too much rain responsible for mould issue?
Discussion
I rent out a cottage built of red brick around 1870 with solid walls. The tenant has just recently reported mould/mildew around certain high level areas where I've never seen it before.
How likely is it that this could be caused by non stop bloody rain for months on end? Can the brickwork end up so damp and saturated to cause this? The tenant assures me she regularly keeps windows open on trickle etc.
Any ideas appreciated. Cheers
How likely is it that this could be caused by non stop bloody rain for months on end? Can the brickwork end up so damp and saturated to cause this? The tenant assures me she regularly keeps windows open on trickle etc.
Any ideas appreciated. Cheers
Mobile Chicane said:
I'm waiting for every single landlord to pile in and blame the tenant for not opening windows and drying laundry on radiators, but before they do, can you / have you checked:
- External pointing is all in order, and in materials of equivalent porosity to the original, ie. lime mortar + lime mortar; not lime mortar + cement
- Are gutters free from blockages / cracks so water isn't running down outside walls
- Are wooden fascias and soffits in good nick and not rotten
- Are there any missing / cracked roof tiles which could allow gradual water ingress, perhaps not in an immediately obvious place
- Are all roof flashings intact
- Are window frames in good condition and surrounding pointing in good nick
...for starters.
Windows should be o.k. Brickwork is painted and has been for 20 years or more, but not necessarily a good thing I suppose. There are some slates that have been damaged by the winds for which I left a message on a roofers phone about today. I suppose I start by getting those sorted and see if there's an improvement, though I kind of expect a damp patch rather than mould with that?- External pointing is all in order, and in materials of equivalent porosity to the original, ie. lime mortar + lime mortar; not lime mortar + cement
- Are gutters free from blockages / cracks so water isn't running down outside walls
- Are wooden fascias and soffits in good nick and not rotten
- Are there any missing / cracked roof tiles which could allow gradual water ingress, perhaps not in an immediately obvious place
- Are all roof flashings intact
- Are window frames in good condition and surrounding pointing in good nick
...for starters.
Mobile Chicane said:
Ah. Painted. Right.
Not only could this 'paint' be hiding a multitude of sins in terms of crappy cement pointing, if it's impermeable masonry paint, then moisture rising or descending through the brickwork will have nowhere else to go but in.
There's no easy answer to remedying this, but make sure the exterior of the building is watertight, using appropriate materials. Cement pointing is a common cause of damp.
Noted. Thank you.Not only could this 'paint' be hiding a multitude of sins in terms of crappy cement pointing, if it's impermeable masonry paint, then moisture rising or descending through the brickwork will have nowhere else to go but in.
There's no easy answer to remedying this, but make sure the exterior of the building is watertight, using appropriate materials. Cement pointing is a common cause of damp.
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