DAMP/MOULD STAINS

[Hulablush]

Hello,

I have some what appear to be damp/mould stains at the bottom of one well. They are blue/black small patches.

I know the best thing to do is to get someone to have a look at it but does anyone know how to get mould stains off your walls so we can see if they quickly re-appear? This way we can try and tell how bad the situation is.

Also, along some other walls at the bottom, there appears to be white chalky powder coming through the walls somehow. It is easy to see as the walls are bright red. Could it be the walls are soaking up something from the ground which seeps through?

I know it sounds quite odd but I've never seen anything like it before! The powder just comes straight off onto your fingers. Oh yes, where the powder is the walls are as dry as bone but as you can imagine where the mould patches are the walls are a bit damp.

Thanks.

[Sparrow]

Hi hulablush - we used to have loads of problems with mould in our old house as it was quite damp. The only way I could get rid of the mould stains was by spraying Dettox mould and mildew remover all over it and leaving it for about twenty mins (make sure you leave windows wide open - its stinks!) And then usually i could just wipe over and it was gone - sometimes the odd patch would need a good scrub as well! Its not very expensive about £3.99 ish - wilkos and some supermarkets sell it.I dont know if it would work for what your talking about - i used it on window frames and indoor walls that were painted and wallpapered and it was fine. Our old house was an old stone cottage and was dreadful in the winter - the walls in the front room were always wet. I am so glad we live in a modern house with central heating now!

Hope you get it sorted

sparrow x

[Hulablush]

Thanks Sparrow,

I think I might have some of that Dettox! :D

Well guess what.... I am in an old stone cottage now but it does have central heating :thumbs:

[Hulablush]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hulablush @ 22nd September 2006 - 8:38 AM) 199875</div>
Also, along some other walls at the bottom, there appears to be white chalky powder coming through the walls somehow. It is easy to see as the walls are bright red. Could it be the walls are soaking up something from the ground which seeps through?
[/b]

I have found out what this is and it is the salt coming through the walls from the ground.

Has anyone else experienced this??? If so, is it a problem or just one of those things??

Thanx.

[Hulablush]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Yi Win @ 9th October 2006 - 4:50 PM) 202863</div>
Hi Hula,
I have experienced this chalky substance in my cousins house - it was caused by a pipe under the floor that had leaked into the wall!!!!
You got damp somewhere near - any pipes in the wall or nearby floor?
Can you dowse for water to find out?
If its an old stone house do you have stone floors on earth? and stone walls - then moisture can seep upwards and also is the stone limestone - that is pourous and if not rendered has to be spray treated once a year to prevent water seeping in!
Welcome to the pleasures of living in old houses
I will forward your post to my other half to see what he says - but dont expect a quick reply -he is working away!
[/b]

Thanx Yi Win. We saw an old surveyors' reports which reckoned it was salt from the earth but then you may have something there as (I think) the outside drain is on other side of wall and may run underneath house.

The house is stone but built with concrete underneath floorboards. It doesn't have a cellar or anything.

Well round the front door the pointing needs re-doing which is indeed limestone. We're attempting to get it all investigated. :D

[smoo22]

I'd be tempted to put money on the lack of DPC (damp-proof course) - are there any timbers in the walls (on the inside) or are they lath/plastered or what?
Damp from the ground doesn't usually rise high because of its own weight relative to the density of the stone - it keeps draining down, such is the nature of water! It's when it gets into other materials that it causes transfer. And that's usually by stud partition walls being battoned back to the external walls without any DPC in between the external wall and the wood.

Another possible option is a chemical DPC - but I don't know of anyone in the trade who would use that in preference to a standard membrane.

Another thought - you say it's on one wall / side of the house only? Could be the way it faces to get sun / the way the wind generally blows / shading by trees etc - north usuallly worst of course.

Sorry if that sounds a bit complicated, I have just had a look over this! Sorry, trying to help :blush:

[Hulablush]

Thanx GEG. :thumbs:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Yi Win @ 9th October 2006 - 7:54 PM) 202896</div>
Hi Hula,
Other half says...........
1. Blue / black patches sounds like mould. Probably from damp some where. May be worth getting a dehumidifier into the room to dry and dry it out a bit, but really needs a good damp proof company to have a look into it.
2. White stuff is effervescence. Its the salt crystallisation left behind when building walls and plaster dries out. You tend to see it on the outside of new houses or new plasterwork. Strange for it to come in through painted walls though. Its not a problem and can be just brushed off with a stiff brush or cloth.
Hope this assist.
any other questions you want me to throw at him!?
[/b]

Thanx Yi Win..... you can see the white stuff the most as it is a bright red wall! The house itself may be 3-500 years old but I have no idea if the plastering underneath is new. The walls were papered then painted over. I shall let you know of any more questions, thanx again. :thumbs:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(smoo22 @ 9th October 2006 - 9:29 PM) 202914</div>
I'd be tempted to put money on the lack of DPC (damp-proof course) - are there any timbers in the walls (on the inside) or are they lath/plastered or what?
Damp from the ground doesn't usually rise high because of its own weight relative to the density of the stone - it keeps draining down, such is the nature of water! It's when it gets into other materials that it causes transfer. And that's usually by stud partition walls being battoned back to the external walls without any DPC in between the external wall and the wood.
Another possible option is a chemical DPC - but I don't know of anyone in the trade who would use that in preference to a standard membrane.
Another thought - you say it's on one wall / side of the house only? Could be the way it faces to get sun / the way the wind generally blows / shading by trees etc - north usuallly worst of course.
Sorry if that sounds a bit complicated, I have just had a look over this! Sorry, trying to help :blush:
[/b]

As far as I know there is no DPC and reckon the walls are just simply plastered. Yes, it's only on the north side of the house. Thanx again. :thumbs:

[smoo22]

To be honest, you probablly wouldn't know about any membrane DPC as it's standard construction -0 you only get certificates if it's been re-done by a specialist company, or is a chemical one (despite the fact any ordinary builder would do it for half the price!). If your walls are flat--plastered rather than lath & plaster this could be an ongoing problem. Have you considered a slim stud partition inner wall on that side? Does sound like a lack of drying out on the north.... :(
If it has affected the floor as well, that could be harder - unless it's a suspended floor (on joists) - which again may not have DPC between timber and ground - ?

The joys of old houses, eh? ;) The price of having a bit of character! :banghead: