What causes mould to grow?
Mould needs moisture and food source.
Often mould is associated with dirty or unclean environments which is not correct. Many very clean houses have mould growth occur indoors. The truth is all mould need is moisture and a food source.
Unfortunately, many building materials such as plasterboard, pine and untreated timber all experience mould growth when high moisture is present. Many of our daily items such as leather products, vinyl and natural fibres are also susceptible to mould.
What’s causing the high moisture to occur?
There are many reasons why high moisture and dampness can occur inside a home. Broadly we can categorise these into two main categories.
Condensation Issues
Condensation issues will generally gather moisture at the point of high temperature exchange within a home. The most common place we see condensation is on windows where it is very noticeable. It can also occur on external walls, cornicing and on ceiling where the humidity is trapped.
Condensation is caused when there is high humidity and the ambient temperature falls below the dew point temperature even if this is only for a short period of time. This is the reason why more condensation occurs in the early hours of the morning and late in the evening.
Water Leaks
Over the life of a house water leaks can occur from plumbing failures, storm damage and general accidents. Once a water leak is identified it needs to dried within 72 hours to prevent mould growth.
Often water leaks can be slow or can unnoticed until mould growth forms.
The mould growth will often follow the area which was directly affected by the leak as it needs the moisture to form.
Rising Damp
Rising damp can be categorised into three main groups.
Rising damp from no waterproof membrane
This is typically seen in older homes built before water proof membranes where installed in the construction of the house, water soaks from the soil into the brickwork or wall travels to certain high within a home.
Rising Damp from Humidity
This is typically seen in levels blocks of land where water is pooling within the subfloor and as it dries the humidity rises affecting the habitable areas of the house.
Rising Damp from water entry
This is typically seen in sloping blocks where there will be soil against a wall which is holding moisture in the walls or flooring of the building structure.
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