Mould

[Jbluek]

Who here knows they have either previously or been exposed to some type of mould?

I have searched but can’t find that much info here or many previous posts about it.

Have you been tested fir mould sensitivity or toxins etc?

Just wondering as we had work done on our house and not long after they finished blue/green mould appeared (around same time my symptoms getting worse.)

They have ‘removed’ it twice but it just comes back. We never had this problem before.

I am allergic to penicillin which apparently is related to the blue mould that’s now in this brand new build part of our house.

[Lou1054]

I would suggest you get an independent building inspection, don't be fobbed off by anyone x

[RayB]

If there is an area of cold like a cold wall, moisture in the air will concdense on it and keep it damp,, mould needs damp conditions to survive.

You are going to have to find out what is causing the moisture,,, if it is as I suggest,,, a cold wall,,, it is more common on single skin walls especialy north facing walls.

If so it's going to have to be dried and insulated to fully remediate the problem of mould

Not terribly difficult!

Insulated plasterboard pinned to the brick and skimmed.

Other possibilities roof leak or damp comming up.

Watch getting some of these companies that will tell you you just need a special vent installed.

If your in any doubt as to what is causing the damp perhaps better getting a survyor to have a look.

You could in the meantime put a deciently sized dehumidifier into the room and leave it on,, but this is not a permenant solution but should dry the area and see to the mould till the cause is addessed.

Ray

[KurtN]

I had my 'cold area' in the roof supposedly treated by my housing assoc. They have been over several times to work on it, was told I shouldn't have any more problems. Dehumidifier used in the room, extractor fans used in bathroom and kitchen, no drying clothes indoors etc but still it happens, been like this for years.

imgur.com/Rn27Quk

Picture taken last week - not even that cold outside and there is black mould. Have had chest problems treated with antibiotics. How can I get the landlords to pull their finger out?

[RayB in reply to KurtN]

Good lord,,, look at the condesate on that window,,it looks like you could be living in a steamroom,,, that moisture has to be coming from somewhere.

Obviously the windows are the coldest spot,, I would question the vacumm seal in those windows.

Have you tried environmental health,, perhaps a 28 day order for demolition on anything that dose not meet requirements.

[KurtN in reply to RayB]

Thanks Ray, the window units were replaced (they had failed). The only source of moisture I can think of is breathing, but I need to. Having the window open an heating on high is the only way to stop it at the moment. Will get onto environmental health, my social landlord (sheltered housing) are inept.

[RayB in reply to KurtN]

The thing is, that moisture has to be comming in and nomatter how warm you have the house there should not be that amount of condensate on the windows,, also as you say it has not been terribly cold.

Also consider that as it gets colder outside there will be a greater differential between outside and in so the more potential for condesing on the windows. I really question the panels were properly filled with argon gas.

I have my house insulated up the yingyang,, the temp inside is usualy around 25c downstairs in the living areas,,, upstairs in the bedrooms a constant 18c is normal in winter.

In fact the house is so well insulated it cost me just over £100 last year to heat it to those temps,,, having said that I will never recoop the capital outlay involved in the insulation I could have bought a second house for the money I spent.

The windows are a standard double glazed argon filled panel,, nothing special but

there is never a pick of condesation on the windows no matter how cold it is outside,, even first thing on a winters morning in the bedroom the windows are more or less clear.

Ray

[KurtN in reply to RayB]

Thanks again Ray, do you have a spare room? The bedroom is kept cool for sleeping reasons @ 17c but should still be above the dew point. The terraced bungalow was built in the 60s I think before energy efficiency was a concern, a 3 year old combi boiler is in that room as well, but has been checked yearly.

[RayB in reply to KurtN]

A bungalow is always going to have more of a heat loss as you have twice the roof area for the same given house outline of a two story,, the greatest heatloss is usualy through the roof/ceiling.

This house was also an early 60's and thrown together in concrete and not a pick of insulation when I bought it 5 years ago,, I bought it knowing what I was doing as I tend to freeze with the fibro and was trying to make life more bearable and thinking long term.

The last house was three miles up a mountain and I couldn't heat it,, .

I auctualy gave up trying to heat that house,, with the boiler going constantly 24/7 and every radiator in the house on full blast 16 -17 degrees was the absolute maximum.

The last winter I spent there I spent it in bed with hat gloves and two big down duvets, flasks of hot soup and painkillers,, miserable was an understatement.

[KurtN in reply to RayB]

Landlords surveyor visited, he said government advice is to leave the windows open. I queried this and he said I had a bad attitude (shouting and pointing at me), I told him to leave. I can't find any such advice.

[KurtN]

You're right, but what I meant to ask is how can I get the landlords to stop the damp when they have tried but failed?

[Midori]

Call back the builder who did the work and ask if he can help. Also call Environmental Health at your Council. They might know of a remedy.

I have a sensitivity to moulds, so Autumn is always a trial to me with all the funguses and decay setting in.

[papakebo75]

I live in a local authority home and have damp problems on every single outside wall that results in black mould growth,cant have any type of furniture close to the outside walls as this increases the damp ten fold,Its all the houses round about me suffer the same problems with damp due to non existent insulation and poorly functioning dbl glazed windows but rising damp and dampness aeeping thru walls from extremely poor conditions of guttering and downpipes, my health has deteriorated quite badly since moving in 7yrs ago and due to the major works required to remedy the dampness in my area and an astronomical cost its now spiralled out of control and the money and disruption required to solve it is simply too great due to yrs of neglect and i can only see demolition of the houses as the only viable option left ,Im hoping with Doctors help and medical/disability issues i can get re-homed soon ,

[RayB in reply to papakebo75]

I thought they were clamping down on all the slum landlords in the UK ,,, Perhaps the local authoritys have some sort of special exemption from having to comply with requirements,, but you would think they would be the first to sort things and lead by example.

Ray

[papakebo75]

I live in an area with high unemployment, poor health stats for adults and children and were poverty is a real issue ,I have helped neighbours with some food and occasionally paying for gas and electric when their meter cuts out as the pay as you go cards are unforgiving ,Thankfully after a terrible time of medical redundancy and zero Knowledge of the benefits system i was poverty stricken for around 3yrs resulting in foodbank help or having to sleep on my daughter's floor due to electricity and gas running out so cld not cook or heat my home etc so i know how hard it is when u truly do have nothing and nobody in a position to bale you out family wise, Benefits sorted and in place now and can help others occasionally in a crisis but living on benefits is not easy and things such as holidays or eating out/leisure activities are non existent, i can keep myself and my wife/carer supplied with food and gas heating on a weekly basis, I do have a precious gift in having two wonderfull Grandson's currently 6yr old and 3yr old who bring joy to me and my wife that if not for them i really would have a miserable life ahead ..

[jackiesj]

Mold is HORRID and needs immediate attention by a professional.May cause many many health issues.May also check under the home.Homes should have but dont always a fan under the home and in the attic.It was so severe with me I had to go to hotel and doc.

ventilation , a must and if no fan in bathrooms take one in and run after each bath shower.Sad that mold does come at first you cannot tell its there unless tested.It can get in clothes etc being a spore.pls call someone professional and ask questions.If you have a landlord they MUST take care of it.

[KurtN]

Thanks for the link, it's going to be hard to deal with, but I'll try. I should claim condensation