What Is Mould?

Mould may be difficult to eradicate.  You can paint over it, and it will disappear for a while, but until you address the main cause, it will return to torment you repeatedly.  So, what is mould, exactly?

Mould is a tiny organism that needs the following conditions to thrive:

• Oxygen
• Moisture
• An organic medium (for example, wood or plaster)

Mould can grow almost everywhere and poses a serious health threat if left untreated, as well as cause damage to the fabric of your home.

Different Types of Mould

There are many thousands of different mould species, although thankfully, only a few cause mould problems in the home.  The most commonly seen moulds in a UK home are:

• White Mould
• Green Mould
• Blue Mould
• Black Mould
• Toxic Black Mould

Toxic black mould can be extremely harmful to health and should only be removed by a specialist. 

What does mould do?

Excess moisture contributes to the amount of mould that can grow in your house, and the mould itself may have a significant impact on both the inside and outside of your home.  If you notice mould developing in your house, act quickly; if left untreated, mould can grow into your walls and cause damage to your construction materials.

If you discover mould in your house, you may remove it yourself, but make sure it isn't hazardous black mould.  When dealing with mould, you must exercise extreme caution since an allergic response is common, even if you don’t normally have a reaction.

To get rid of mould on a wall:

• Make a solution of chlorine bleach and water (1 part bleach to 3 parts water) or purchase a home detergent containing bleach as an active component.
• Scrub the affected area with a stiff-bristled brush.
• Rinse well and pat dry.

Even after the initial source of water has been addressed, any moist walls can struggle to dry up if one of these factors is combined with poor ventilation.  This is when problems with wall mould might arise.

Of course, this doesn't address the underlying cause of the mould, and you should look into why you had a mould problem in the first place; otherwise, the problem will return.

Excess moisture plays an important role in the amount of mould in your home and the mould itself can have a major effect on both the indoors and outdoors of your property. If you find mould is growing in your home you should act fast, if left untreated mould can grow into your walls and even affect building materials. 

If you find mould in your home, you can tackle removing the mould however you must be sure it isn't toxic black mould. You must be very careful when dealing with mould as it is possible to have an allergic reaction. 

To remove mould off a wall;

• Make a solution of chlorine bleach and water – usually 1 part bleach to 3 parts water – or get hold of a household detergent like Domestos bleach spray with bleach as an active ingredient.
• Using a stiff-bristled brush, scrub the blackened area.
• Rinse thoroughly and dry.If you then couple one of these causes with poor ventilation, then any damp walls will struggle to dry out, even if the original source of water has been repaired. This is when wall mould problems can develop.

Of course this doesn't attack the source of the mould and you need to investigate why you had a mould problem in the first place, otherwise it will just come back.

Are You Suffering From Mould?

EnviroVent can provide you with a permanent solution to solve all your mould woes through our innovative range of ventilation solutions.

With over twenty-five years of successful mould busting across the UK, EnviroVent’s energy efficient ventilation products provide a year-round healthy indoor environment free from condensation and mould.  Contact us today to book your free home survey, and our local ventilation specialist will visit your property and advise you about the cause of your mould problem and how you can deal with it.