buy the strong stuff (it's a pesticide so a controlled chemical).
of course, the aboce advice is assuming that there is no under lying problems and is just condensation.
of course, the aboce advice is assuming that there is no under lying problems and is just condensation.
One of the house's that I owned had that problem with it coming through the brickwork, so I got some water seal, treated the brickwork, and also the plaster inside. Then I "wallpapered" the inside with tin foil, then covered that with normal wallpaper and the problem never reoccured. The tin foil trick was given to me by a decorator
Globalti
Legendary Member
Bleach will bleach the mould but won't remove it. Bleach degrades very fast so will not give any protection.
Best option is to improve the ventilation and warm the walls up. Best way to do this would be to dry-line the walls and re-plaster, it will make a nicer, warmer kitchen.
If it's not your house or you can't afford dry-lining, buy a dehumidifier. Go and ask on DIYnot.com, they will advise you better than a bunch of cyclists.
Best option is to improve the ventilation and warm the walls up. Best way to do this would be to dry-line the walls and re-plaster, it will make a nicer, warmer kitchen.
If it's not your house or you can't afford dry-lining, buy a dehumidifier. Go and ask on DIYnot.com, they will advise you better than a bunch of cyclists.
leyton condor
Veteran
- Location
- London
The best thing I ever did for the kitchen in our old house was drill a hole in the wall so that the extractor extracted the steam from the cooker rather than recycling it. This helped a lot to cut down on condensation in the house in general.
Gerry Attrick
Lincolnshire Mountain Rescue Consultant
Ventilation is he key along with reducing humidity with an extractor fan or dehumidifier. You could also use a thermal liner on the walls after killing the mould.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
A trick which worked in two bedrooms of my in-laws house is to install an internal air brick on the inner wall venting into the cavity. That has successfully stopped the damp on the walls (been in over 10 years)
Night Train
Maker of Things
- Location
- Greater Manchester
You need a combination of heat and ventillation to reduce condensation. Th heat will allow more moisture to be held in the air and the ventillation will carry it outside.
The mould will need to be killed off with a proper antifungal treatment or it will persist. The spores are not good for you.
You will need to make sure the outside of the walls are not letting dampness in. This can be from the ground level being above the DPC, leaking gutters, driving rain, damaged pointing, frost damaged or perished brickwork, etc.
If the outside is dry then it should be an internal problem, condensation or leaking pipe.
Insulating the walls on the outside will help prevent interstertial by keeping the wall warmer while insulatin the inside will need to be done with a vapour barrier to prevent moisture condensing inside a colder wall.
One way of finding out if the moisture is from the room or the wall is this.
Using a glass bowl, seal the rim with putty and stick it to the wall. Leave it over night and see where the condensation is. If it is wet on the inside of the bowl then the moisture is coming through the wall. If it is wet on the outside of the bowl then it is condensation from the room.
Use plenty of ventillation, either natural or mechanical whenever you are cooking or boiling water, doing washin up, or anything else that puts moisture into the air.
The mould will need to be killed off with a proper antifungal treatment or it will persist. The spores are not good for you.
You will need to make sure the outside of the walls are not letting dampness in. This can be from the ground level being above the DPC, leaking gutters, driving rain, damaged pointing, frost damaged or perished brickwork, etc.
If the outside is dry then it should be an internal problem, condensation or leaking pipe.
Insulating the walls on the outside will help prevent interstertial by keeping the wall warmer while insulatin the inside will need to be done with a vapour barrier to prevent moisture condensing inside a colder wall.
One way of finding out if the moisture is from the room or the wall is this.
Using a glass bowl, seal the rim with putty and stick it to the wall. Leave it over night and see where the condensation is. If it is wet on the inside of the bowl then the moisture is coming through the wall. If it is wet on the outside of the bowl then it is condensation from the room.
Use plenty of ventillation, either natural or mechanical whenever you are cooking or boiling water, doing washin up, or anything else that puts moisture into the air.
U
User482
Guest
Is your house cavity or solid walled? With solid wall houses, moisture can penetrate the brickwork or render, and cause damp patches. I've cured it in the past with Thompson's Water Seal.
But the best advice has already been given - try and reduce the humidity in your kitchen. A proper cooker extractor which ventilates through the wall would be your best bet.
But the best advice has already been given - try and reduce the humidity in your kitchen. A proper cooker extractor which ventilates through the wall would be your best bet.
rodgy-dodge
An Exceptional Member
- Location
- North East, Teesside
Not read all the replies but we had the same last two years in the bathroom. Bought a Delongi De-humidifier and it done the trick, the water I save to use in my iron. Paid about £100 for it from comet. It trips in and out so not on constantly going to recommend this to my son tomorrow, he's having the same bother.
washed all the walls and ceiling with diluted bleach, treated the ceiling with a fungus remover sealed it with sealer then painted with appropriate bathroom paint, set de-humidifier away after about three days inspected all was clear. I don't leave any wet towels in the bathroom to dry during winter months. I use radiators else where whola! alls well.
washed all the walls and ceiling with diluted bleach, treated the ceiling with a fungus remover sealed it with sealer then painted with appropriate bathroom paint, set de-humidifier away after about three days inspected all was clear. I don't leave any wet towels in the bathroom to dry during winter months. I use radiators else where whola! alls well.
