Mould

Mould can be a major issue in houses and it is generally caused by a combination of the following: excessive damp;a lack of air circulation: and cold spots on walls.

There are a number of solutions to mould depending on the circumstances. They include:

Keep the surface of the wall warmer.

This can be achieved by insulating the walls either internally or externally. However this can be a large job to do properly and many areas do not lend themselves to this level of work. An insulating paint additive can be the solution as this keeps the wall that bit warmer and hence helps to stop cold spots and also inhibits mould growth as it prefers lower temperatures. 

Use breathable paints.

Breathable paints when used in conjunction with breathable wall structures help to take excessive moisture of the room. Lime renders and plasters are also key to this process. many older properties have breathable wall structures, but many unfortunately have been compromised by the use of non-breathing paints and cement renders. 

Use a natural anti-mould paint system.

There is a system from Auro that provides a more alkaline surface that mould cannot live on. There are a series of pre-treatments that are natural, but once applied they should cure the mould for good.

Keep furniture away from walls.

Moving furniture and other articles away from walls will allow air to circulate better behind them. This will reduce the risk of damp.

Increase the extraction rate of air from the room.

Many bathrooms have insufficient air extraction. This is generally because people have blocked up the air extractor in order to save on heating energy costs. Whilst saving energy is a good thing, mould and its associated problems are not. We would suggest that you look into installing a Mechanical Heat Recovery Ventilation system. This allows the warm moist air that is being extracted to heat up the incoming air.