fungus growing on walls

Any advice for fungus growing on inner walls of a 1930's house? It is at top of walls so I think not rising damp.

If I just re-paint will it re-occur? Is there any treatment I can give before repainting to prevent recurrence?

When I moved in the house had to be re-wired and the electrician fitted a ventilator from the upstairs WC to an outside wall, could the cold air coming in through this be causing the damp/fungus and would blocking it up be any use?

Do I need to keep the rooms affected heated? Better ventilated?...

Reply to
Grouchy.Oldgit
Loading thread data ...

Sounds like condensation caused by poor ventilation to me. Top of the walls, furthest away from the doors?

The other thing to look at is the gutters. If they are blocked the overflowing water might be causing it.

You have to sort the cause first. Then use a mould killer/remover like this

formatting link
next apply a stain block paint
formatting link
When I moved in the house had to be re-wired and the electrician

Probably make things worse if its a condensation problem.

Better ventilated. Assuming its not the gutters. Insulating the walls would help.

Would a 1930's house have cavity walls?

Reply to
The Medway Handyman

Might do but my parents semi of that age didn't, solid 9" brick walls.

Ceratinly sounds like condensation. I wonder if the place has been fitted with double glazing sans trickle vents? Does any area that has water vapour present (kitchen, bathroom etc) have decent extract ventilation, that is used? Are clothes routinely dried indoors?

Extract ventilation of kitchen/bathroom etcto remove high levels of water vapour will probably cure it. Assuming it's not gutters/downspouts/over flows etc

Reply to
Dave Liquorice

On the other hand it might - we had cavity wall insulation installed in our 1920s house. Every time we asked for a quote we were confidently told that it wouldn't have cavities to which I always replied that I had snaked the TV aerial down between the skins.

dan

Reply to
Dan Smithers

Some id would be the first step IS is a fungus? or efflorescence or mould?

What colour? Is there a sporophore or are you looking at mycelium?

Perhaps a photo?

It could be Aspergillus niger (if a mould from condenstion) plaster fungus dry rot sporophore (hope for your sake not)

What is the substrate?

Is there an obvious water source outside?

When you have answered these questions I would be of more use to you Chris

Reply to
mail

Need to nail this down more. It could be caused by condensation pr water ingress. Condensation could be caused by 4" wall, inadequate ventilation, overoccupancy, or excess water vapour generated elsewhere in the house. Water ingress usually means faulty or blocked rainwater goods, roof, valley, or in some cases window detailing. And there are other possibilities.

So more detail would help, as would a good look over the rainwater goods and roof.

NT

Reply to
meow2222

I was brought up in three different semi-detached houses that were built in 1928 (2) and 1930. Two had cavity walls. The smallest of the three, which was obviously built to a lower price, did not. That was the one built in 1930.

Reply to
Bruce

HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.